A photo of my great grandfather, Louis Goldman, and the article about him.
I knew my great grandfather, Louis Goldman, had a good heart. His Hebrew name, Baruch Lev, ‘blessed heart,’ echoed his kindness. Now thanks to the books I found in the Catskills’ bookcase, I know even more of what a “mensch” and a “guttah neshumah” he was to many people.
I found two larger articles about my great grandfather in the bound Bialystoker Stimme magazines I found last summer. And finally, I was able to meet with my friend, Blumah, who translated these articles for me. What a blessing and what a joy! This blog is about one of the articles.
The article from 1938 honors him on the 50th anniversary of his arrival in America. So I now know that he arrived in 1888, when he was a teen. I already knew he married my great grandmother in January 1894.
The article is in praise of Louis Goldman, born Baruch Lev Litvak. This is paraphrased, but close to the translation:
“It is already 50 years that Goldman is an American, and he still looks like a young man. He remembers things as if he had just yesterday came off the ship. He is like a walking encyclopedia, He knows things as if they are ‘in his vest pocket.’ In general he knows many people.
He has the honor of being president of the oldest Bialystoker organization the ‘Somach Naflim,’ helping the fallen (Free Loan Society). And he is the vice president of the Center. (Bialystoker Home for the Aged.)
He acts with great warm love with the Home for the Aged. ‘He is the one and only one in the way he gives love and warmth, there is nobody that can be compared to him.’
In addition to bringing in friends whom he strongly interested in this project (Home for the Aged), his beloved institution, he also brought in his wife, children and grandchildren to be involved.
The grandchildren Goldman are already involved. (This included my Dad and his siblings.)
With out a doubt, the children and grandchildren honor their father/ grandfather. If these children do not outshine him, they will put out less effort. They will not do less than what you expect a human being to achieve.
Such an exceptional feeling!
From good dough, the saying goes, good baked goods will come out. (Such a wonderful analogy as his parents were bakers.)
Few fathers and grandfathers have the merit to have such an influence on their families. Especially in our world .
We are proud of the true, great honor of Louis Goldman!
A little bit of jealousy we could feel about him. But we still hope that he will bring his great grandchildren to the same level.”
WOW! My heart was so filled with love and joy as Blumah read and translated for me. Some of the words I could understand with my limited Yiddish. But the overall sentiment was so loving. It made me proud to be his great granddaughter.
My Great Grandfather’s legacy continues into the next generations. My Dad was president of his synagogue for 11 years and remained on the board until his death. My parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles would go to the Bialystoker Home for the Aged benefit dinners each year.
I continue work for the Jewish community as a board member of our synagogue, and many other Jewish and secular organizations.
My daughter works for the Peres Center for Peace in Yaffo, Israel. I think my great grandfather, her great, great grandfather would kvell with naches.
But it is not just my immediate family that continues in this tradition. My siblings, my cousins and their children also live a life of gemalut chasidim, doing good works.
I believe that our ancestor, Louis Goldman would be proud of us as we are of his good works.
The gene to do good, to be agents of tzedakah, is strong in our family. It is our Force. And I am so proud to be descendant from this man, Baruch Lev. Louis of the blessed heart.
(See links below to other blogs about Louis and the books I found.)
Mensch, good person; Guttah Neshuman, A good soul; Kvell, bursting with pride; Naches, proud enjoyment; Gemalut chasidm, doing good works.
https://zicharonot.wordpress.com/2015/08/16/treasures-in-the-bookcase/
https://zicharonot.wordpress.com/2015/10/10/12-delancey-street-and-my-family/
https://zicharonot.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/another-bialystok-treasure-investigated/
zicharonot 
What a wonderful tribute! Both the one you quote from 1938 and the one you wrote yourself.
Thank you. I was so overwhelmed when it was translated.
I can see why.