Rabbi Moshe Shimon Sivitz
משה שמעון ב"ר יחזקאל
Chief Rabbi, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaDate of Death:
Thu. July 30, 1936 -
Av 11 5696
Anyone with biographical information is asked to please send it in.
See CONTACT page for details. Thank you.
Directions to Kever: Both the Shaare Torah Cemetery and the Beth Abraham Cemetery run along Stewart Avenue in the Carrick section of Pittsburgh. Contact the cemetery office for additional information: Location: Center, H 18
Name Listed on Cemetery Database: Name on tombstone: Rabbi M.S. Sivitz
Biographical Notes:
Photo Caption: Rabbi Moshe Shimon Sivitz, Credit: Institute For Judaic Culture and History
Photo Caption: Letter to Rav Shmuel Salant, Credit: MCA
Photo Caption: Poster announcing the passing of Rabbi Moshe Shimon Sivitz, Credit: Institute For Judaic Culture and History
Credit: IFJCAH
Photo Caption: The Caplan (Matzah) Baking Co, Source: Tugblat (Jewish Daily News), March 11, 1918
Bio Information:
Rav Sivitz was born in Zhitovyan (Kovno), Lithuania and studied in the Yeshivos of Slovan and Chelm, where he became a close disciple of Rav Eliezer Gordon, the Telzer rosh yeshiva. He also received semicha (ordained) from Rav Gordon and additional semicha from Rav Yitzchok Elchonon Spector, the Kovner Rav.
The Rav’s first pulpit was in Phikelin, Lithuania in 1885 but soon after moved to the United States. Before becoming the Chief Rabbi of Pittsburgh the Rav spent two years in Baltimore. Rav Sivitz, known as an outspoken critic against the Reform movement, organized the first talmid torah (day school) in Pittsburgh. The Rav was held in high esteem by many Rabbonim in Europe among them Rav Yisroel Meir Kagan, the Chofetz Chaim who wrote the approbation to his commentary on Talmud Yerushalmi (Jerusalem Talmud). As a side, the Rav delivered the keynote eulogy at Chief Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Joseph’s funeral.
« Previous: Rebbe Yaakov Yisroel TwerskyNext: Rabbi Cemach Hoffenberg »
Does anyone know where Rav Eliezer Gordon is buried?
London and here?s why:
In 1908, a fire broke out in Telshe, destroying most of the city, including the yeshiva. As a result, Rav Gordon, who was nearly 70, traveled to London to collect money needed to rebuild, despite his ill health.
London’s Rabbanim called a large meeting on his behalf and many of the city’s wealthy Jewish residents were in attendance. However, the audience’s response was lukewarm. In his sorrow, he suffered a fatal heart attack that very night (5 Adar I, 1910).
The Jewish world was shocked by his petira, as well as by the circumstances that led to it. A large levaya was held in London, where he was buried. It is reported that prior to his death the Rav said that since the Jews of London did not fully respect torah it will never have a successful yeshiva.
Baruch,
The eulogy on Rabbi Jacob Joseph is printed in his sefer “Bies Fage”, I am not sure that it was delivered at the actual funeral, or in his Shul in Pittsburgh.
What about a photo of the Matzieve? also, he mentions a daughter that passed away at a young age, does anyone know about decsendants of Rabbi Zivits?
miller, the hesped is printed in pri yecheskel:
http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=2624&pgnum=156
Quote’miller: “I am not sure that it was delivered at the actual funeral, or in his Shul in Pittsburgh”.
just read it, it was at the levaya, just read it.
I am trying to get someone in Pittsburgh to take a picture. As for descendants, he did have children some of them still live in Pittsburgh. One Rav told me that a few years ago he was giving a shuir and an elderly gentleman walked in and after the shuir introduced himself as a descendant.
