ASIMOV, Mendel

Notes:

Mendel was the youngest of 12 children of Abraham Ber and his first wife, and the only one of his siblings to survive infancy, according to the written recollections of his grandson, Judah (Jack) Asimov, 1896-1969.

In his recollections, Judah writes that although Mendel was "not a scholar," neither was he ignorant of Jewish reading and prayer -- only of the Talmud. Yet he was clever, and was elected several times to the "Society of Psalm of David Sayers." He also was in the Chevro-Kadisho, a volunteer group that took care of holy burials. Mendel's decision would prevail if there were disagreements in burial location, as there often were.

Family/Spouse: UNKNOWN, Wife. Wife was born about 1850 in Russia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. ASIMOV, Aaron Menachem was born about 1865 in Petrovichi, Smolensk, Russia; died in 1939 in Russian hospital, St. Petersburg.
2. ASIMOV, Vele was born about 1875 in Russia; died about 1944 in Russia.
3. ASIMOV, Hepschel
4. ASIMOV, Unknown

Notes:

In his written recollections, Judah (Jack) Asimov, 1896-1969, wrote that his great-grandfather, Abraham Ber, died when Jack was 3 years old, but that he remembers being brought over to the death bed to be blessed, and that Abraham Ber gave him some sort of red jelly. That's all he remembered and could not visualize the old man's face.

But Jack remembered hearing stories that A.B. was smart, a great scholar, a "great and charitable man in town" and, "like his predecessors, a dealer in rye and other products."

A.B. and his first wife had 12 children -- all but the youngest, Mendel, died. So Mendel was, of course, precious to Abraham Ber.

Isaac Asimov (1920 - 1992) quotes his father, Jack, in "In Memory Yet Green" regarding Abraham Ber: "The stories I heard about him were that he was a natural-born smart man, and that he was a great scholar. ... Like his predecessors, he was a dealer in rye and other products, and he was well known in town as a great and charitable man."

Abraham married SHEPSHELEVA, Sosya. Sosya was born in 1827 in Russia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She and Abraham Ber Asimov had 12 children, according to "In Memory Yet Green," which relies on the recollections of Judah "Jack" Asimov (1896 -1969). But only Mendel, the 12th child, survived.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Traveling Jewish preacher

Notes:

According to Judah's great-great grandson, Judah (Jack) Asimov (1896-1969):

Judah was a great scholar. The name Asimov came to his predecessors whenever last names were given to the Jewish people because he, like everyone in the family, were dealers in rye planted in the fall and kept warm under the snow all winter. The rye is known as "asimy chleb." So the the first dealer was given the name Asimy, and his sons, Asimov.

Judah lived in Petrovichi and, like all the town's people, paid taxes to the land owner. Each person had the right to sell it or transfer it, subject to a tax by the land owner.

Judah exchanged his great piece of land in the middle of town for a "third of land" at the west end of town.

With the money he received, he became a traveling Jewish preacher, walking everywhere. He had written a book advising piety and moral behavior. He gave out this book wherever he went.

Judah married MENDELEVA, Rochlya about 1820 in Russia. Rochlya was born in 1802 in Russia; died in Russia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Wolf married UNKNOWN, Chaya about 1787 in Russia. Chaya was born in 1774 in Russia; died in Russia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]