RUBINSZTEJN
RUBINSZTEJN family
Michael Chaim RUBINSZTEJN and Ita Frajda née GEWERC are listed as having lived at Jateczna 5 in Lublin. Four of their children: Abram Szyja (1886-1986), Sura, Tauba and Symcha Nuchym traveled to, and lived in Antwerp. Another daughter Esther Szajndla (1893) was also born in Lublin.
Symcha Nuchym RUBINSZTEJN was the first of the RUBINSZTEJN family to emigrate to Antwerp in 1920. He first worked at a Matzo bakery belonging to Jankel LIEBMAN, his relative through Jankel’s 2nd wife Chana PINTEL. Her mother Golda Rywka GEWERTZ was Symcha’s aunt. Probably, at the end of 1924 he returned to Lublin where in 1925 he married Szyfra WARENRAJCH (born in Kraśnik). In March of that year the newlywed couple returned to Antwerp. They had two children, both born in Antwerp. In 1942, accompanied by their 2 children: Fernand Armand and Leo (Antwerp 1936-2005 Los Angeles), they emigrated to the USA.
Sura RUBINSZTEJN born 1903, arrived in Antwerp in 1929. On arrival she was registered as a live-in maid (at her PINTEL family) due to the necessity of having an occupation to obtain official residency in Antwerp. In 1930, Sura married Moses ERDMAN (born in Stary-Sambor). They had two children, both born in Antwerp. According to Yad Vashem testimony in 1942, during the war, the Erdman family was hidden in Belgium, which saved them from deportation to Auschwitz. The ERDMAN family returned to Antwerp after the war. Yad Vashem honoured the families that saved them as Righteous Among The Nations.
http://db.yadvashem.org/righteous/family.html?language=en&itemId=4038758
http://db.yadvashem.org/righteous/family.html?language=en&itemId=4038745
Abram Szyja RUBINSZTEJN married Dwosza WINDYCKA. They had five sons all born in Lublin. In 1929 Abram emigrated to Belgium as a result of the immigration of his firstborn son David. When he first arrived in Antwerp, Abram lived with his brother Symcha waiting for his family to join him. He owned a raincoat factory at 71 Van Geertstraat. The family spent the war years in France. Dwosza WINDYCKA was deported from Aulus les Bains, France, in 1942, via Rivesaltes and Drancy to Auschwitz were she was murdered. After the war, Abraham and all his family lived in Mexico. Abraham´s sons had different experiences during the war:
David, born Lublin 1913, arrived in Mexico in 1942. He passed away in San Diego in 2002.
Symcha Nuchim (Simon), born Lublin 1917, suffered internment in two different camps: Gurs and Le Vernet. He escaped and went to Spain and from there to the British Mandate of Palestine. He finally went to Mexico where he passed away in 2007 at the age of 90.
Moishe (Maurice) born Lublin 1919, endured forced labour in Switzerland and went to Mexico at the end of the war. He resides in San Diego, California.
Hersz Fajwl (Henry), born Lublin 1922, enrolled himself to fight with De Gaulle. He served for 4 years in Africa and lost an eye in the battle of Royan in 1945. He went to Mexico where his passed away in 1994.
Izak (Jacques), born Lublin 1924, went into hiding with his father in Villefranche de Lauregais for 3 years. At the end of the war he went to Mexico where he passed away in 2013.
The Bacque family are part of the Righteous Among the Nations in recognition of their blessed effort to save Abram’s family. Alejandro Rubinstein’s documentary depicts this story.
http://db.yadvashem.org/righteous/family.html?language=en&itemId=4042745
Documentary in 8 parts, with thanks to Alejandro Rubinstein, grandson of Abram Szya.