B"H
Margolioth Origins
Schematic representation of Genealogy Tree according to
Eliyahu Pearlson’s Yichus Brief.
MARGOLIOTH- MARGOLIUS- MARGOLIUS-MARGULSKIEGA-
ORIGIN OF NAME
The name was originally Margolies with various alternative spellings, Margolioth, Margulies, and Margoliouth. Margolit in Hebrew means 'pearl' which may possibly explain the large number of girls called Pearl in the descendants. The Eliyahu Margulies who settled in Hull changed his name to Pearlson and Elia Margulies called himself Elia Ellis, and occasionally Mark Ellis.
He was the grandson of Harav Eliyahu Margolioth who was the grandson of Harav Tzvi Hirsch Margolioth. Sarah Margolioth married Jacob Harris and moved to Cape Town between 1901 and 1904.
As is noted in the genealogy chart above, she was one of six siblings.
The four who remained in Poland perished in the holocaust, and the other sibling who survived was Elia who immigrated to London.
Sarah lost her husband in a bicycle accident while pregnant. She had 5 daughters, one of whom was my grandmother Feiga (Fanny Block).
The Margolioth dynasty of Rabbis is well documented in the comprehensive compendium `Elef Margolioth` Edited by Rabbi Wunder (Hebrew) and is described in THE UNIVERSAL JEWISH ENCYCLOPAEDIA VOL 7 (edited by Isaac Landman; published in 1943 by Universal Jewish Encyclopaedia, Inc.)
FAMILY ORIGINS
The immediate descendants of Avram Hirsh emigrated from Poland during the latter part of the 19th Century. Elia came from Aleksandrow a small town near Lodz, where Jews had begun to settle in the 1830's. By 1850 there were about a 1,000 Jews living in the community and by 1939 about 3500.
Today there are no Jewish remains, and the cemetery was ploughed up and is now a park.
Aleksandrow was the early childhood home of the Ellis family (Elia) and Sarah Margulies/ Margaliska who married Jacoba Giecynskiega (Jacob Harris).
Sarah was the mother of 5 daughters – Pearl, Malke (Molly), Tzipporah (Fanny), Leah and Tilly. They came to South Africa between 1901 and 1904 from England, to where they had fled from the Pogroms in Poland.
Jacoba had a brother living in South Africa (Cape Town) so he left Poland with a view to settling in Cape Town and sending for his family who would stay in England with family until he had enough money to send for them.
THE RABBINICAL CONNECTION
Eliyahu Pearlson who was a Rabbi, Mohel and Shochet wrote his family record in Hebrew, in which he traces his descent from many learned and famous scholars. Using his letter and the Encyclopaedia Judaica, I have been able to trace a line of descent from Jacob Margolioth of Regensburg who died between1499-1512. Rabbi Wunder has written a book on the Margulies family of Rabbis called 'One Thousand Pearls' but I understand that it has only been published in Hebrew. By tradition the Margolioth descend from Rashi.
Prior to Rashi`s birth, as a result of the spiritual decent of the spiritual Exile, he`s Holy Neshama was only allowed to descend by an act of extraordinary self-sacrifice and “Kiddush-Hashem”. His mission was to “open” the Written and Oral Torah, rendering it accessible to all. Many of his explanations were left as anonymous notes on the tables of Bais Midrashim.
When one of Rashi`s grandsons (Rebeinu Tam) was forced to leave his province in France, he had Ruach Hakodesh that all identifiable Jewish Documents would be lost.
His grandfather, Rashi, had a Yichus Brif tracing back to Dovid Hamelech; but how would Rebeinu Tam preserve it ?
He used his knowledge of Kabbalah to preserve it via code.
The code that he used would best be explained in modern language as “allegory”.
In this domain of drama-language he would correspond to the “Jester”.
It was given to our Nassi, Yehuda ben Yaakov, then to Nachshon Ben Aminadav, and to Dovid Hamelech when captured by the enemy`s king and escaped death by imitating a Schizophrenic.
In Chassidus it is rarely discussed in detail but is referred to as “Ohr Ha` Maakif”, “Soviv Kol Almin”, or the “Encompassing Light”.
Its relevance is since it is connected to the Essence of G-ds Being, it has the power to disrupt the narrative of Seder Hishtalshlus.
The Origin, Source or Template of the new narrative is related to Psalm 63. The Kabbalistic origin is based on the Secret name that was shown to Moshe Rebeinu at the burning bush announcing the arrival of the Redemption from Mitzraim.
When Rebeinu Tam chose the name “Margolioth” it was to throw the heritage to his offspring through 2 stories.
