At the peak of the Rosh Hashanah prayer service, we draw upon our collective memories, recalling our holy forefathers, their love for, and devotion to, Hashem.

But this is so much more than mere nostalgia. This is a vital part of our petition to Gd on this day of judgment.

We plead, “Remember the virtuous acts of our predecessors, and have their great merit accompany us today, as we stand judgment. For the impression they made, the imprint they left, is eternal, and is still very much part of who we are.”

There are few people of whom this is truer than Rav Yitzchak Dror, zt”l.

Rav Yitzchak created an aura of holiness wherever he went. The sanctity of the Torah, the words and pages that filled his days and nights, along with the intensity of his tefillah, and his extraordinary humility and purity – all radiated brightly from his face, affecting everyone around him.

It was the joy he exuded as he performed mitzvot. His palpable excitement as he selected his arba minim (four species), built the sukkah or gave tzedakah. It was his selflessness and generosity, his willingness to give his time, energy and resources for others. It was his desperate yearning for the Bet Hamikdash.

This holy tzaddik has left us. All that’s left are the memories. And the merits.

There are images, echoes, written notes of Torah…all of which combine to create a trail connecting us to his life’s work, and each of which generates merits for us and for the Jewish Nation.

As we prepare for the High Holidays, we turn to Hashem and beg, “Remember this Jew, and shower us with Your mercy in his merit.”

In his final days, this tzaddik, Rav Yitzchak, was alone, imprisoned between hospital walls, with no family or friends, or even medical attendants. He was alone with angels.

Like our patriarch Yitzhak bound to the altar, Rav Yitzhak was bound to his bed, unable to cry for help. His final breaths whispered words of Tehillim, uttering words of heartfelt prayer that floated to the Heaven, where it became a precious song.

No human being saw him during those final days. But Hashem did. And Hashem remembers all, forever.

The tzaddik, Rav Yitzchak, continues singing by his Gemara, no less now than before.

Those notes of Torah, the hope and yearning, and, of course, the pure faith, live on here, in this tribute, written by the tzaddik’s son, Yissaschar Dror.

Remember. And, dear Gd, please have mercy.

Numerous sources speak of two different messiahs who will come to redeem the Jewish people – Mashiah ben David and Mashiah ben Yosef. Who exactly are these two redeemers, and what unique roles will each fill in the process of our national redemption?

Mashiah ben David

The identity of Mashiah ben David goes back to our patriarch Yaakov, who, just prior to his death, informed his children of their descendants’ final redemption.[i] He foresaw that Mashiah will descend from the tribe of Yehuda –  specifically, from the royal family of King David[ii] – and for this reason, Mashiah is commonly referred to as “Mashiah ben David” (“the Messiah, the son of David”).  Likewise, the prophets occasionally referred to Mashiah as “avdi David” (“My servant David”[iii]), by the name of his illustrious ancestor.

The term “Mashiah” literally means “the anointed one,” and thus describes Mashiah’s designation for the role of redeemer.  Some explain the term as indicating that the prophet Eliyahu will anoint the Mashiah ben David with the special oil that was used to anoint the Judean kings during the First Commonwealth, endowing him with the divine, spiritual status of Israel’s redeemer. (The oil has been hidden some time before the First Temple’s destruction.)

An Illustrious Pedigree

The lofty neshama (soul) of Mashiah was originally brought into this world by Yehuda – one of Yaakov’s righteous sons – and Tamar, a granddaughter of Noah. Their specific spiritual qualities were necessary to overcome the efforts of Satan, who “stood guard” over Mashiah’s soul, to prevent his birth, as he will cause Satan’s eternal downfall[iv] .

King David’s great-grandfather, Boaz, led the Jewish Nation during the times of the Shofetim (Judges). He later married the righteous convert, Ruth, who bore him a son named Oved. The Sages describe Oved as a man of piety and devotion to Hashem, who was rewarded with an exceptionally long life, which spanned four hundred years.[v] His son Yishai was a pure sadik who did not commit any sins during his lifetime. The seventh of Yishai’s eight sons, David, was a man of  exceptional character and religious conviction. He was a disciple of the prophet Shemuel and even achieved a prophetic stature of his own, a level of ru’ah hakodesh (prophetic insight) with which he composed the book of Tehillim (Psalms)[vi]. The Sages list David with the avot (patriarchs) as the only people over whom the evil inclination exerted no control, and they rank him among the seven greatest sadikim who ever lived[vii].  He was thus chosen to establish the Israelite monarchy that would continue eternally through his descendants[viii].

