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The Brisker Unterstuestzungs Verein

by Arn Burkhoff

Welcome to the Brisker Unterstuestzungs Verein webpage. My great grandfather, Michael Berezofsky from Brest-Litovsk was a founding member of this landsmanshaften.  This information was originally published in a booklet issued at their 35th Anniversary and Banquet, held on Monday evening, February 23, 1925, at Park Palace, 3-5 110th St, New York, NY.  Before checking out the membership list please take a few moments to read their history and honor their memory. 

Greeting

ON THIS, the most joyous event in the history of our Verein, I extend to you my Brethren and Sisters, my most cordial greetings and bid you all a hearty welcome.Thirty-five years ago a mere handful of men inspired by the spirit of harmony and charity in their hearts, founded this Verein

Vereins and Associations, existing for purposes less worthy than our own, never reached our age. They do not survive their infancy. The Brisker Unterstuetzungs Verein at the age of thirty five, is full of life, youth, vigor and energy.

To us, The Brisker Verein is doubly dear and sacred. It is sacred to us because by means of this Verein more than 400 families are linked together as though they were all members of one large family. It is dear to us because in its portals we find shelter and safety; in its midst we are not alone. When well and prosperous, we find enjoyment in the good work the Verein does for others. In times of adversity, we come to our Verein like to a Mother, to tell of our troubles, knowing that we will always find sympathy, a helping hand, encouragement and assistance. In time of illness our Verein ministers to our sick-bed and when the time arrives to go there, from whence none return, we have at least that peace of mind which comes from the consciousness that our beloved ones are not alone, helpless nor friendless.

This Souvenir Journal is presented to our Members to be kept and treasured by them. On its pages you will find a synopsis of the history of our Verein of which we may well be proud. Here you will also find the names of our departed brethren, for whom we offer a silent prayer and whose loss we mourn, because they cannot be with us in body, as we are sure they are with us in spirit.

Let us hope and pray that Fifteen Years hence, we shall again meet at the festive table to celebrate our "Golden Jubilee", and that no seat occupied this evening shall then be found vacant.

LOUIS GLASER, President

Historical Review of the Brisker Unterstuetzungs Verein

as reviewed by Rachmiel Cherkass

To write the History of the Brisker Unterstuetzungs Verein, from its first meager few who banded together, to the splendid membership we now possess, we are quite prone to forget the trying years of early uncertainty. With more than four hundred families, we are here to express our heartfelt gratitude and the recognition to all who remain with us at the present moment, viz: S. Abner, M. Bulkowstein, M. Burkhof, H. Cohen, S. Cohen, L. Friedman, I. Feinman, M. Greenberg, L. Glaser, I. Kirshenbaum, B. Lastfogel, M. Lastfogel, C. Levy, J. Rosenthal, L. Reich, A. Tanenbaum, B. Tisher, M. Tesher and H. Spar.

We are also here to express our recognition and remembrance to all those who have entered the Great Beyond, viz: E. Agress, F. Feldman, C. Miller, S. Watstien and A. Weisfeld.

But to return to our subject--What caused the organizing of the Verein? Pioneers of Jewish Immigrants who nearly three decades ago felt they could no longer remain in modern Egypt, where tyranny and prosecution embittered the lives of our people. Jews of the city of Brest-Litovsk, which is known in the Jewish History as the City of Education, of men and women, who are given to expanding their entire energy for the good and welfare of the co-religionists, came here in the New World to this land of Freedom & Liberty.

The struggle was bitter, strangers in a strange land, unacquainted with conditions and possessing no knowledge of the language of the country, no knowledge of the laws of the land.

These Landsleite of Brest-Litovsk knowing one another in the old country on coming contact with one another, in their short co-residence, and being in the habit of meeting one another to relate their tales of woe, felt the need of something to bind them together, and what's more admiring to young Immigrants than the novelty of a Jewish Society, which they never could see in their mother country? So then and there they decided to have one of their own and they brought in existence the Brisker Unterstuetzungs Verein.

The first President nominated and elected was Louis Freedman. The first Vice-President was Samuel Watstein, Deceased. The first Recording Secretary, Louis Glaser. The first Financial Secretary, Abraham Weisfeld, Deceased. The first Treasurer, Sam Cohen. The first Hospitaler, Jacob Rosenthal.

The dues of the Verein were decided to be ten ($.10) cents per week, or One Dollar and twenty cents ($1.20) every three (3) months. For a period of several years the Verein gained quite a number of new members and things went successfully.

The first entertainment was held at the Rumanian Opera House. The membership of the Verein at that time consisted of One Hundred and thirty-five (135) members. The net profit of the affair amounted to Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($250.00), with which we decided to buy nine (9) plots of cemetery at Mt. Zion, and also to establish an Relief Fund for Brothers in distress, who may report themselves to a Confidential Committee, which is empowered to help them and report at meeting with no names mentioned.