The first miracle to be preserved was through an act of extraordinary mesiras nefesh, exemplified by Nachshon ben Aminadav. Rashi`s father, Reb Yitzchak replicated the story by performing the miracle while falling into the ocean.
The description of the miracle of Rashi is documented in the Hakdamah in several Chumashim in common-use.
The second story was given to Sarah Shpielman/Trappler under the title Reb Yitzchak. It was in commemoration of the 100th Histalkus of Rebbetzen Rifka at Bais Rifka, Crown Heights.
ELIYAHU PEARLSON'S GENEALOGY
This is the letter, or more correctly a translation of Eliyahu's descent which he wrote in Hebrew at the beginning of his Register of Circumcisions, as it is an important document I am copying it in full.
I am Eliyahu son of Avraham Tzvi Margolioth, preacher of righteousness of the Holy Congregation of Aserkov in the neighbourhood of the large town of Lodz in the state of Poland. I was born in the town of Sgerszsh (possibly Gerush) on the first day of the festival of Pesach in the year of 1847.
When I was 17 years old, I learned the laws of Shchitah and Bedikot in the town of Krashnivitz, and from there I travelled to Germany and became second Shochet in the town of Shrims in the province of Posen.
I stayed there for two years and on becoming Chazzan I returned to the town of Storchnest next to Lissa.
In the year 1875 together with some other Jews I came to England where I found an abode in the town of Oxford, staying there for about six months when I was elected to the Holy Congregation of Newcastle-upon-Tyne as Chazzan and Shochet.
On the 15th of the month of Shevat in the year 1876 I married my gentle wife Yetta (Julie) daughter of Morainu Harav Yitzchak Bishopswerder, reader and Shochet in Penzance.
My wife originates from a prominent German family her father was Chazzan for more than forty years, and his wife was the daughter of Rav Michael who was head of the Beth Din in Lautenberg for 45 years. He died highly respected and old in 1876. My mother-in-law was the righteous mistress Esther Feiga who died on the 12th day of the month of Av in 1865 in the town of Flensburg aged 36 years.
My father of blessed memory (Avraham Tzvi) was the son (in-law) of the righteous and saintly Morainu Harav Eliyahu, of blessed memory, who was the son (in-law) of the Rav, the Luminary of the Exile, Morainu Harav Ariyeh Leib of blessed memory, Av Beth Din of the Holy Congregation of Kaminsk.
He (Arye Leib) was the son (in law) of the highly esteemed man of God, Morainu Harav Tzvi Hirsh who was called Der Rabbi Reb Hirsh Gelles of Pitrikov, blessed me his memory.
Addendum: (By Baruch Ben Yehuda Leib Eliyahu Margolioth/Trappler).
I am Baruch Margolioth Trappler, born by the name Baruch (Brian) Trappler. My mother was the only daughter of Feigy (Fanny), one of five daughters of Sarah Margolioth (Margaliska) who arrived in Cape Town between 1901 and 1904.
Sarah Margolioth and Elia (probably “Eliyahu” after our Alter Zeida) are the only siblings of from Wolfa Margolioth that we know of who survived the Shoah (Holocaust).
The family legacy was researched by Joan Shaper/Cohen who passed on to me the Yichus Tree narrated by Eliyahu Pearlson, Wolfa Margolioth brother, who was Sarah Margolioth uncle.
Malka`s (Molly Shaper) daughter, Joan Shaper/Cohen, provided me with several official documents, (copied from the Polish Jewish Birth Registry) and pictures of Sarah in Cape Town, and the family in Poland from the early 1900`s, informing me that she had co-ordinated her research with Marcy Pearlson, the daughter of Gustav Pearlson, who was the son of Eliyahu Pearlson, the author of the “Yichus Brief”.
Eliyahu Pearlson and Wolfa Margulskiega were the sons of Pearl and Avram Hirsh Margolioth, as shown in the genealogy chart.
I have also had much success in reconciling the accuracy of Eliyahu Yichus Brief and genealogy chart, with the 823 page “Elef Margolioth” written by Rabbi Israel Arie Margulies in Hebrew, and Edited by Rabbi Meir Wunder in 1993.
While monumental and conclusive, it remains incomplete, as not all of the information on the family has been collected. Regarding our family, Rabbi Wunder`s book ends with Ariyeh Leib Margolioth. That was Sarah Margolioth`s great, great grandfather.
The Yichus brief from Eliyahu Pearlson does well in bridging the gap, since it joins Sarah`s genealogy to Ariyeh Leib, Tzvi Hirsh, Menachem Mendel, and Moshe Mordechai Margolioth.