Where is Mashiah Today?

The Midrash[ix] relates that when the Second Temple was destroyed (70 CE), Mashiah ben David was born in the town of Bet Lehem – the birthplace of King David – but a powerful storm lifted the infant and brought him to Gan Eden.[x] When the time for the final redemption arrives, Mashiah ben David will be sent forth from Gan Eden to gather the Jews from exile and rebuild the temple.

Other sources, however, indicate that Mashiah ben David is with us here in this world.  The Midrash compares Mashiah to Moshe Rabbenu, who grew up in Pharaoh’s palace and was eventually chosen to redeem the Jews from the Egyptian exile[xi]. Mashiah, too, lives among us and will one day be assigned his role to lead Am Yisrael to redemption. Furthermore, several stories are told of sadikim who met Mashiah. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi met Mashiah at the gates of the city of Rome and inquired into the date of his arrival.[xii] The Hida (1724-1806) identified a certain child who had died during infancy as Mashiah, who was taken from the world due to the nation’s unworthiness.[xiii] And Rabbi Aharon Rokeach, the previous Belzer Rebbe, reportedly said that his grandfather had twice seen Mashiah.[xiv]

How can we reconcile these accounts with the tradition that Mashiah awaits in Gan Eden?

The commentaries explain[xv] that in each generation, a person descended from King David is born with an element of Mashiah ben David’s soul. When the Jews will be worthy of redemption, the complete neshama (soul) of Mashiah will descend from Gan Eden and enter this individual. He will then receive prophecy revealing to him his status as Mashiah and commanding him to go redeem the Jewish nation. Some say that this person is born each year on Tisha Be’av, just like the “original” Mashiah born at the time of the Temple’s destruction.[xvi]

This also explains the Talmudic tradition assigning five different names for Mashiah[xvii]. These names likely refer to different people born in different generations, who had the potential to become Mashiah.[xviii] Thus for example, Rabbi Haim Ibn Attar (the Or Hahayim Hakadosh, 1696-1743) could have been Mashiah, as recorded in many sefarim, had the people been worthy, and he himself specifies the name “Haim” as the name for Mashiah in his Torah commentary.[xix]

The Extraordinary Spiritual Qualities of Mashiah Ben David

“The divine spirit of Gd will rest upon him, a spirit of wisdom and intelligence, of leadership and strength, of knowledge and fear of Gd. Not with the view of his eyes or hearing of his ears will he rule and judge, but rather with the smell of ‘fear of Gd’ will he discern the truth…with words alone he will smite the evildoers and the whispering of his lips will destroy the wicked… (Yeshaya 11:2-4)

The commentaries[xx] explain that Mashiah will be endowed with divine wisdom that will surpass even that of King Solomon – the wisest of all men. He will achieve unparalleled piety and proficiency in Torah, as well as a level of prophecy that will render him greater than the highest angels. All nations of the world will tremble when even uttering Mashiah’s name. As the Rambam writes, “Mashiah ben David will be spiritually distinguished and more powerful than any previous Jewish King.”[xxi]

Mashiah ben David will reach the greatest heights of spiritual achievement when Eliyahu the Prophet anoints him with the special anointing oil.

Mashiah ben Yosef

The emergence of Mashiah ben David will be preceded by Mashiah ben Yosef, a descendant of Yosef Hassadik[xxii] who will lay the groundwork for redemption by waging a decisive battle against the descendants of Esav. This triumph will mark the fulfillment of Yizhak’s blessing to Yaakov, “heve gevir le’ahecha” (“you shall dominate your brother” – Beresheet 27:29). Yaakov transferred this blessing specifically to Yosef, endowing him with the strength to subdue Esav’s descendants.[xxiii]