Rav Sivitz ZT”L had a son in Toronto Nathan who was a Justice of the Peace. This Man got my father a special permit from the city of Toronto to be allowed to keep his store open on sunday. Back in fifties there was the lord’s day act requiring all business to be closed. Because my Father closed his store on Shabbos his store could only be open 5 days a week. Until Mr. Nathan Sivitz Z”L got the Special permit
rav abba leiter published the sefer shem mishimon on rav zivitz . rav abba lives in flatbush. he might know.
the aforementioned sefer shem m’shimon contains pictures of rabbi zivitz z”l and the matzeivah although they don’t have them in the version on hebrewbooks.org. his yahrtzeit is listed on the matzeivah as 11 av
Pittsburgh Press:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0yEbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_EsEAAAAIBAJ&dq=sivitz%20rabbi%20moses%20simon&pg=4101%2C4984807
Obit and Photo:
http://pjn.library.cmu.edu/books/pages.cgi?call=CRI_1936_088_012_07311936&layout=vol0/part0/copy0&file=0017
I am collecting information about Rabbi Moshe Shimon Sivitz z”l.
I am interested in more personal details of his life.
I know that he had a daughter who died from a ruptured appendix but I don’t know her name. I also believe he was married a second time to a woman brought to the States from Jerusalem and it was a happy marriage.
Please help me in my search.
The late Rabbi Sivitz was my great-grandfather his son Jacob z”l was my beloved grandfather.
I live in Israel and read and speak Hebrew.
Ann Sivitz Levensohn Maser
Ann Maser, my great great grandparents are max and ida sivitz from pittsburgh. I am not sure if/how they are related to Rabbi Sivitz but through my research have located details on rabbi sivitz children. please send me an email so we can correspond directly. I would love to hear from you to explore possible connections.
Please email Baruch for my email address.
All the best,
I’m doing research into Rav Zivitz’s seforim. I saw an article somewhere mentioning that he left over handwritten manuscrips of his unpublished torah. i’m trying to get hold of this (or a copy). i’d greatly appreciate any clues.
Thank You VM.
Hi, this is another great grandchild of Rabbi Sivitz. I am the son of Maita (sivitz) and Jules Levine of Pittsburgh. I now reside in Richmond, Va. My mother’s parents were William and Ida Sivitz. Wil passed away before I was born and I was very close with my Grandma Ida as were my sisters and cousins. William’s father was Rabbi Sivitz. My mother and Uncle Bob (Arthur Robert Sivitz) were very close to Rabbi Sivitz often spending overnights etc with their grandfather. They would tell my sisters and I many stories about living with Rabbi Sivitz. He founded Shaare Torah in the Hill District, which later moved to Murray Ave in Squirel Hill. Many years ago my parent’s gave me copies of Rabbi Sivitz’ books on the Jeruslem Talmud. I donated them to the Rudlin Torah Academy in Richmond. My mom died in 1997 and my dad passed away in 2005, Uncle Bob also passed away that same year. We found several copies of Rabbi Sivitz’ books in my parent’s house. My sisters and I have copies of Rabbi Sivitz’ books and there may be a manuscript that this has peaked our interest and for which we are searching. My sisters are Sarah, Susan, Janet and Mimi. And my first cousins who are like brother’s to me (Uncle Bob’s children) are William and Josh Sivitz. Billy is a doctor and Josh still resides in Pittsburgh and administers the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Also, I know that William, my grandfather had brothers and sisters. I can remember Uncle Nathan. But my sister is the Historian of the family and probably knows all of them.
David
Dear David, and Rachel,
I too am a great grandaughter of the Rabbi Sivitz and have resided in Israel for the past 45 years. My mother Ethel ז”ל was the first born child of Nellie and Jacob. Jacob was the first son of the Rabbi Sivitz. My mother and her sisters and brothers were very close to their Pittsburgh cousins.
Over the years we enjoyed several visits from Maita and Jules and also I believe your sister Mimi on one occassion.
David, your father Jules visited us with Bobby on the kibbutz about ten yrs ago. . They stayed at our B&B, toured the Galil and shared the evening meal at our house. My children were absolutely smittened by them.
David, I did contact Josh by email and telephone. He initially seemed interested but I have not heard from him after making contact.
Please contact me since I cannot proceed with my research, some of it interesting and perhaps disturbing without the help of the family.