In terms of the total dynasty of Margolioth Rabbanim, our family line (from the time of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch) enjoyed an intimate friendship with the Baal Shem Tov while he was still a “Tzaddik Nistar”; and after he became revealed as the Master of the Chassidic movement remained within the “inner circle” as his closest disciples.
Rabbi Israel Arie Margulies, Admur of Premishlan in London, and author of the Opus Magnum Elef Margolioth emphasises that the Margolioth family is regarded as a single tree; an unbroken link to King David, and Jacob’s son Yehuda. (Elef Margolioth; see Meir Margolioth).
As part of Davidic tradition, lineage was passed down either via paternal or maternal lineage. Rashi had three daughters. The son-in-laws of Rashi were Rebeinu Tam and the Baalei Tosfos.
The name Margolioth was adopted by Rashi's Grandson, Rebeinu Tam to honour Rashi`s father, Reb Yitzchak. The story of Reb Yitzchak throwing his most precious stone into the ocean to prevent it from being used to embellish the Bishop`s sceptre is a well-documented legend in Jewish history.
The act of self-sacrifice, and its connection to Rashi`s birth, is what lead to Rebeinu Tam adopting the name “Precious Stone” (Margolioth), and lead to the custom of future son-in laws to change their names of origin to Margolioth upon marriage to a Margolioth daughter.
This system also ensured the unbroken linkage with the Davidic Dynasty.
For instance, Menachem Mendel Margulies was born as Menachem Mendel Ben Yoel - Feivish Shtenger. When he married Sheindel Margolius, the daughter of Moshe Mordechai Margolius, he changed his last name from Shtenger to Margolius. He was Av Bais Din of Premishlan in Poland.
Mendel Margolioth had a son named Eliyahu, who later assumed the position of Av Bais Din of Premishlan.
It would also explain why Eliyahu became a recurring name within the family.
Rabbi Tzvi-Hirsh Margolioth was the son of Eliyahu Margolioth.
Mendel and Sheindel also had seven daughters, one of whom married Mordechai Mardosh Auerbach.
The daughter of Mendel and Sheindel that married Mordechai Mardosh Auerbach had a son- Rabbi Arye Leib, and a daughter–Sheinza.
Prior to marriage, they went under the name of Auerbach.
But upon the marriage of Sheinza Auerbach to her cousin Tzvi Hirsch, (mutual grandchildren of Mendel and Sheindel Margolioth), both she and her brother Arye Leib re-adopted their original name ‘Margolioth`.
For this reason, while Arye Leib was a Torah giant and renowned Gaon in both the revealed and esoteric aspects of Torah, the author of Elef Margolioth concedes that his father`s name remains a mystery.
The explanation is that Harav HaGoan Ariyeh Leib “Margolioth”, Av Bais Din of Stanislaw was the son of Harav HaGoan Mordechai Mardosh “Auerbach”, Av Bais Din of Stanislaw.
This is the first time that an explanation has been made to clarify the enigma stated by Rabbi Wunder in Elef Margolioth.
However, once his sister Sheinza married Tzvi Hirsch Margolioth, Av Bais Din of Yezlavich,
In the Magnum Opus Elef Margolioth, Rabbi Wunder concedes that Ariyeh Leib`s father`s name remains a mystery.
(In keeping with the family tradition) Ariyeh Leib (Auerbach- Margolioth) had a daughter Raizel, who married her cousin Rabbi Meir Margolioth, the son of Tzvi Hirsch; and Sheinza Margolioth/ Auerbach.
This explains the difficulty Rabbi Wunder had in identifying the lineage of the Saintly Ariyeh Leib:
While he was born to the esteemed Rabbi Mordechai Mardush Auerbach, he re-adopted the name his maternal Grandparents, Mendel and Raizel Margolioth.
In addition to his sister Sheinza marrying Tzvi Hirsch Margolioth, his daughter Raizel now became married to his nephew, Rabbi Meir Margolioth, the son of his sister, Sheinza Auerbach/Margolioth.
Tzvi Hirsh and Sheinza had two sons, Yitzchak Dov and Meir, who were “of the first Talmidim of the Baal Shem Tov” (prior to his Hisgalut (revelation) as Tzaddik (Saint) and were referred to by the BSHT as his closest (original) students (also referred to as to as “Chasidim Harishonim”).
I have enclosed the story pertaining to this from “Tales of the Baal Shem Tov, The Unique Siddur”, Volume II, Chapter IV, Mishor Publishing, Bnei Brak, 1989, “Emunas Tzaddikim”.
In addition, Rabbi Shalom Ber Levin, Curator of the Lubavitch Library, was kind enough to make a digital file of the Baal Shem Tov`s hand-written Siddur (Ktav Yad Kodesh) where my Alter-Alter Zeidi`s name is inscribed in the margin by the words “Es Tzemech David” (May the House of David be rebuilt).