Tradition teaches that Mashiah ben Yosef will be killed[xxiv] in battle as he wages his war against Esav. His death will serve to atone for the sin of King Yeravam, from the tribe of Yosef, who built houses of idolatry in Eress Yisrael, leading countless Jews astray.[xxv] This tragedy will cause many Jews to despair and lose hope, until the arrival of Mashiah ben David and the prophet Eliyahu, who will resurrect Mashiah ben Yosef and complete the redemptive process.[xxvi] Mashiah ben David will then assume the mantle of leadership, with Mashiah ben Yosef as his viceroy.[xxvii]

According to Kabbalistic teaching[xxviii], the death of Mashiah ben Yosef can be averted through the Jews’ prayers for his success. Indeed, many siddurim instruct that while one recites the beracha of “boneh Yerushalayim” in the amida prayer, he should have in mind that no harm should befall Mashiah ben Yosef.

Interestingly enough, the Midrash identifies the prophet Yona as the original Mashiah ben Yosef.[xxix] Yona initially hesitated to fulfill Gd’s command to urge the city of Nineveh to repent. The reason, the Midrash explains, is that Yona thought the eventual emergence of the cruel nations of Gog U’magog would be from the descendents of Nineveh, and these nations would cause his death before Israel’s final redemption.  He therefore did not wish to lead them to repentance and allow them to accrue merit.[xxx]

The Kabbalists write[xxxi] that in every generation, a spark from the soul of Mashiah ben Yosef descends into the greatest sage of the time. Once the Jews are deemed worthy, that sage will be sent forth to subdue the nations in preparation for Mashiah ben David’s arrival. Indeed, the Arizal (Rav Yishak Luria, 1534-1572) is said to have had the soul of Mashiah ben Yosef[xxxii], and many have identified the great kabbalist Rabbi Shamshon of Ostripol, zs”l (1600-1648), as the Mashiah ben Yosef of his generation. Rabbi Shamshon was brutally murdered by the Cossacks during the Poland massacres of 1648-1649. It is told that the Chozeh of Lublin, a famous Hassidic master, often prayed that Rabbi Shamshon’s tragic death should atone for the sin of King Yeravam, so that the eventual Mashiah ben Yosef could survive the battles against Esav.[xxxiii]

Confirming a Messianic Claim

A number of different figures have arisen throughout Jewish history making Messianic claims, some even performing supernatural wonders to prove their stature, only to be revealed later as false messiahs.  Among the famous examples are Shimon bar Kochba, who led a revolt against the Roman Empire in120 CE, and the legendary sinner Shabbtai Svi. These unfortunate incidents leave us wondering how we will confirm the authenticity of the true Mashiah upon his arrival.

Our sages answer that the real Messiah’s authenticity will be confirmed in retrospect.  After he succeeds in subduing the enemy nations, returning the Jews to Eress Yisrael and leading them to repentance, we will know with certainty that he is the true Mashiah. At first, he will indeed be met with skepticism and opposition, but once he completes his mission, his Messianic stature will be confirmed and acknowledged.[xxxiv] This process is among the features that uniquely distinguishes Jewish Messianic belief. Our faith in the Messiah will be grounded in incontrovertible facts and undeniably miraculous events which will be witnessed by the entire world. This stands in stark contrast to those faiths which are based on blind Messianic faith without proof.

Fortunate are we, the true Chosen Nation of Hashem, who are led by righteous leaders who show us the path of truth, and who have been promised  the ultimate good with the final redemption, may it come speedily in our days, Amen!

Next Issue: Predicted Dates for Mashiah’s Arrival

[i]Parashat Vayehi 49:10.

[ii]Rambam, Hilchot Melachim, 11.

[iii] Yehezkel 37:24.

[iv] Or Hahayim, Parashat Vayehi.

[v]Midrash Rabba, Parashat Vayehi 96:4 (see commentaries).

[vi] Megillah 14a (see Rashi)

[vii] Baba Batra 17a

[viii] See Shmuel 1:17:12 (and Yalkut Shemuel there).

[ix] Midrash Eicha 1:51.

[x] Maharsha, Sanhedrin 98b.

[xi] Shemot Rabba 1:26

[xii] Sanhedrin 98a.

[xiii]A Legacy of Leaders, page 80.

[xiv] Orot U’Netivot, vol. 3, p.237.

[xv] Ossrot Aharit Hayamim, vol. 2, pp. 35-38.

