Abraham Berkovich was a notable and important person in Volozhyn. For that reason, I can still clearly recall his character traits. He was very handsome, of average build, smart and always in a humorous mood.

He came from Minsk. His parents were orthodox Jews and they wished to send him to study in the Volozhyn yeshivah. However, he preferred secular studies, and with his father's permission, he attended a high school in Minsk. After his father's sudden death, he was forced to leave his high school studies so he could help his mother with the household income. He continued with night lessons. He learned on his own and read many books. He was able to gain a great deal of knowledge.

He settled in our town when he married Keile from Volozhyn Her last name before Marriage was Shulman- Eilat). He opened a pharmacy in the most central location, in the market place, in the house of Mushka Persky (the baker). The pharmacy was decorated in very good taste. Two of its walls were covered with fitted polished shelves and on them were medicines in bright glass jars. The floor was polished with red varnish and covered with carpets, which were made by local farmers.

For a few years the pharmacy was the family's only source of income. When the children grew up and the parents decided to send them to a high school in Vilna, Keile opened a fabric store to supplement their income. The business succeeded and it enabled them to cover the large expenses they had acquired for their children's education in the big city.

Abraham Berkovich had his hands everywhere. There was not a trade that he was not proficient in. He truly had golden hands. He was familiar with various construction skills (although he never officially studied them). After the big fire burned the town in the twenties, he remodeled his shop in the Perelman's building, so he could still make a living. At a later time he bought from Yehuda Abraham Persky, the ritual slaughter, his burnt bricks building. He cleared the damage and the water and rebuilt it. His power of invention was revealed when he invented a round heating oven covered with tin-a real invention in Volozhyn of those days. He knew carpentry, and the furniture in his home, which had an original style, was all hand made.

Prior to every Passover, he would work diligently to beautify and to decorate his house with many colors and ornamentation. The sight was heart warming and cheerful. He also excelled in sign painting posters and announcements. He likewise applied make-up for the theater actors. Those deeds revealed his artistic talent and creative imagination. In addition, he would read the Torah and would blow the Shofar in the synagogue. Although in all these skills he was self-taught, all things he did turned to artwork.

"The Fire Brigade" was his main hobby. He founded it and chaired it until 1935. From that year on, the Polish government took away the management of the association from the Jews and gave it to the district governor. Berkovich remained as a consultant and an honorary member only.

Berkovich was always very active and restless (due to his good physical health). His hands were always occupied with toil. His brain was always engaged with ideas and plans. For instance he realized that the city needed an optician. He gained quick knowledge in this area, he brought an optical instrument and the problem was solved. A story was told about him: once someone came to him to order glasses. Berkovich checked his vision and found it quite normal, but the "patient" insisted he needed glasses. Berkovich gave him clear glasses and asked him to come for a check up after some time. The man came back and was very satisfied that the "glasses" saved his power of vision.

Many who knew Berkovich mentioned in many occasions his stories and fables, we'll present some of them.

1. Once a woman came to his pharmacy she was desperate and requested poison to end her life. Berkovich tried to dissuade her and encourage her to abandoned her plans but she persisted in her request. Finally he gave her a large amount of castor oil. She took the medicine and immediately rushed home, so she can end her life peacefully. When the medicine started working and she felt pain, she became aware that her dying day isn't better that her day of birth, and since there is such pain in dying, she decided to stay alive.
2. Here is a tale of two who disagreed and each of them stuck to his opinion. Once a drunk strolled in the street and made a lot of noise. A policeman approached him and demanded the drunk to stop yelling. The drunk said: "it's my business, policeman".
3. policeman said: "if you don't obey me I'll arrest you". "That's your business," replied the drunk.
4. A tale of a painter who painted the walls first and only than the
5. Ceiling. Berkovich remarked that it is logical to paint the ceiling first as to not soil the walls. The painter answered angrily: "I work in this profession over forty years the same way, I don't need any advice from a nonprofessional"…

Berkowicz Abram

Abram Berkowicz was born in Minsk in 1880 to Yaakov and Sara. He was a merchant and married to Keila nee Shulman. Prior to WWII he lived in Wolozyn, Poland. During the war he was in Wolozyn, Poland. Abram perished in 1942 in Wolozyn, Poland. This information is based on a Page of Testimony (displayed on left) submitted on 20-May-1956 by his daughter
SHOSHANA NISHRI
Lea Rapoport nee Berkovitz was born in Darsuniskis in 1882 to Avraham and Sara. She was a housewife and married to Eliezer. Prior to WWII she lived in Wolozyn, Poland. During the war she was in Poland. Lea perished in Wolozyn, Poland at the age of 60. This information is based on a Page of Testimony (displayed on left) submitted on 24-Dec-1956 by her daughter Sara Sholomovitz.
Lea Rapoport nee Berkovitz was born in Darsuniskis in 1882 to Avraham and Sara. She was a housewife and married to Eliezer. Prior to WWII she lived in Wolozyn, Poland. During the war she was in Poland. Lea perished in Wolozyn, Poland at the age of 60. This information is based on a Page of Testimony (displayed on left) submitted on 24-Dec-1956 by her daughter
6.

On Sun, Aug 31, 2008 at 12:40 PM, rootsfinder <rootsfinder@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello Eilat:
>
> I saw on your web site a listing and pictures of a Berkovich family from
> Kurenetz.
>
> Was this your family. Do you have any more information about this family.
>
> My grand father Tzvi Hirsh Berkovich was born in Ilya. His mother Shaina
> Skolnik was from Kurenetz.
>
> I don't know where his father, Shlomo was originally from.
>
> All the best,
>
> Yaakov Lenefsky