Sheinza Margolioth, our great-great grandmother, was the wife
of Tzvi Hirsh Margolioth, and the sister of Arye Leib Auerbach.
1. Meir Margolioth parents were Tzvi Hirsh Margolioth and Sheinza Auerbach/ Margolioth.
2. He married his cousin Raizel Margolioth, the daughter of Arye Leib
3. While Raizel was the daughter of Arye Leib Margolioth (born Auerbach) she was also the great-granddaughter of Mendel and Sheindel Margolioth.
4. Since Meir`s mother, Sheinza Margolioth was the sister of Arye Leib Auerbach, he and his wife Raizel were also cousins.
In the schematic version of the genealogy, the use of a zigzag indicates maternally transmitted lineage, while a straight line indicates paternally transmitted lineage.
Indeed, in the majority of cases in the Margolioth dynasty, husbands assumed the name of Margolioth after marrying the daughter of a Margolioth, explaining the dominance of zigzags in the schematic lineage diagrams.
There is a single discrepancy between the Eli Pearlson’s schematic Genealogy Tree from that published in Elef Margolioth by Rabbi Wunder:
Pearlson`s schematic Tree places Ariyeh Leib as being Tzvi-Hirsch`s son.
According to Rabbi Wunder, Tzvi Hirsch had only two sons, Yitzchak Dov, and Meir.
Indeed, Eliyahu Pearlson was the grandson of Eliyahu Margolioth, who was the grandson of Tzvi Hirsch.
Arye-Leib Margolioth/Auerbach position in the Tree needs to be corrected to reflect this new information.
It is documented in “Elef Margolioth” that the Baal Shem Tov told Meir Margolioth that the lineage of Margolioth is one of only three unbroken chains to the sons of Jacob, the others being Hurwitz and Schapiro.
In similar fashion, my great-grandfather Wolfa Margaliska, (Sarah`s father) was the son of Pearl Margolioth; Pearl was the daughter of Eliyahu Margulies, who was the granddaughter of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Margolioth.
She married Rabbi Avraham Tzvi, who upon marriage to Pearl Margolioth, took on the name `Margolioth`.
The author of the Yichus Brief, Eliyahu Pearlson, therefore errs when he says that `his father Avram Tzvi is the son of Morainu Harav Eliyahu, when in fact he is the son-in-law, having married Pearl, the daughter of Eliyahu.
(The serious oversight of maternal lineage occurs repeatedly in Eliyahu Pearlson`s Yichus Brief, and appears to be the source of repeated confusion regarding the names of origin of the rabbis marrying into the family and adopting the Margolioth name).
Practically, it does not affect the lineage, because the grandchildren are regarded as Margolioth whether the lineage is maternal or paternal.
Unfortunately, after Elia and Sarah, the name Margolioth ceased to be used in our family; Elia changed his name to Ellis. Sarah had five daughters who took upon themselves their husbands` family names.
(Continuation of Eliyahu Yichus Brief): ‘He had two sons, one was the grandfather of my father, blessed be his memory, the Rav Av Beth Din of Kaminsk as already mentioned above. The other son was the esteemed Rav Moshe Haraf, blessed be his memory who was the stepfather of the Holy Rav, the paragon of his generation, Morainu Harav Yechiel Meir, blessed be his memory, Rav of Menastanin, whose name was known the world over.
His mother's name was Gittel, daughter of the man of substance Morainu Harav Ariyeh Leib Mezalashin, and his wife was the mother of my grandmother whose name was Leah, daughter of the highly esteemed Morainu Harav, blessed be his Holy and glorious name and his memory, Rav Shmuel, Av Beth Din of the Holy Congregation of Zalashin.
His tombstone had the inscription: 'From the time of Shmuel unto Shmuel there was none like Shmuel'.
He was the grandson of the Holy Gaon Maharshah (Rabbi Shmuel Eidels, a famous 17th century Talmudist), named after him, who had two sons and one daughter.
The daughter became the mother of my grandmother Gittel and of the sons, one was the Holy Gaon, paragon of his generation, Morainu Harav Der Rabbi Asher Eidels head of a Yeshiva in Eretz Israel who lived and died there.
The other son was a man of substance and wisdom in the community, Reb Itshele. People came to him for advice, travelling as many as 100 parasangs (400 miles), as if one asks of the Urim and Turim. His son-in-law became the father-in-law of the learned Gaon Morainu Harav Yitzchak Chaim Auerbach of Landshitz father of the saintly Holy Rav Morainu Harav Meir Auerbach, head of yeshivas in Israel. May their merit sustain us.
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