There once was a child named Bertha
who grew up in Zempelburg, a small countryside town.
(Oh--Who was Bertha? She was grandmother of Wayne Bettendorf,
who is grandfather or uncle of many of you.)
Bertha lived in Zempelburg, which was
once in the country of Poland,
then West Prussia, then Germany,
and now Poland again.
(Can you just begin to imagine the turmoil that would cause
for the town and its families?)
who grew up in Zempelburg, a small countryside town.
(Oh--Who was Bertha? She was grandmother of Wayne Bettendorf,
who is grandfather or uncle of many of you.)
Bertha lived in Zempelburg, which was
once in the country of Poland,
then West Prussia, then Germany,
and now Poland again.
(Can you just begin to imagine the turmoil that would cause
for the town and its families?)
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This vintage 1914 map was drawn when Bertha was 23.
(How many railroad lines can you find?)
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Zempelburg sits in a lovely valley along the Sepolna River. The town was small, but it was second largest in the area. As you explore the map, you will see that people could travel East to West through town as well as Northward toward the Black Sea and Gdansk Bay (is that not a musical name for the bay?). It lay on the crossroads for trade throughout Eastern European. Living along a well traveled route meant more business and more customers for farmers, merchants, and craftsmen. It also meant more excitement for children and for young adults working in town.
It is now called Sepolno Krajenskie.
It was in 1891 that Bertha was born to Louis and Hannah (Werner) Levy. Growing up in this small community, most people knew one another. We know a number of relatives were also born in Zempelberg, including several aunts and uncles from the Werner family and a good many cousins near Bertha’s age. (I have yet to learn about the Levy family in the area, but continue on the prowl as I play detective.)
When Bertha and her cousins were in town, what do you imagine they would have enjoyed about seeing people from all around the world? (You can click above to see some of the countries.)
Friday dinners are a special time in the Jewish tradition. Sundown Friday begins the Day of Rest, Shabbat in Hebrew, which ends sundown Saturday. Friday dinner for the Werner and Levy families would have been a time to transition from everyday lives into a more spiritual time. Bertha probably helped her mother clean their home, prepare food, and set the table with two candles in the center. A few minutes before sundown her mother would have lit the two candles and said a blessing; with the candles and prayer, Shabbat began.
Other traditional prayers on Fridays included a blessing of the children. Bertha's father might have blessed her by placing his lips on her forehead as he held her close, and perhaps using a traditional blessing such as: May God make you like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah. On Saturdays the family might rest, pray and study the Bible, attend worship in the town synagogue, and visit with family and friends. No one had to work because the house was cleaned and meals were already prepared for all of Shabbat.
When Bertha was eight years old there was a burst of construction in town. It was an exciting time for everyone. The new brick synagogue was finished in 1899, along with new homes for the rabbi, the cantor (music leader), and custodian.
When Bertha and her cousins were in town, what do you imagine they would have enjoyed about seeing people from all around the world? (You can click above to see some of the countries.)
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| Click here to see more of Laura Bolton's art |
Other traditional prayers on Fridays included a blessing of the children. Bertha's father might have blessed her by placing his lips on her forehead as he held her close, and perhaps using a traditional blessing such as: May God make you like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah. On Saturdays the family might rest, pray and study the Bible, attend worship in the town synagogue, and visit with family and friends. No one had to work because the house was cleaned and meals were already prepared for all of Shabbat.
What day is it traditional for your family to worship?
Are there special meals you have or services you attend?
When Bertha was eight years old there was a burst of construction in town. It was an exciting time for everyone. The new brick synagogue was finished in 1899, along with new homes for the rabbi, the cantor (music leader), and custodian.
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The new synagogue in Zempelburg on a turn-of-the-century postcard
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From this postcard we can see the care and detail with which the synagogue, heart of the Jewish community, was designed and constructed. It was an elegant building with three tall arched windows that faced one of the town’s main streets, Wilhelmstrasse. The sizable lantern above the entrance, with its double doors and arch, would have cast a warm glow of gaslight onto the evening street lined by the trees and bushes planted inside the decorative wrought iron fencing. Can you find the gate along the fence?
Imagine you are present at the opening
worship service and the
celebration afterwards. If you and Bertha
helped plan the day, what would each
of you ask to be included in worship?
What food would you request
for the meal afterwards?
How about the festivities, and games?
Ginny
worship service and the
celebration afterwards. If you and Bertha
helped plan the day, what would each
of you ask to be included in worship?
What food would you request
for the meal afterwards?
How about the festivities, and games?
Explore Street Life in Zempelburg
How do the four men walking in the street
by the synagogue seem to be dressed?
What might they be doing on this day?
by the synagogue seem to be dressed?
What might they be doing on this day?
Are those telegraph or telephone poles? Did Zempelburg transmit telegraphs or have telephones at the end of the 19th century? (How could you check to find out when the telegraph and the telephone were invented?)
What else would you like to know about Bertha? Click on the email-me button to the above right and I will try to answer your questions.
I hope you enjoy exploring Zempelburg.
Thanks for visiting! See you next time.
What do you imagine the man by the sidewalk has in his cart?
What do you think the two women are talking about as they walk? Where might they be going? What does their clothing and their muffs tell you about their family and what they are able to afford?
What else do you notice and wonder about in the postcard?What else would you like to know about Bertha? Click on the email-me button to the above right and I will try to answer your questions.
I hope you enjoy exploring Zempelburg.
Thanks for visiting! See you next time.
Ginny
© 2017 Copyright by Ginny Bettendorf, All Rights Reserved