[xvi] Peri Sadik, Parashat Devarim 13.

[xvii] Sanhedrin 98b

[xviii] Ibid.

[xix] Or Hahayim, Devarim 15:7.

[xx] Ossrot Aharit Hayamim, pp. 66-67.

[xxi]Rambam’s commentary to the Mishna, Sanhedrin, chapter 10.

[xxii] Sukka 52a.

[xxiii] Baba Batra 123b (see Maharsha).

[xxiv] Sukka 52a.

[xxv] Zohar, Parashat Ki Tesse 276b.

[xxvi] Ossrot Aharit Hayamim, pp. 168-170.

[xxvii] Yehezkel 37:17-25. (See also Rabbi Michel Silber’s Bayam Derech ,Parashat Vayigash, p. 255.)

[xxviii] Shivchi Ha’Ari, p. 119.

[xxix] Tanna Debe Eliyahu 18.

[xxx] Asara Ma’amarot, p. 287.

[xxxi] Ben Yehoyada, Sanhedrin 38b.

[xxxii] Shivchi Ha’Ari, page 119.

[xxxiii] Divre Emet, Parashat Vayesse.

[xxxiv] Osserot Aharit Hayamim, pp.136-140.

Lois D. Sutton, Esq.

It is hard to believe that we are still dealing with the deadly Coronavirus and its devastating consequences, which do not seem to be abating anytime soon. In the midst of the illnesses and loss of loved ones, the worry, the stress, the changing rules, and overload of information, we have rediscovered ourselves, our kids, spouses, families, and friends, and vice versa.  We are using the technology that formally isolated and divided us to now keep us connected.   We’ve seen how resilient, creative, and caring we all are.  These new realities can be viewed as a silver lining of this crises.

However, no matter how positive and upbeat we are, these are still uncertain and challenging times, and our thoughts become directed towards doing whatever we can to protect our families.

While to most of us this means physical protection, it is equally important to be legally protected, as well. The silver lining here is that people are now very motivated to make sure that their documents are in order. This is something everyone acknowledges is important to do, but  somehow it always gets put off.

The sad reality is that COVID-19 has reminded us of how precious life is.  It has also created new obstacles such as closed banks, courts, and government offices. It has made it difficult and sometimes impossible to have documents signed, notarized, or even located.   No longer are we allowed to accompany or stay with our loved ones in hospitals, rehab centers , and assisted living facilities.  It is challenging to even communicate with our loved ones or their doctors.

Critical Documents Every Family Needs

Now more than ever it is crucial to have a Will, a Power of Attorney, and a Health Care Directive/Living Will.  And even if you have them, here is why they should be reviewed and updated to be relevant and effective in today’s “new normal.”

A Will makes sure the assets you have worked hard to build will be distributed according to your wishes. If you do not have a Will, your assets will be given out according to your state’s intestate laws (laws pertaining to someone who has died without a Will), which may not be what you would have wanted.  A Will also  names the person(s) you want to be in charge of your estate.  If you do not have a Will,  the Court will need pick an Executor if your heirs do not agree, and a bond, based on the total dollar value of all of your assets, will need to  be posted.  Issues regarding guardians, minors, disabled beneficiaries, second marriages, and tax planning cannot be dealt with if you do not have a Will.

Another important factor to keep in mind is that in order to satisfy halacha with regard to inheritance, one must have the proper documents, including secular ones. My office is experienced in working with clients and their rabbis in this area.

The negative effects of not having a Will are greatly magnified during COVID-19, among them higher costs and significant delays.

A Power of Attorney (PoA) will enable financial transactions if a person is unavailable or is incapacitated.  Today it is quite possible for someone not to be able to sign documents due to a lock down, quarantine, travel ban, compromised health issues, etc.  Without a valid and properly drafted PoA, sales, purchases, and applications for COVID-19 aid cannot be completed, and bank or investment accounts cannot be accessed.

A Health Care Directive/Living Will contains your instructions with regard to medical treatment and appoints your designated representative for medical decisions if you are unable to make them.  These days patients are alone in hospitals, and if they are unable to direct their own care, they are not allowed to have family there to do so.  It is imperative to have a customized document prepared, as the form provided by hospitals is generic and usually does not reflect basic Jewish practices or halacha.  My office has Halachic Health Care Directive/Living Wills as well.