I have some info from Maita.
I met your older sisters when I visited your home for a day about 59 years ago. I was with Blessing, she is still alive and Mosey Sivitz, Jacob’s youngest son.
I would like your email address is that is alright with you.
Hoping to hear from you,
Ann Maser
Hello:
If anyone interested in Rabbi Sivitz has some tie to the Johnstown, Pa Jewish community and/or the names BLOCK, MARCUS, KAMINSKY, GOLDBERG or PLOTKIN, can you contact me?
I know the Sivitz family is tied to my family but am not sure how. I’ve contacted one family member via Jewishgen who is related to William Irving Sivitz, but he could not find any link.
However William KAMINSKY lived with Rabbi Sivitz’ family in the 1900 census and a cousin of mine (Louise Lapin-Haines,now deceased) stated that Rabbi Sivitz was a cousin. In an old email posting she claimed to have some of the first-edition copies of his book and some photos.
Also, I’ve borrowed a book on the Johnstown Jews and there was some relationship between Rabbi Sivitz and Rabbi Kaminsky, who was the Orthodox rabbi in Johnstown.
I appreciate any crumbs of information that someone can throw my way…even just a guess, a hunch, a hint or anything.
Thanks!
Carole
Carole
just stopping by to pay my respects. I’m another one. David Levine is my uncle. Hi David
I took the ledger my brother David mentions above to Yeshiva University in New York City. I found it in a box of old magazines etc. It now resides in their archives. I will post the contacts of the archivist on this site.
It’s great to see such interest in R. Zivitz. I discovered him by chance and was greatly intrigued by him. I too have been collecting information on him. I have a copy of his tzemach hasadeh inscribed by Ida K. Sivitz. It contains an added section not printed with the original.
Dov, What is the nature of your work? Perhaps I can be of assistance.
I am a great great granddaughter of Rabbi Moshe Shimon Sivitz of Pittsburgh. I live in Pittsburgh. Rabbi Sivitz’s daughter, Anna, married Louis Goldberg, a rabbi. They had 8 children: Rose, Goldie, Mollie, Millie, Sylvia, Hyman, Teddie, and Babe (a nickname that stuck). Hyman was my grandfather. He was a Pittsburgh dentist in the Born Building on Murray Avenue for years. He graduated University of Pittsburgh Dental School in 1927. Hyman married Helen Katz and had one child, my mother, Audrey, who is still living. She married Sidney Bernstein, who is also still living, and they had one child, me. I have one child and one grandchild residing in California.
Dear Susan,
Somewhere your info is incorrect. My greatgrandfather Rabbi Sivitzז”ל lost his only daughter Jennie who died of a burst appendix in her early teens. This is a fact which he ackknowledges in the dedication of one of his books. I beg you to correct this mistake.
Ann Maser (Israel)
i haven’t been on this chain for a while, but susan/ carole, i have information about your sivitz relatives since they are mine too. Max and Ida Sivitz are my great great grandparents and I am trying to figure out Max’ relationship to Rabbi Moses Simon Sivitz. max was born in 1846 and Rabbi Sivitz in 1860 . Max immigrated to Pgh in 1891 and was a grocer on fifth avenue. He had 7 children . Sarah, was my great grandmother . her sister Anna married Louis Goldberg. other children were simon ( sam), jessie, rebecca, jennie and harry. all the children were born in russia between 1872-1893)
ספר של משמעון לזכרו:
http://www.otzar.org/wotzar/Book.aspx?84827&
Same book as the above on HebrewBooks.org:
http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=7398&st=&pgnum=4&hilite=
I want to share a film clip of Rabbi Sivitz. His son Sam made it with the Warner Bros. The Bros owned a silent movie house in New Castle Pa outside of Pittsburgh. We believe that Sam made the movie with them. He died of TB at a young age and never fulfilled his dream to make movies. In the clip you will see Rabbi Sivitz and four of his sons; Will, Nathan, Ben and Jake. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJrqwecBV98&feature=youtu.be
Sarah, thanks for the backround info about the making of this movie. I had seen it as a child and adolescent but didn’t know that Sam had made the movie with the Warner Bros. It captures Rabbi Sivitz as not just a deeply religious Jew but as a loving father and grandfather especially the shots with Miriam, his grandaughter.