In June, 1896, a gate was erected on our plots and Mount Zion Cemetery. At the time of the ceremony, sixteen (16) dissatisfied members banded together and formed a separate society.

During the year 1900, we started our Sick Benefit, paying Ten($10.00) Dollars per week

In the year 1901, the Death Benefit Fund was opened by paying widows and widowers the some of One ($1.00) Dollar per member at the time of death.

During 1905, the Loan fund was started with a capital of One Thousand ($1000.00) Dollars assigned to it by the Verein, and agreed to tax the members One ($1.00) Dollar per annum for the purpose of increasing the Loan Capital, payable in equal quarterly installments. At the beginning, loans of Ten ($10.00), or Fifteen ($15.00) Dollars were made to the members. The Loan Fund gradually increased their loans to Twenty-Five ($25.00) Dollars. Many a member has found in the Loan Fund a benefit of a character of its own.

In the year 1906, the Capital of the Verein amounted to about Verein amounted to about Five Thousand in cash, three hundred (300) members, and two (2) cemetery plots, and gate fully paid for. At this time our society was looming forward and bound to become one of the greatest organizations of its kind.

In 1908, we reached a membership of five hundred and fifty (550). We then decided to pay and endowment of Five Hundred ($500.00) to man and wife alike, collectable from members at One ($1.00) Dollar per head. The surplus of Fifty ($50.00) Dollars, we decided to put in a reserve fund for members who may be disabled to free them from dues, and if necessary to pay them Five ($5.00) Dollars, weekly.

History registers in its periods of time, the memorable year, "lest we forget". In 1911 the death ratio and the tax of the deaths became too heavy a burden for the members, and many revolted and organized two Brisker Lodges, one the Order of Aawath Israel, which exists at the present time with the Brith Sholom of Philadelphia, and the other with the Independent Order of Brith Abraham, existing now under the same order.

The Pioneers of the Brisker Unterstuetzungs Verein, losing all their capital, but not losing their dignity, kept the Brisker Verein in force for burial purposes only, and had a Convention Meeting, once a year.

During the year 1914, the Nations of Europe went to war, "Satan" mounted the throne. The world was in flame. The rivers ran red. Once more the "Serpent" had lifted its head.

Fetched from the arms of peace, flung in the jungle of beasts, mothers lamenting their children, "Life" is shrouded in mist. On this side America, over there Europe. The ocean between. Across the sea, hands stretch out, calling for help, and begging for bread. America, our country, America, the Great, became the "Samaritan" for the afflicted in Europe. City and town, hamlet and village, big hearted people unite in the might to raise on its feet, those that can be saved from the Volcano of Destruction.

And in that hour of gloom and reaction, we, the members of the Brisker Unterstuetzungs Verein, a fraction of millions, contributed our share in money and men.

Giving

Giving is living, the Angels said,
Go feed to the hungry sweet charity's bread;
And must I keep giving and giving again?
My selfish and querulous answer ran,
"Oh, no," said the Angel, piercing me through,
"Just give till the Master stops giving to you."

1917, the Brisker Unterstuetzungs Verein is declared re-open, accepting a Constitution recommended by the Committee of Thirty, prepared by Brothers Rachmiel Cherkass, Louis Glaser, B. Burack, A. Tesher, J. Tanenbaum, and David Gursky recommending that the Brisker Unterstuetzungs Verein should re-enter in life and should become a family organization only, accepting sons, sons-in-laws of members only. The dues of same should not be more the Four ($4.00) Dollars per year, for the maintenance of cemetery, relief and other necessary expense.

The American Army went to France. War is declared against the "Etente". The call from our deceased President Woodrow Wilson for volunteers was resounded to my our members and sons. "Resolved: we exempted our enlisted members from paying dues during the war, while they were in service, and we bought a Thousand ($1,000) Dollar Liberty Bond."

In 1918, Freedom and harmony was restored by all the factions of the Brisker Unterstuetzungs Verein. In the latter part of the year, Peace and Harmony was restored to the entire Universe.

In 1919, we bought a bed in the Los Angeles Ex-Patients Sanitarium, for Three Hundred and Seven Dollars and fifty cents ($307.50).

In 1920, we donated an immense sum of money to the Brisker Relief, and also erected a gate on our new cemetery.

In 1921, recommended by the Committee of Thirty, that on the new cemetery should be a uniformed tombstone only. It was accepted.

In 1922, Resolved: That in the year of 1925, we should celebrate the Thirty-fifth Anniversary with a Banquet for all the members of the Brisker Unterstuetzungs Verein.

In 1923, we paid Three Hundred and Sixty Dollars ($360.00) for tickets for a benefit of Brisker relief.

In 1924, Resolved: To take Park Palace, at 110th Street and Fifth Avenue, for the 23rd of February, 1925, to celebrate our Banquet. Let us hope to celebrate in 1940, our Golden Anniversary.

Last updated October 23, 2000 by ELR