The Silver Lining: Beneficial Time for Creating Asset Protection and Tax Shelters

Another silver lining, which will be explored in Part II of this series, is that the negative economic consequences of COVID-19: a stalled economy, volatile stock market, record unemployment, and lowered asset valuations, coupled  with low interest rates and the highest  estate and gift  tax exemptions in history, have combined to create a unique but short term  window of opportunity for estate planning, asset protection, and tax  shelters. Even clients with a modest estate can benefit.

If you do not have the basic documents or an estate plan, now is the time to prepare these. If you have an estate plan, now is the time for it to be reviewed, updated, and enhanced.

* This is not intended as legal advice, and should not be used or relied upon as such.  It is provided for information only.  Please consult your legal, financial, tax, or other professional advisor.

Lois D. Sutton is an attorney whose practice area includes residential and commercial real estate, estate planning, wills and trusts, including Halachic Wills and Halachic Health Care Directive/Living Wills, probate and estate administration, and business matters.   Contact her at 732 245-4500 Lsutton@loissuttonlaw.com

“The daughter of so-and-so is to marry so-an-so!” 

If you’re married, then you should know that these words resonated through the heavens already 40 days prior to your conception.¹ Yes, before man is even but a fetus in his mother’s womb, a heavenly voice proclaims precisely whom he is destined to marry. It is, quite literally, a match made in heaven!

Min HaShamayim

Many of those who are in the midst of the process of searching for a shidduch, or “bazra,” find the process to be difficult, and perhaps even exhausting.

Our hachamim make a seemingly peculiar statement in regard to a person’s quest for a soulmate: “Matchmaking is as difficult for Gd as was the splitting of the sea.” The words of our sages are obviously profound, and need to be explained. Was splitting the sea “difficult” for Hashem? Does any act – natural or supernatural – require even the slightest effort on His part? Can we dare limit his capabilities, or suggest that He encounters “difficulty” doing something? Certainly not.

Hashem himself declares, “Am I under any limitations?” Indeed, He is not limited by any constraints.

So, just how hard is it for Gd to split the sea? It is effortless. To say matchmaking is “just as hard” would thus mean that it is exactly as effortless as the aforementioned miracle.

The question remains, however, just what are the hachamim teaching us in this passage?

If we trust that Gd is indeed the one true matchmaker, then we can rest assured that at the right time, Hashem will easily send us our intended mate, for it is as easy for Gd as the splitting of the sea. However, if one believes the finding of a mate is dependent solely on the means of his or her own efforts – then that person has good reason to despair, because this undertaking is as difficult as splitting the sea!

Priorities First

Besides recognizing that finding a soulmate depends solely on Hashem, it is also essential to first know what’s important, which traits and qualities are required for a marriage to succeed. When setting out to take this critical step, one must learn of the fundamental character trait that we, as Jews, have emphasized more than any other when finding a spouse – a tradition that dates back to the days of our forefathers.

When Avraham Avinu’s trusted servant, Eliezer, set out to find a wife for his master’s son, he prayed for a sign. He decided that if a girl at the well would offer water for both him and his camels this would be a heavenly sign that she was chosen to marry Yitzhak.

Just as he concluded his prayer, Eliezer witnessed something remarkable. Rivkah, the daughter of Avraham’s nephew, Betuel, made her way to the well, whereupon the water miraculously rose from the well’s surface. After seeing this miracle, Eliezer headed over to Rivkah to see if she would meet the criterion which he had established. Of course, as we all know, she did, offering to draw water for both Eliezer himself and his camels.

The question is obvious. Eliezer saw with his own eyes how Gd performed an open miracle for Rivkah, and yet he still insisted on “testing” her by asking for water. Wasn’t the miracle sufficient to prove her worthiness as a marriage partner for Yitzhak? Did Eliezer not recognize already then that Rivkah was a special, righteous girl with the credentials for joining the family of Avraham?

Rabbi Yitzhak Zev Soloveitchik, zt”l, explains that indeed, Eliezer was not “sold” on Rivkah after seeing the miracle. Although this miracle was significant and noteworthy, it did not prove that Rivkah had the most vital quality necessary for marriage: good middot. The fact that she was righteous enough to deserve a miracle did not mean that she was kindhearted, thoughtful and generous. And therefore Eliezer proceeded with his plan, asking for water to see her response.