Ann Maser
Wow! Awesome! Sarah, thanx for the link.
Thanks Sarah for sharing this historic clipץ
There’s an intersting responsa/story From Rav Sivitz z”l to Rav YU Spektor z”l, published in L’beis Yaakov (part II/ collection of letters by RJJ). It might be in the link above, posted by Farshlufen (I couldn’t navigate the PDF normally).
(In short: A person (who grew up up with Rav Peikes, listed on this site) asked Rav Sivitz to learn with him on a daily basis, after work, as it turned out, his business was not going well, couldn’t support his wife and family, eventually his FIL sent his wife to get a divorce. When they both approached the Rav about getting divorced as he’s not able to to support her… he asked them to return the following day and will take care of business.
Meanwhile, Rav Sivitz, made an emergency appeal, collected a certain amount of money and also an apartment for them to live rent free… eventually this guy was very succeful in his business and was worth $30,000…!)
Actually credit for the film clip goes to my cousin Margot Kasfir Holzman, daughter of Jake’s daughter Charlotte and first cousin of Ann Maser, daughter of Ethel Sivitz Levensohn. I reunited with Margot this past winter. We hadn’t seen each other since childhood. She had a tape made from the original film and I had it digitized. A daughter of Ethel’s is believed to have the original film and I would like to contact her because it needs to be stored safely, there is a danger of flash fires from the chemical comp of those early films according to the man who made my digital copy.
Is there any unknown/unpublished photos from rabbi Sivitz in the family?
I have not seen one from Rabbi Sivitz in his later years, the age he is seen on the film, I would love to see more photos from him
The Pittsburgh Press on the weeding of Jacob Sivitz to Nellie Hirschman:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19070622&id=YbsaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=v0gEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1444,4992679
One of the things I took to Schulie Berger, archivist at Yeshiva U, was a program book from a Share Torah anniversary. I remember it had pictures of Rabbi Sivitz and a nice article. I will post her email and contacts.
Here are contacts for Schulamith Berger, the archivist at Yeshiva U.
Shulamith Z. Berger
> Curator of Special Collections
> Yeshiva University
> 500 W. 185th St.
> New York, NY 10033
>
> Phone: 212-960-5451
> Fax: 212-960-0066
> E-mail: sberger@yu.edu
>
I was overwhelmed by the link published by YD Miller. Thank you so much.
I have a small collection of personal letters that Rabbi Sivitz wrote to my mother Ethel Sivitz Levensohn. The letters are written in Hebrew and Yiddish. They are loving letters written by a Zeide to his grandaughter.
My mother ז”ל told a very poignant story about her grandfather, Rabbi Sivitz. She was visiting him in Pittsburgh as a young girl and on a Shabbat coming back form Schul she fell badly on the pavement. The Rabbi took her into his study and told her to open a desk drawer. Inside there was a jar with small coins. Although being Shabbat he would not touch the money he instucted his grandaughter to take the coins and go to the pharmacy nearby so that they could take care of her nasty cut. My mother never forgot this incident.
Hello. My name is Jeffrey Shaman. Rabbi Moses Sivitz was my great grandfather. His son Ben was my grandfather. Ben and my grandmother Sophie had two children; my mother Florence (Feigie) Sivitz Shaman, who died in 2000 at the age of 82; and Sanford Samuel Sivitz, who was killed in France in World War II. Ben and Sophie divorced while my mother was still a girl, so growing up in Pittsburgh I had little contact with my grandfather Ben and even less with other members of the Sivitz family. However, I am eager to make contact with my Sivitz relatives and learn more about them. Seeing the video of my great grandfather and grandfather while they were still living was a very moving experience for me. I am married, with two sons, and two grandchildren-a girl and a boy. I live in Evanston, IL, and am a law professor at DePaul University in Chicago. Like my great grandfather, I have written several books, although mine are on American law, not Jewish law. My younger brother, Sanford Sivitz Shaman, lives in Cape Town, South Africa, and is very religious.
