Dear Cousins,
The photos that Herb sent sent me into a flurry of research which revealed several of cousin marriages.
1. Norman and Roberta Rauch's mother, Sylvia Sternlicht, is the daughter of Eva Chawa Kreinik, who is the daughter of Tuyve Kreinik and Frimet Neppel Feiler
2. Harry Hirsch Rauch (in the Kreinik Boys and Rauch photo) is the son of Baruch Rauch and Anna Chana Kreinik. I haven't figured out who her parents are. Any guesses?
3. Teddy Stieber is the son of Leah Kreinik, who is the daughter of Nathan and Rachele Kreinik. There is some evidence that Rachele is the daughter of Jacob Kreinik and Cyfro Tsipa Lichtenshal.
I am not sure of what to make of all these cousin marriages. DNA analyses would show a lot of common material -- much more than simple cousins of the nominal degree.
I am trying to get in touch with Roberta Rauch Fachler and her twin brother Norman Rauch to see if they can confirm that the Rauch in the Kreinik Boys and Rauch photo is indeed their father, Harry. Does anyone have Roberta's phone number?
Art and Ida are right that this process goes best when lots of minds collaborate.
====== letter =========
Dear Kreinik Relatives,
In the latest round of genealogical research I uncovered yet another cousin marriage.
Stanley Kreinik knew about many of these, but I did not process what was implied until much later.
Sarah Kreinik (1892-1976) married
Isidore Kreinik (1888-1982) on
16 Dec 1912. This was one of the first cousin marriages I heard about from Andrew Kreinik.
I counted 16 individuals in the tree involved in cousin marriages. Five of those unions were within the Kreinik side.
This graphic representation shows the complexity, Cousin marriages are indicated by the long, horizontal lines connecting disparate parts of the tree.
I have a history of interest in consanguinity. When I was in Hebrew School in Englewood, I asked my teacher, David Rosenbaum, if I remember, who did Cain and Abel marry? (Could only be their sisters or their mother, to my thinking). Perhaps our origin story was one of incest. David R. did not want to answer that (impertinent?) question, so he sent me to the principal. I thought this might be where the magic and power of story-telling would be revealed. But, no. The principal said they married angels. Then I suspected that the literal reading was bullshit. Perhaps there was another reading, but I was too young to be initiated. "Oh, that Adam and Eve story, that's what we tell little kids."
Maybe the curtain would be pulled back and I would be initiated into the mysteries and strength of the Jewish tradition. Or was I stil a little kid? Isn't Hebrew School is supposed to teach a sophisticated approach to Judaism? I was disillusioned.
Now I realize that I in revisiting the issue of Consanguinity, I am restating my 12-year-old's question.
In early populations, there were very few people one could marry. What are the ramifications of that practice, and when did it begin to change? "..in the United States, where first-cousin marriage is illegal or a criminal offense in 31
of the 50 states"
Linda and I have been discussing the issue. She pointed out that even if the literal reading were to be taken, and the boys married their sisters, that would be true for only one generation. After that would be cousin marriages.
Now we have to figure out who are the parents of the other Anna Kreinik (b.1879) who married Elias Laub.
Pinia Kreinik Laub in Yad VaShem died in Sedziszow Mlp in 1942 along with many of her family.
1954