When one sets out to find a match, middot must occupy the very highest rung on the priority scale. While good looks, financial resources and a high-ranking social status might sound nice on paper, don’t forget that these extras can be lost or stolen in the blink of an eye. The person with a genuinely pleasant, selfless character is the one who makes the perfect soul-mate, and these are the qualities that will sustain a marriage through thick and thin, and build a home of true happiness and joy.

1 Sotah 2b.

I became interested in genealogy and our family history already as a teenager.  Every time my father, Abe Missry, or my mother, Renee (Salem) Missry, would introduce me to a relative, I wanted to know exactly how they were related. I often made primitive diagrams, filling in the blanks.

There was a lot to fill in. Each of my parents had over 80 first cousins. I had about 50; 33 first cousins on the Missry side alone.

Our grandparents were Frieda Shaalo and Joseph Nessim Missry, both born in Aleppo. Joseph was the eldest son of Selim Missry and Hanna Hazan. Selim and Hanna had two sons, Joseph and Jack, and four daughters, Sara, Grace, Becky, and Rose. Frieda was the daughter of Abraham Shaalo and Grace Teubal.

As a professional genealogist, I have found many important discoveries, each with its own “Aha” moment. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I had both the time and the attention of my 30 Missry cousins (three have passed on) through our very active WhatsApp group to update our Missry family tree, and to unlock many mysteries.

The story we were told is that Frieda Sha’alo came to Ellis Island at the age of 13 or 14 as a child bride for a man with the surname Ballisano. When he saw her, he said, “I sent for a wife, and they sent me a child,” and gave her money to return to Syria. No one went back in those days. Allegedly, my grandfather Joseph heard of her plight and said, “If no one else marries you, I will” and their fate was sealed.

But I discovered something much different.

Double Surnames

 The first thing we need to realize is that many Syrian families had two surnames, in order to distinguish between different branches of the family.

Years ago, I was asked by the family of Isaac Shalom to find his ship record and marriage certificate to Alice Chabot. There was nothing listed anywhere. But then I found Isaac’s application for naturalization – on which he wrote that he came to Ellis Island traveling under the name Isak Chalon. Aha!

But where was their marriage certificate? A search of city records found a marriage on the same date between Isaac Shalom and Geraz Levy. The Chabot/Shabot double surname in Aleppo was Shabot Levy. (Alice’s brother had taken the name Levy, not Shabot, on Ellis Island. I ordered the actual certificate from the Municipal Archives and sure enough, Alice was listed as Geraz Chabot Levy. Aha!

“But her name is Alice,” said her grandson, Isaac Richard Shalom.

“I assure you no one came from Aleppo using the name Alice,” I replied. Alice was an American name.

These two discoveries are included in the book about Isaac Shalom Keeper of the Flame – The Life and Times of Isaac Shalom by Isaac Richard Shalom and Jeffery Michael Beal.

Back to the Missry family. I had difficulty finding the ship records of Joseph Missry and Frieda Shaalo. But I stubbornly persisted, and I found an index number on Frieda’s naturalization record. This led me to her application for naturalization, on which she wrote that she came to the U.S. using the name Freda Schma in June 1907. The ship record says Frieda came with her brother, Ezra, and their destination was the home of David and Merhaba Levy, their older sister.

But how did Sha’alo become Schma??

I spoke to Judy Levy, one of my father’s cousins, wo explained that Schma is a transliteration of Shamah. The family double surname in Aleppo was Shamah Shacalo. Aha!

Another discovery concerned my grandfather, Joseph Missry. Joseph arrived in 1908 to escape conscription into the Turkish army, under the name Youssef Masry. But his application for naturalization showed his first arrival was in October 1919 at Rouse’s Point, NY, the border with Canada. How could that be right if I had a ship record from 1908, that listed his mother as his point of contact in Aleppo? And I had a marriage certificate that showed Joseph and Freda were married in June 1909 and had three children by 1919. Also, Joseph had registered for the draft in World War I.

