According to family tradition he was a simple country doctor, who lived in a village on the road from St. Petersburg to the Tzar's Crimean resort. At least once when the Tzar's son was in a medical crisis, this family doctor was able to help. Other than that, Solomon lived a quiet life in his community among his people.
But then things changed. Following the death of Tzar Alexander II anti-Jewish sentiment arose within Russia. The first trouble arose in Kirovograd the end of April 1881. This spread throughout the region to Kiev and to Odessa. Property was destroyed and homes were set on fire.
Count D. Tolstoy, the new minister of the interior wrote in June 1882 the riots were the result of poor oversight by governors and other officials in the area. But in other quarters officials pushed an anti-semetic agenda. Nikolai Ignatyev minister of internal affairs pushed through a law which prohibited Jewish settlement in unauthorized areas; it forbid signing deeds and other legal documents with Jews until their legal status could be decided; and Jews were forbidden from doing business on Sundays and other Christian holidays.
As the persecution continued Solomon worried about his family. Life looked better elsewhere. He talked with the neighbors about moving, and about greener pastures. All this was a concept until a new progrom hit the village. Solomon got mad and punched a Kosack in the nose. He knew he needed to leave his village.
So the Tabatznik family Solomon, his wife, and nine children, boarded a ship, and traveled to France. A distant relative lived in France. Following a long passage across the Black Sea, through the Bosphorus, around the tip of Greece into Italy. Then the family walked to Paris. Solomon found the home where his relatives lived, and knocked on the door.
Solomon's uncle opened the door, and it is reported my Great Grandfather said, "I'm here with my wife and nine children. We're staying." Solomon told his uncle how life was bad at home, and they needed to move. They would stay until they could figure something out.
After a few years "Uncle Louie" figured something out. He received a flier telling about the Jewish Colonization Association funded by philanthropist Baron Maurice de Hirsch. "Uncle Louie" convinced his nephew to apply. Funding was obtained, and in April 1893, the Tobatznik family boarded the Maasdam in Boulogne for New York in the United States of America.
The passage was hard. Many doubted the food was kosher, so they did not eat. The ship was crowded and sanitation was poor. One government report spoke of cholera outbreaks which were transported in situations like this. It is said five children died on board the ship, and Solomon's wife died soon after arrival.
Solomon found housing in a tenement and survived as he could. He would find a desperate landlord, and move his family into an apartment with the promise of pay, until the money was due. Then he moved elsewhere. Solomon came with no money, and no job. He eventually found work in a Piano factory, where he supported his three children the best he could.
Eventually Simeon, his son was old enough to find work in the garment industry. At first it was just piece work. Simeon worked hard, made friends, and became a salesman. The Exodus was complete. The family had found their Goshen.
To learn more and hear me read this story, visit Chelsea's
VoiceThread project from her class at the Jewish Theological Seminary last year. Click images on the left to page through her presentation and hear the stories!
