Edelsteins of Piltene, Ventspils & Sassmaken

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Circa 1912. At back Sascha, Minna and Abe. In front: Tomer and Wulf. Sascha and Abe had left for Southern Rhodesia and South Africa by the time of the expulsion from Sassmacken in 1914 / 1915. Charles was already in South Africa at the time the Photograph was taken.

Number 86: Piltene (Pilten); Ventspils; Tukums and Sassmaken (now Valdermarpils) are all in the Region of Western Latvia known as Courland (Kurland).

Jews were not allowed to live in Latvia, as distinct from Lithuania, until the late 16th Century – and then only in Pilten, not the rest of Courland.  The first Jewish people came to Pilten, as merchants in approximately 1571, primarily from East Prussia which was then part of Germany, now primarily Poland. Piltene Jewry was closer to their German Jewish than their Lithuanian Jewish compatriots. Piltene Jews created thriving Communities and were prominent traders and businessmen.

The origin of “Edelstein” is German meaning “gem” or “precious stone”.  Levin Edelstein, the Great, Great, Great Grandfather of Winnie, Tony, Bennie and Hackey was born in Pilten in 1774, his wife whose name we don’t know, in 1777. Their children were Abram, Isaac, Yossel and Gena (Levenberg).

Abram, the eldest born in 1799, also in Pilten married Shore (Sarah), born 1797. They moved at some point to Sassmacken where they passed away in 1842 and 1870 respectively. Their children were: Israel; Itzik; Khana (Devrenki – married in Riga) and Abraham.

Itzik, born in Pilten 1833, married Tsipe (Zipa / Celia) Edelstein nee Hirshberg in Ventspils (a large port town)  on 24/01/1856. She passed away in Minsk Belarus 1921, after various tribulations since being expelled from Sassmaken in 1915 with her son Wulf, daughter in law Tomer, granddaughter Minna, her husband and children.

Itzik and Tsipe had six children: Wulf; Dveira; Sheina; Leye (Lena Blumnau); Shore and Jegashue

Wulf Itzikov Edelstein, their eldest, was born in Sassmaken in 1857. He married Tomer – also a Hirshberg. She was born in Minsk, Belarus in 1858. Their 4 children were Charles, Minna, Abe and Sascha.

The Edelsteins of Sassmaken lived opposite the Werbeloffs.  Uncle Solly Werbeloff remembered Tomer as short and dark and Wulf, who was religious, had a lovely singing voice. See attached the precious only known photograph of Wulf and Tomer with three of their children.

Interestingly Fanny Edelstein (‘nee Sirkin)’s mother Ida Schneider was born in Tukums  – also in Courland!