It turned out that Joseph worked for the Syrian-owned Chinese Linen Importing Co., and he traveled so often he could not meet the five-year residency requirement until 1924, using the 1919 entry. Aha!

So now I knew that the story all the cousins had been told was not entirely true. Frieda was in New York a full two years before she married Joseph in June 1909!

The Argentina Connection

 More discoveries. Al Shabot married my aunt, Ann Missry, the eldest daughter of Joseph and Frieda. Al, whose Hebrew name was Abraham, had the English name Albert on legal documents. He came under the name Bramino Levi. Again, we have the Shabot Levy double surname.

Mollie Missry, the fourth child of Joseph and Frieda, married Earl Falack, her first cousin, the son of Joseph’s sister Sara (Missry) and Jacob Falack. Earl was born in Aleppo under the name Isidore. The Falacks left Aleppo with Isidore but got stuck in Corsica due to World War I. Jacob and Sara had two children – Sam and Milo – in Corsica. But according to their ship records, they traveled under the name Falak, and Sara was listed as Siera, Isidore was Lizerre, Milo was Emilio, and Sam was Simri. It appears they took or were given Italian names. Under the column, “person in the country who knew them,” they listed Haim Djuejati, the husband of Joseph’s sister, Grace Missry.

The next discovery had to do with Grace (Missry) Djuejati. I had always known that Grace went to Buenos Aires, Argentina and had met her son Selim there on a vacation years ago. What I didn’t know was that one of her children had stayed in Syria, with the last one coming to New York during the 1992 airlift from Syria. How could I find them?

I found Djouejati (there are many spellings) in the online Brooklyn phone book and called. This led to amazing interviews and stories of each person’s escape, until the last family member got out in 1992. I was able to connect to the Buenos Aires descendants by reaching out to contacts there.

 An Amazing Graveyard Discovery

The last and most important discovery has to do with my great-grandmother, Hanna, or Anna Hazan Missry. I had not even known she came to America.  I was in the cemetery on Staten Island, photographing my relatives’ gravestones for my book about our family history – L’Dor V’Dor: Tracing the Missry Family Heritage – when my cousin, Abe Jerome, tipped me off to her stone.

My great grandmother had been in New York? Why had no one ever mentioned it?

Apparently, she died so long ago, the elders in the family didn’t mention it until I asked.

As it turns out, Hanna Missry came to New York in September 1912 with her three youngest children – Bahia, Jacob and Rose – and with the family shawl. This shawl has been used in our family at brit milahs for generations. This discovery helped me understand that Hanna brought the shawl to America for the brit of her first grandchild, my uncle Sam Missry, who was born in November 1912.

Sephardic Heritage Project

In 2011, I founded the Sephardic Heritage Project, a nonprofit organization devoted to acquiring genealogical records from Sephardic communities around the world. One project involved translating and databasing 7,500-plus brit milah records of the Dayan mohelim from Syria. In those records, I found that the brit milah of my grandfather, Joseph Nessim Missry, took place on September 5, 1891. Assuming the brit was on time, Joseph’s birthday was August 29, 1891.

The importance of recording one’s family history is indicated by the Torah, which includes 477 genealogical records. The Prophets and other books of the Bible include 2,756 genealogical records. Divrei Hayamim (Chronicles) is almost entirely concerned with genealogy.

A family’s genealogical history is such a precious gift that we can give to future generations, especially for large families. Let’s all take some time for this vitally important project, laying a strong, firm foundation for our descendants for centuries to come.

Tips for Searching your Family Tree

•  Disregard spelling. Dweck, Doueck, Dwek, Douk are all the same. Same with Missry, Misry, Misria. I found 11 different spellings of Dushey.
•  Dates can be deceiving, even on primary source documents. Most people in Syria did not know their real birthdays, and there are no primary source documents to prove birth. Hence, the same person can have different birthdays listed on different documents.
•  Know the double surname of your family. It can be a key element of learning your family history.
•  Interview the elders in your family. Keep asking questions. You never know which question will elicit a memory or anecdote.
•  Check out sephardicgen.com and sephardicheritageproject.org for information.

 Sarina Roffé is a professional genealogist working on family trees through her company Sephardic Genealogical Journeys (sephardicgenjourneys.com).

