5 Comments

1. 

   David M. Katzman on June 11, 2019 at 6:16 pm

   Borofsky came to the United States from Russia in 1891; a mohel and shochet, he became hazan at the House of Jacob Orthodox congregation in Leavenworth Kansas. A year later he was joined by his wife Hannah and 2 daughters, Rivke and Jennie. Listed as Rev. Borofsky, later rabbi, it is likely he did not have semicha.
   There was a very small immigrant Orthodox community in Leavenworth, and around 1906 the family, now with 5 children, moved to St. Joseph, Missouri. Saint Joseph had 2 Orthodox shuls at the time, and a thriving Orthodox community, which included second-generation congregants as well as recent immigrants. Borofsky opened a kosher meat market, which he continued to run for 20 years. In 1915 the city directory listed him as rabbi, B’nai Jacob synagogue, Saint Joseph, and in the 1920 census listed him as “kosher” at Shaare Sholem Synagogue, indicating he was mashgiach in the community. He also headed and taught at the talmud torah at Saint Joseph, the Orthodox religious and Hebrew school.

2. 

   Lawrence Litvak on May 23, 2021 at 5:50 pm

   This is my great-grandfather. The information submitted by David Katzman appears to be all accurate. Am curious where he obtained this information.

3. 

   Helen Salvay on December 7, 2022 at 10:49 am

   Rev Borofsky was my great grandfather and I concur with my cousin, Lawrence Litvak. Grandpa Borofsky was, according to my mother and grandmother, a very kind and hospitable man who offered food and shelter to Jews traveling through St. Joseph, Missouri. One person whom he helped was Henry Holtzer who later married his daughter, Bertha. Another traveler who stayed with him was Saul Rabino, an artist, who made a remarkable pastel painting of him studying Torah by candlelight which he titled, “The Eternal Light”. There is today in Los Angeles a gallery of works by Saul Rabino.

4. 

   Helen Salvay on December 8, 2022 at 12:41 pm

   The Jewish legacy of Rev Borofsky is extensive and significant. His great grandson through his daughter Ida, Richard Litvak, became a rabbi and his great great grandson through Rebecca, Steve Burnstein, also became a rabbi. His daughter, Jeanette, married Benjamin Aronson whose cousin was Eddie Jacobson and whose friendship with President Harry Truman led to the recognition of the State of Israel. Also, through Jeanette, his great great granddaughter, Miriam Salvay Shwartz and her husband Gilad Shwartz, served as the Directors of JCC Ranch Camp in Colorado. Although his daughter Bertha never had children, she played a vital role as assistant to Rabbi Samuel Mayerberg during his campaign to clean up the government of Kansas City, Missouri. I am sure there are more people on the family tree who have made notable contributions to Jewish life and hopefully, they will come forward and add their stories.

5. 

   Lew Borofsky on December 17, 2022 at 3:56 pm

   I am the great grandson of Chaim David Borofsky. My father was Harold Borofsky who was the son of Albert Borofsky who in turn was the son of the rabbi. My older brother is named David after our great grandfather, while my middle name of Alan is in memory of my grandfather Albert.