Arthur Dwartz and Shirley Smith Dwartz

Arthur (Alter) Dwartz (Dvortz)

Zalman Dvorts (born about 1865) and Pesia Sochin Dvorts (born about 1865) lived in Uzpaliai (Ushpol), Lithuania ( which was part of Russian Empire at that time).

They had several children but only the females had survived.

On May 18, 1903 a son was born. Zalman and Pesia named him Alter.

“When several children have died in a family the next that is born has no name given to it, but is referred to as “Alter” (Yiddish: אלטער‎, literally “old”), or Alterke, the view being that the Angel of Death, not knowing the name of the child, will not be able to seize it. When such a child attains the marriageable age, a new name, generally that of one of the Patriarchs, is given to it. For a somewhat similar reason it is considered unlucky in Lithuania to call an only child by its true name.” source – Wikipedia

He had four older sisters. Chaya Malka born 1884, Ita Mushka born 1888, Rivka born 1890 and Scheina born 1901.

Alter’s aunt, Rachel Mina Dwortz married Rabbi Joseph Karp in Lithuania in 1898. They and their 8 children emigrated to the United States between 1911 and 1912.

Joseph Karp became the rabbi of Congregation Misach Haor in Bronx, NY. Despite the fact that they struggled financially, they sent money to Lithuania for Alter and Scheina to come to America.

When Scheina and Alter arrived at the port of Liepaja, Latvia they disovered that they had only enough money for one passage. Sheina sent her younger brother, Alter, on his own to America at age 16!

When Scheina (Sonia) Dwortz returned to the port a few weeks later she met a young man, Samuel Swerdlow. He was born in what is now Belarus and carried a Latvian passport in attempt to emigrate to America. They shared tea and conversation at the port and fell in love. Sam did not have an American visa and underwent a long circuitous journey finally landing him in Mexico. Sonia eventually joined him there and they were married prior to both coming to America.

Arthur Dwartz (Alter Dwortz) went to work for a kosher butcher in Harlem to learn the trade. When this butcher developed a heart issue he was advised to move to “the country.” Arthur accompanied him to Spring Valley, NY.

Shirley (Sora) Smith (Shmid)

Sora (Shirley) Shmid (Smith) was born on October 18, 1902 to Yankel Shmid age 49 and Chava Reyza Kagan Shmid age 44 in Salakas, Lithuania which was part of the Russian Empire at the time. She was the youngest of their 18 children. Ten of their children did not survive childhood.

Life was very difficult as a Jew in the Russian Empire. Jews were forced to live within The Pale of Settlement. They were not allowed to own land, farm or travel outside of their communities. The majority of children did not survive. Yankel was the blacksmith (thus the name Shmid) for the very small and rural town of Salakas.

During World War I life became even more difficult. Salakus was occupied by the German Army followed by the Russian Army. Most survivors felt that the Russians were even more ruthless than the Germans. Shirley as an adult remembered having to smuggle food past the troops in order for her family to survive.

Shirley contracted the Spanish Flu during the pandemic of 1918. She remembered losing all of her hair. Years later, she would develop Parkinson’s Disease as a result of that infection.

Shirley’s siblings Samuel, Abraham, Irving and Jennie preceded her in emigrating to America. In 1921 she, her sister Lilly and her mother,Chava Reyza, made the trip together to to America.

Shirley worked during the day as a seamstress and went to night school to learn English. She had dreamed of a career as a clothing designer.

Arthur Dwartz and Shirley Smith Dwartz

Arthur and Shirley were introduced to one another and were married on December 25, 1926 in Bronx, NY.

Shirley and Arthur had their first child, Irene (Chaya) on February 3, 1928. They moved into an apartment in the Bronx and Arthur worked as a kosher butcher There was a large market that had several vendors. Arthur initially only sold chicken. Their neighbor, the Tannenbaums, sold groceries. Eventually, Arthur also took over the meat shop. A few years later, he moved out to his own independent butcher shop on Pelham Parkway. Shirley’s mother, Chava Reyza Shmid, lived with them until her death. Shirley was unable to pursue her passion as a clothing designer. In addition to caring for her mother, raising her children, she worked long hours helping in the butcher shop.