A momentous event occurred in the Jewish community early this year that had nothing to do with the coronavirus.

On January 1, the Jewish world celebrated the 13^th global Siyum HaShas, honoring those who had completed the Talmud by learning one daf (page) each day. There are 2,711 pages in the Gemara, and thus the Daf Yomi cycle spans approximately seven years and five months.

The Siyum was a global celebration that generated a great deal of energy and excitement throughout the Jewish world.  Over 90,000 men, women and children gathered at MetLife Stadium, and tens of thousands more celebrated this momentous event in a variety of other venues throughout the world.

The idea of Jews across the globe representing a variety of backgrounds studying the very same text each day was the brainchild of Rabbi Meir Shapiro, the famed Rosh Yeshiva of Chachmei Lublin in Poland (1887-1933). When he proposed the idea at the First World Congress of Agudath Israel in Vienna on August 16, 1923, many rabbinic leaders enthusiastically embraced his idea, which they saw as a way of unifying the Jewish people by providing a commonality of purpose and injecting pride in being part of the Torah world.

The sense of communal connection which we all felt so powerfully at the heels of January’s momentous Siyum HaShas was sadly disrupted due to the COVID-19 crisis.  Daily prayers in the synagogue, the recitation of Kaddish and Birkat Kohanim, and Daf Yomi classes were all suspended.  Everyone was relegated to creating their own mikdash me’at (miniature sanctuary) in their own homes, and creating “Zoom” classes.  With many community members falling ill and being hospitalized, and everyone else being quarantined and separated, the sense of unity and togetherness was, sadly, lost.

“Let’s Shoot for the Stars”

Yet, in a vacuum, innovation occurs.

A self-proclaimed “regular guy”, Marc Sayegh, responding to the rabbis’ call for unity in the community and seeking to bring zechut (merit) to end the crisis and healing to the sick, thought to himself, “If we’re going to come together as a community, let’s shoot for the stars and do the impossible.”

Mr. Sayegh’s idea was simple, yet ingenious.

Just as groups sometimes form to divide the book of Tehillim, each committing to recite certain chapters so that the group collectively completes the entire book, Marc decided to unite the community to do the same with Shas. Instead of each individual learning one page a day for 2,711 days, he figured, let’s gather 2,711 men who will commit to learn one page, such that altogether, they will finish the entire Shas by Shavuot, which was just six weeks away. Shooting for the stars, indeed!

Mr. Sayegh approached several prominent community rabbis, including Rabbi Rahamim Churba, Rabbi Eli Mansour, and Rabbi Duvi Ben Sousson, for their advice and blessing. Then, together with his “partner in crime,” Benny Serure, who spent countless hours making phone calls to publicize the event, and with the support of Morris Dweck from Itorah.com, Mr. Sayegh had a website created and advertised the endeavor. In just six weeks, 600 men from around the world had committed to learn all 2,711 pages.

A Celebration of Unity

Speaking at the Siyum, which was livestreamed on Itorah.com, Rabbi Churba stressed that each one of us is a vital member of Klal Yisrael with unique qualities that enhance the whole group.

“With ahdut we can do great things; we could not have completed the Shas without those who committed to learning even one daf,” Rabbi Churba reflected.

Rabbi Ben Sousson echoed Rabbi Churba’s sentiments with the story of an elderly Holocaust survivor who, after learning one daf, his first ever, wanted to make a siyum.  His son was concerned that this might not be proper protocol, and so he consulted with Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, who agreed with the father – that this was truly a cause for celebration. Rabbi Feinstein even asked if he could participate.

The day after the siyum, the man passed away.

Speaking at the funeral, Rabbi Feinstein said of this man, “There are those who acquire their world with one daf.”

Rabbi Ben Soussan applied the lesson of this inspiring story to the recent community siyum.

“There are many people who participated in the learning for this siyum who studied their first daf ever,” he said.  “They don’t realize that they receive the full zechut of Shas. Everyone who learned even one daf is an equal participant in the Siyum HaShas and celebration of unity.”

With the encouragement of the rabbis, Community Shas has started a new cycle with the goal of completing the entire Shas by Rosh Hashanah. Anybody interested in joining is encouraged to visit communityshas.com and register for the page or pages he wishes to learn.