Esta Salzman

God, Man and Devil from Jewish Forward on Vimeo. I soon discovered that Esta Salzman had spoken at the New York Jewish Film festival in 2007. I sent a message to the film festival: 7/29/07

HI, as you can see from the e-mail below, I am trying to get in touch with Esta Salzman.  I wonder if you can help. I am looking for her on behalf of her cousin, Esther Stern Diamond, and her extended family. Thank you     Aaron Ginsburg

I also  contacted Sharon Rivo,  Executive Director, National Center for Jewish Film

Brandeis University:

I wonder if you can help me find Esta Salzman.  I am looking for her on behalf of an extended family which has lost touch with her.I am sending you a copy of a message I posted on jewishgen.org:

Recently I posted a message looking for the descendants of Grigory Shteiman, originally from PInsk, who moved to Kiev, from where his son Aaron Shteiman (Harry Stern) immigrated to the United States. Thanks to jewishgen, the Ukranian and American branches of this family have been reunited. Learn about the reunited Shteiman family. This reunited family is looking for the descendants of   Grigory's  wife, Sura Rivka,  sisters, Zelda and Hanna. The three sisters appear to have been from Pinsk.  Although I do not know their maiden names, Zelda and Hanna married two brothers whose last name was Salzman.  These families were very involved in the Yiddish theater. The descendants of Zelda Salzman include Sara Siegel, a dancer, Esta Salzman (married to David Labritsy). Esta was active in the Yiddish theater for many years. In fact Molly Picon was at the Bar Mitzvah of David Labristy and Esta Salzman's son.   The other sister Hanah Salzman had a daughter Zelda who married someone named Pernick who was active in either the electrical or stagehand workers union.  Another family member David Salzman may have taught theatrical lighting in the drama school of the University of Miami.

I am writing this message on behalf of the daughter (Esther Diamond, grandchildren (Bruce, Howard and Richard), and great grandchildren of Harry Stern, and also on behalf of Lilya Pokras, the daughter of a sister of Harry's, and her children and grandchildren as well as a cousin in Israel and her family. Lilya immigrated from the Ukraine to Baltimore about 18 years ago, and the family in Israel also immigrated from the Ukraine since the demise of the Soviet Union. If you are able to assist in helping to find their family, it would be greatly appreciated.   Aaron Ginsburg

Sharon soon replied:

I have her details at the office but have to dig them out. Aviva Weintraub at the Jewish Museum may have them handy. More tomorrow.  Sharon Rivo  7/29/07

By the next day, Aviva Weintraub had chimed in:

I can't give out her info but I would be happy to pass along the

message. -Aviva 7/30/07

-

And finally:

Thanks. Esta was happy to hear this - I spoke with her and gave her Esther's phone number so hopefully they will speak soon. Thanks for making the connection.

Best wishes,  Aviva 7/31/07

And the two cousins were able to speak after 29 years!

Good Morning Aaron.........yes  Esta called me  and it was wonderful   I had not spoken to her since my Father passed in 1978 .Thanks so much for being Aaron....As wonderful as it is to know she is alive..it was painful to hear  about those who are gone... as good as it is to hear her   ,it was difficult to hear an accounting of her losses      ........... she has good things to say about her son, her grandchildren, her 90th surprise birthday party,,..  Ill speak to you soon           thank you   thank you ,  Esther Diamond.. 8/1/07

coda:

What a fabulous story.

Aviva, hats off to you for finding Esta and for organizing the event at Lincoln Center.

Sharon Pucker Rivo

Lisa Rivo to Sharon, me, Aviva

8/1/07

Bravo Aaron and Aviva.

lisa 

Next: 2009 the story continues