Rabbi Hillel Berkowski
הלל ב"ר אריה צבי
Rav, Monticello, New YorkDate of Death:
Sat. December 25, 1937 -
Teves 21 5698
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Directions to Kever: Lanfield Avenue Synagogue Cemetery in Monticello, NY is along Harris Road about a half mile up from Fast Eddie's Auto Wreckers, Location: Towards the front of the cemetery,
Name Listed on Cemetery Database: Name listed on marker: Hillel Berkowsky
Biographical Notes:
Photo Caption: Rabbi Hillel Berkowski, Credit: Chaim Markowitz
Source: Listed
Photo Caption: Lakewood Askonim, Tzali Chopp (hat) and Yanky Judowitz at the kever of Rav Berkowsky, Tisha B’av, 2019, Credit: IFJCAH
Credit: Tzali Chopp and Yanky Judowitz, Lakewood, NJ
Credit: Tzali Chopp and Yanky Judowitz, Lakewood, NJ
Credit: Map to the kever of Rabbi Hillel Berkowski
Credit: Asher Lowy, Brooklyn, NY
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Strange that they wrote “Hashub”, if he was a Rav.
It doesn’t say “Rabbi or Rev” either – however It seems back then, in these small hick towns, the Shochet would be the jack of many trades and serve as the leader or Rav. It says on line 5 that he was a leader.
The words
“Manhig Namon L’adasai” מנהיג נאמן לעדתו
clearly defines his role as a Rav and Moreh Derech
In Sefer Hegyonei Yitzchok which its פרענומעראנטן are a good source for information on the Jewish presence upstate, has him listed in Monticello just as a Shochet. But it makes sense that he was the Sheiner Yid, and in many cases where there was no official Rav, the Shochet would fill the position of Shatz Matz.
He was my great-great grandfather. (My grandmother’s grandfather). According to my grandmother he was the Rav/shochet/mohel. I actually have his mila knife which my Grandmother gave me. I believe the current Landsfield Ave shul is built either on the spot where his house used to be or across the street from it.
I believe that the shul is across the street from where he lived. The place where the house used to be is now a parking lot. I was named for him and we stayed in the house when we would visit his daughter (my mother’s aunt).
Some photos of the cemetery itself. Not many markers to begin with. The cemetery is located very close to Harris (BY) Synagogue. The Harris shul (structure) is still intact and used by the adjacent (RPD) bungalow colony. I would assume this cemetery was used by the surrounding towns or village but there are very few people interred since 1911. Is there another Jewish cemetery in the Catskill region?
http://s949.photobucket.com/albums/ad339/aman51/Monticello%20NY/
Asher,
There are cemeteries in Liberty, South Falsburg, Woodridge besides Monticello and perhaps some more as well.
Thanx Miller, I found a listing of local cemeteries – woe… there’s a whole bunch of ’em. The Landfield Synagogue Cemetery is located closer to town. There was another Shul in the area of Landfield Synagogue which has been sold to some churban.
Rav Berkovsky is buried in the General Cemetery, located here;
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&q=monticello+ny+general+cemetery&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1189&bih=920&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl
there is another cemetery down the road from this one i heard that it is jewish however i went and there is not one grave stone that has jewish letters
Shamshon, are u referring to the one on a hill (Harris road, closer to Old Liberty Rd)…? There’s another one on a hill on Divine Corners Rd, off Neversink Road – did u check out that one?
The picture of the grave stone shows the date of death as 21 Tevet 5698. which translates to December 25, 1937.
Rabbi Tzadok Taylor
http://kevarim.vohost.us/rabbi-tzadok-taylor-2/
Any idea what his connection was to Rav Hillel Berkowski?
Any info on r’ Moshe Feinstein going there