Welcome to the BERLFEIN Home Page

Staryy Sambor, Galicia
Wola Koblanska, Austria

Sam Berlfein

Psachje BERLFEIN was born to Hersh Mates BERLFEIN and Gitel KESLER (parents Chaim Israel and Sura) in Wola Koblanska, Galicia, Austria. On November 21,1909, he immigrated to the US aboard the SS Pennsylvania from Hamburg, Germany. When he went through Ellis Island he was 19 years old. The ship manifest said he would be staying with his cousin, David JAKUBOWICZ, at 48 Lewis Street. He also says he is 5'6" with fair hair and blue eyes.

On May 9, 1921, Sam BERLFEIN completed a Declaration of Intention to become a citizen. This was done in Kings County, NY. His signature is that of Paul's father, Sam BERLFEIN. He says his birthday is July 15, 1890(his wife and kids always thought it was July 7, 1891)

Sam BERLFEIN'S brothers

Paul's cousin, Harold BERLFEIN, said he knows his father, Jack (Jacob), came over once using brother Solomon's name because the ticket they had was in Solomon's name. Sam’s brothers names, we think, were Jacob, Solomon, Yehuda Ber, and perhaps 2 others who never came to the US. And there was a sister named Sarah FRIEDMAN. Only Sam and Jack remained in the US. Yehuda Ber BERLFEIN was in the US for a short time and returned home. He learned to bake in the US and continued doing so when he returned home (perhaps to “Breshniov??”. He had a red beard and he was very kind to strangers passing through- giving them food, a place to sleep the night, and clothes if they needed them. A Yiddish newspaper at the time called “NOW” wrote an article about him. His only survivor is his daughter, Genia BERLFEIN Youngerman, who made her way to Israel in 1948 and is still living there.

Sam's parents and wife

The marriage certificate for Sam and Rose LEBOSS (parents Elias Leboss ((CHLEBOWSKI)) and Minnie SCHLEIMER)is dated 06 Jan 1924. On this certificate Sam states he is 30 years old!

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