Untangling Roots from Belarus to London
This journey began with a casual conversation about family ties—and spiralled into a labyrinth of contradictions, lost records, and whispered stories. Here’s what we’ve pieced together about Alec Berman, Goodie Berman, and their elusive connection to Simon and Kitty Berman—along with the maddening gaps that keep us digging.
The Core Family: Vishnevo to London
- Alec Berman (b. 1886, Vishnevo, Belarus): Born Alexander Berkman to Schaya Leib Berkman (Yishayahu Leib HaLevi) and Chaya Laya Berkman.
- Goodie Berman (b. ~1882): Later known as Lily, married Joseph Foreman in 1906, claiming Simon Berman (a tailor/teacher) as her father.
- Simon & Kitty Berman: Married in the UK around 1882-1887. Simon (born Sokolovitz in Ivenets, Belarus) took Kitty’s surname. Their 6 children, including Esther Berman (Russell’s ancestor), were all born in London.
Key Mysteries & Conflicts
1. Who Was Goodie’s Father?
Theory: Did Goodie falsely name Simon as her father? Was he an uncle or cousin? Or is this a case of blended families or adoption?
Goodie’s 1906 marriage certificate lists Simon Berman as her father.
But: Simon Berman (b. 1867) and Kitty’s children, per census records, were born starting in 1887. Goodie (b. 1882) predates them.
2. Alec’s Siblings vs. Simon’s Line
- Alec’s siblings (per his 1927 naturalization):
- Beny Berman (b. ~1879): In New York by 1927.
- Aron Aba Berkman (b. ~1897): Rabbi in Poland.
- Samuel Gershon (b. ~1901): Rabbi in Poland.
- Simon & Kitty’s children (b. 1887–1898): No overlap with Alec’s siblings’ birth years.
- The “Lewis” Discrepancy: Alec claimed he worked with brother Lewis Berman in London—but no Lewis appears in Simon’s family. Is Lewis = Beny? Pesach?
3. The Lost Brothers
- Pesach: Family lore says Alec’s brother Pesach immigrated to the U.S., possibly as Beny.
- The Rabbi Who Returned: A brother (Aron or Samuel?) went back to Poland in 1936, defying Alec’s warnings, and perished in the Holocaust.
4. Auntie “Goody” – Tsipka, Sipora, or Lily?
- Freda (Alec’s daughter) recalled “Aunty Goody” but knew no real name.
- Clues: Leah (Alec’s wife) called her Tsipka—possibly a nickname or derogatory term. Marriage records name her Lily. Could her full name be Sipora? could that be Birdy?
Timeline of Clues
- 1880s–1900s: Simon Berman arrives in London, marries Kitty, and works as a tailor.
- 1905: Alec Berkman arrives in London, works with brother Lewis (address: South Street—same as Simon’s family!).
- 1906: Goodie/Lily marries Joseph Foreman, naming Simon as her father.
- 1927: Alec’s naturalization papers confirm siblings in Poland and New York.
- 1942: Vishnevo’s Jewish community is obliterated by Nazis; possible ties to Aron/Samuel.
The Vishnevo Connection
Vishnevo (now Belarus) was a thriving Jewish shtetl until WWII. Birthplace of:
- Alec Berman and likely his siblings.
- Shimon Peres (Israeli statesman) and Nahum Goldman (Jewish leader), whose families fled in the 1930s.
- Our unanswered question: Did the Berkman/Bermans intersect with these prominent families?
Stubborn Inconsistencies
- Simon Berman ≠ Schaya Leib Berkman: Alec’s father was Schaya Leib, not Simon. How does Simon fit?
- Name Roulette: Sokolovitz, Sakolove, Berkman, Berman—each generation anglicized differently.
- The Missing Marriage: No record of Simon & Kitty’s union. Did they wed in the UK or Belarus?
Next Steps: Breaking the Wall
- South Street, London: Dig deeper into Berman’s tailoring business—was he Simon’s relative or a namesake?
- Ellis Island & NYC Archives: Trace Beny Berman’s U.S. trail.
- Polish/German Holocaust Records: Search for Aron Aba Berkman and Samuel Gershon.
- DNA Testing: Link descendants of Alec, Goodie, and Simon to confirm overlaps.
- Vishnevo Memorial Records: Cross-reference with Yad Vashem or JewishGen.