Hi Jeffrey,
My name is Ann Levensohn Maser the daughter of Ethel Sivitz. Her father Jacob, my grandfather was the eldest of Rabbi Sivivz’s sons. There is no lack of information about the extended Sivitz clan. There are missing parts to the puzzle and mysteries to be solved.
I live in Israel in the Galilee and am retired after years of work in child care and home hospice.
Would enjoy connecting and exchanging information.
Ann Maser
Hi Jeffrey,
My name is Ann Levensohn Maser the daughter of Ethel Sivitz. Her father Jacob, my grandfather was the eldest of Rabbi Sivivz’s sons. There is no lack of information about the extended Sivitz clan. There are missing parts to the puzzle and mysteries to be solved.
I live in Israel in the Galilee and am retired after years of work in child care and home hospice.
Would enjoy connecting and exchanging information.
Ann Maser
A daughter of Ethel’s has film?
Anyone know her name?
Who are you and what is your interest in the Sivitz family??
People who are involved with this site are people either interested in an outstanding member of the orthodox Jewish community or are doing research into their family roots.
I find your comment peculiar.
Hello Jeffrey:
I am Charlotte Sivitz Kasfir’s daughter, granddaughter of Jacob, great granddaughter of Rabbi Sivitz. I’m wondering if you could identify some of the players in the film. We can easily identify the young girl (Miriam Sivitz Mann), Jacob Sivitz (the slightly heavy man), Will (in the suit), and obviously the Rabbi. We do not know if Sam is in the video or behind the camera. We assume the other brothers are Nathan and Ben. Can you identify them for us?
Hello Charlotte. As a young girl, my cousin (on the other side of the family) knew some of the Sivitz brothers. She believes that the man in the white shirt and bow tie is Ben (my grandfather). She also thinks that the man in the three piece suit is Sam. I have an old newspaper clipping of Sam’s obituary with a picture of him and he does appear to be the man in the three piece suit.
Hi Jeffrey:
Charlotte was my mother, I’m Margot.
Could you possibly scan the photo you have of Sam’s obit and send it to me: margotholtzman@yahoo.com. Would love to get those characters properly identified.
Thanks for responding.
I have a copy of letters written by Will Sivitz (son of Rabbi Sivitz) to Ida Rosenthal. They had a very long engagement because Will could not earn enough money to marry. He was a newly-minted chemical engineer Carnegie Tech (CMU) class of 1908. He describes many dialogues with his father regarding his profession. The Rabbi disapproved. To me the letters show that both men had similar minds. One talmudic and the other scientific. I’m going to scan the letters and make them available to any of you who are interested. My scanner, I warn you, does 20 pages at at time. My email is Sarah@sarahlevinesimon.com .
Can anyone identify the four sons of Rabbi Sivitz shown in the video? I am uncertain about who is who and am especially interested to know which of them was my grandfather, Ben.
I am not part of the Sivitz clan. BUT, I do know that my family referred to Rav Sivitz for halachic rulings while they lived in Marietta, Ohio (across the border it seems from Pittsburgh). Rav Sivitz was the messader kedushin (performed the wedding ceremony) for my great aunt and uncle: Sarah Travis and Rabbi Bernard Revel (later Rosh Yeshiva and President of YU). It is possible that Rav Sivitz may have introduced Bernard Revel to the Travis family.
I once came across a dissertation of Rav Sivitz concerning Eruvin, but it has since disappeared and I didn’t keep the link.
I am interested in any information the family may have about the connection between Rav Sivitz and Rav Revel.
Also if anyone has a link to that piece on Eruvin!
I saw the youtube movie several months ago, and found it very moving.
All the best and hope to hear from some of you!
Debbie Lifschitz Jerusalem
I am researching Rabbi Rabbi M Simon Zivitz’s mother Feige. Her first husband was Max Wolff and I am trying to figure out if she ever made it to the USA, or only her son.