Anita Doris Dwartz (Chana Dveira) was born January 7, 1931. The family moved into a larger apartment at 2187 Cruger Avenue which was close to Arthur’s butcher store. They remained in that apartment until they moved to Spring Valley in 1957.

Shirley had amazing talent as a seamstress. Irene and Anita wore clothing created by Shirley. She would see something in a store window or a movie and return home to replicate it.

Arthur was known for his mechanical ability. On weekends, he worked in a friend’s garage rebuilding automobiles.

Mirror Lake

Without any discussion with Shirley, Arthur went off to Spring Valley one weekend and purchased a 52 acre farm.

Now, the Dwartz’s who lived and worked in the Bronx, owned a large farm and resort in Spring Valley. This was added to Shirley’s responsibilities.

Irene met Martin Lindenberg in 1945 while he was on leave from the Army.

Irene and Martin were married in 1947.

Anita married Henry Louis Morris on December 25, 1949 and moved to Spring Valley.

Grandchildren

Irene and Martin Lindenberg had Karen in 1950, Barry in 1953. Anita and Hank Morris had Paula in 1953 and Ronni in 1957.

Spring Valley

Shirley and Arthur sold Mirror Lake and built a house on Pascack Road in Spring Valley in 1957. Arthur opened a kosher butcher shop on Main Street. Anita and Hank built a house next to Shirley and Arthur.

Irene and Marty moved their family from the Bronx to Eckerson Road in Spring Valley in 1957. Their house was less than a mile away from Shirley and Arthur.

Across the road from Mirror Lake was another lake resort, Mendelson’s Lake. Years later, Arthur would drive the patriarch who he referred to as “old man Mendelson” to shul every Saturday. In 2016 at Rachel and Kenny’s wedding Barry was introduced to one of Kenny’s cousins, Harriet Levine. In conversation it was discovered that Harriet was from Spring Valley and her maiden name was Mendelson. She was the granddaughter of “old man Mendelson!”

The three families joined the conservative synagogue, The Jewish Community Center of Spring Valley. Shirley was an active Hadassah member. Arthur was one of the first to arrive on Saturday mornings and made himself available to daily minyans. He would show up with his tools each year when it was time to built the succah. Each of the grandchildren loved joining him at services.

Arthur was involved in choosing a new cantor for the synagogue in 1964. The family remembers his excitement after hearing one of the candidates, David Rosenzweig (“he chants like on opera singer.). He was hired, officiated at all the families events and became a friend. In 2018, grandson, Barry was in a hot tub in Irvine, California. He met Dan A. who had just moved to California. When the conversation moved to religion, Dan mentioned that his wife’s uncle was a “famous cantor.” It turned out that she was David Rosenzweig’s niece. That very night, Barry called Cantor Rosenzweig, who at 89 years old fondly remembered he and his extended family.

For an immigrants who came to the US knowing only Yiddish and having no formal education, Arthur and Shirley were extremely accomplished. Arthur could fix anything, ride a bicycle, teach horses to dance, and had an amazing vegetable garden. Shirley was an amazing cook. She made blintzes from scratch, matzoh balls with surprise center, tzimmes, kasha varnishka, stuffed kishka and the world’s best stuffed cabbage. She created clothing from scratch for her family and provided costumes for all of the performances at the synagogue. She had a “green thumb” with an amazing flower garden. She and Arthur loved to play cards and shared their skills with their four grandchildren. We all remember Arthur watching professional wrestling on TV while eating grapes and cheering for his favorites.

Tragically, Arthur suffered a heart attack and died suddenly in Shirley’s arms on April 27, 1967 at age 63.

Arthur sat in the same seat in the fourth pew at every service for years. His funeral brought a standing room only crowd to the synagogue. After a few minutes, Rabbi Friedman paused to share that for some strange reason, the only seat that was not taken was the one that Arthur usually sat in.

Shirley remained alone in her house for many years, enjoying great times with her family.

After Arthur passed away, Shirley occasionally rented out her guest room. In 2018, Robin Lavemen (daughter of one of Irene’s best friends, Rose) was on vacation. She and her husband met a retired teacher from Rockland County on the beach. They asked him if he knew Irene Lindenberg. He exclaimed that not only did he know Irene, he had rented a room in her mother’s house when he was a student teacher.

In her later years, she suffered from Parkinson’s disease. She passed away April 1984 at age 82.