Based in Berezniegovate, Ukraine

The Betzers emigrated to Argentina in 1905. They traveled from Berezniegovate by train to Odessa (where Malka's
Betzer's jacket burned when she came too close to the heater that was in the middle of the car). They sailed from
Odessa to Buenos Aires, stops unknown.

The parents, Ya'acov Aaron and Tzete, brought their seven children with them to Moises Ville, Argentina (a village established for those Jews fleeing Europe, sponsored by Baron Hirsch, in the interior Province of Santa Fe). From
Moises Ville, they re-centered in Rosario. The children were:

Ya'acov Aaron's profession was a iron worker. He was a pious and learned man who helped others intemperate the
"fine print" in holy writings (klene oiselech).

As Yisrael, the first son, approached the age of conscription (in those days, one knew when he would be drafted, but
not when he would be released), he expressed the desire to move to Palestine. His father decided that instead, the
entire family would move to Argentina.

Yisrael did not settle with the rest of the family in Moises Ville, but instead went directly to Rosario. There, he
worked in paving roads during the day and teaching Hebrew by night (he was always a Zionist). For two years he
saved enough money to make Aliya to Palestine in 1907. He was considered the first Oleh (a person making Aliya)
from Argentina.  The following photo was taken of the group of Olim that included Yisrael (kneeling on the floor on
the left), just before they boarded their ship in the port of Buenos Aires. On the right is an enlargement of Yisrael.

Yisrael gave a copy of this photo to his sister and brother-in-law, Tota's parents. On the back he wrote (in pencil and in Hebrew),
"A permanent reminder for my brother-in-law and sister, before boarding the ship. July 8, 1907"
Notice that some of them were wearing the Star of David on their lapel.

Top of this page

In Palestine, he and Shifra Sturman married at Um Juni, later known as Kibbutz Degania. They were later among the founders of the famous Moshav, Nahalal (the one that looks like a pie from the air).

Yehuda Meir died at the age of 14 from peritonitis. The story is that he had an appendicitis that went untreated as
he was moved from Moises Ville to Rafaela and to the hospital in Rosario where he died.

Malka married Chaim Rabinsky in Rosario, Argentina. By coincidence (or not), Malka's brother, Azriel, married Chaim's
sister, Tzipe (a genealogist's nightmare and shrinking the list of aunts and uncles for the next generation).

Chaim's last profession was a journalist at the Yiddish daily that was published in Buenos Aires, De Presse. His column centered on the activities of the Rosario Jewish Community. They raised two children there, Arnaldo (Naiche) and
Flora (Tota). Tota worked there as the bookkeeper at a jewelry store. She also studied at Escuela Nacional de
Commercio. She also took a night course in journalism.

Tota attended meetings in Rosario of the local ken (branch) of the Hashomer Hatzair Socialist-Zionist Youth Movement.
In 1955, she moved, alone, to Buenos Aires where she connected her fate to Mauricio (Amiram) Mazan. During the year, they prepared themselves for moving to Israel.

Dina's mother, Tota (Flora), made Aliya (came to live in Israel) to Kibbutz Shomrat with her husband, Amiram (Mauricio) Mazan after marrying in Rosario. They left Buenos Aires on the "Anna C" passenger ship on September 11, 1956 to Genoa, Italy. They traveled in Europe before leaving on the "Jerusalem" passenger ship and arriving in Haifa, Israel on
November 4, 1956. The ship was escorted into port by the Israeli Air Force in the final days of the Sinai Campaign
(War). That day was the first day that the lights of the country were lit following the war.

Top of this page

They were originally scheduled to arrive the next day, but were rushed because of the war. By coincidence, Tota's
uncle, Yisrael Betzer, was in Haifa that day and went to the port offices to inquire as to the arrival time the next day
and was informed, "It's already here!"

This confusion also prevented members of Garin (Aliyah group) from meeting them at the port. The kibbutz offices
got a call from the port to announce their arrival, but the trucks were "drafted" into use for the war. So, Akiva Nir,
one of the founders of Shomrat, went to the dairy of the farm and found the truck of the milker with milk canisters
on the back. He simply took the canisters off, asked Dov Grosbard (another Argentinean) to escort him, and drove to
Haifa to bring the new immigrants "home."

If you have more to tell about the Betzers, please contact me.

The genealogical database of the various Betzers

Photos of Betzers (not yet available)

Homepage of MOISES VILLE shtetele, Argentina (in Spanish)

A Summary of Noah Katzovits' book "Genesis of Moises Ville" (in English)

Top of this page

Home | Up | General Genealogy | Family Relations | Chertoff Family | Togal Family | Silberstein Family | Kessler Family | Mazan Family | Paris Family | Betzer Family | Rabinsky Family

This site was last updated 15-02-2005

© 2003, Moshe Chertoff