Five young men came from Kopaigerod, Ukraine to San Francisco:  brothers Bennett and Mayer Licht, brothers Sam and Solman Friedman, and Max Kibrick. They left Europe 7/17/1913,  on the ship Chemnitz from Bremen, Germany. They arrived 08/08/1913  in Galveston, Texas (DF) (DK). Bennett and Mayer were the first of the Licht family to arrive in San Francisco.

Later Sam Friedman married Bennet and Mayer Licht’s sister Anne.  Later Sol Friedman’s brother Simon married Max Kibrick’s sister Anya.  That forged a connection between the Licht, Friedman, and Kibrick families.  

There is also a connection between the Israel and Dina Friedman family and the Maltzers. Israel Friedman’s sister Yohevet Friedman married Yankel Spector.  Yohevet and Yankel Spector’s daughter Maika (Miriam) married BenZion Maltzer.  BenZion and Maika Maltzer’s daughter is Bassya (Betty) Maltzer (DK).  The Israel and Dina Friedman family are not my blood relatives, but the Israel Joseph and Leah Friedman family are. There is an Israel Joseph and Leah Friedman page on this site, under Ancestry, here.

There are details about their leaving and arriving in my article titled Sol and Sam Friedman Brothers.

When Bennett at age 18, and Mayer at age 17 arrived in San Francisco in 1913, they  quickly arranged for their parents, brother, and two sisters, to leave the Ukraine for San Francisco. They departed from Bremen, Germany on the ship named Brandenburg, arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 8/7/1914.  Their ages at that time were Louis 44, Eda 40, Leah 13, James 11, Anne 8, and Ella 6. Ancestry.com said their entry port was Philadelphia, Familysearch.com said their entry port was Boston with destination Philadelphia. They probably went to Philadelphia instead of the usual Ellis Island in New York, because they had a relative Morris Zalman who lived in Chester, south of Philadelphia, who had sponsored Morris Friedman and Morris Maltzer.

Leiser (Eliezer) changed his name to Louis, Yiska (Eta)  changed her name to Eda, and the family surname was shortened from Lechtus to Licht.

Later in the 1920’s , many Jews left Ukraine illegally, by dangerously eluding border guards  and  crossing the Dniester River into Romania. These crossings were described by Sol Friedman, and by Abraham Gannes. Kopaigerod was located near that River. The Lichts probably  left in a safer manner, because Ben and Mayer had previously left the Ukraine, when Ben went to school in Warsaw, before they returned to Kopaigorod.

Bennett and Mayer had come by the lower cost Steerage class on the ship, which was a very difficult trip to Galveston, Texas.

The German Jews who earlier went to New York City, had become wealthy, especially in banking and finance. They thought there were too many poor Jews from Poland and Russia immigrating to New York City, and they influenced the Hebrew Immigrant Aid society (HIAS) to have Russian Jews go direct to Galveston, Texas. The German Jews of

New York City, spearheaded by Jacob Schiff, with the cooperation of Israel Zangwill, supported the Galveston Plan. Henry Cohen, was a cooperating Rabbi in Galveston. They arranged a steamship line, from Bremen direct to Galveston. They wanted to have Galveston as an immigration port, to reduce the vast number or Jews entering New York City. “Between 1906 and 1914, only 3,000 Jews were throughout the Southwest”, having immigrated  through Galveston. At no time had the annual number of immigrants passing through Galveston exceeded 3 per cent  of the total Jewish immigration for one year” (Sachar, 288-293).

Mayer told a story, that when he first got to Galveston, he put a letter into a mail box, which he had never seen before. He spoke the address to the box, thinking there was a person inside.

Carolynn and I visited Galveston, in 1983. It is a very small port, located on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico, which had been replaced by nearby Houston as the main port, when inland Houston was later connected to the ocean by a channel.

What was the United States like in the early 1900’s ? The first manned and powered airplane was invented and built by Wilbur and Orville Wright and first flew December 17, 1903, for 120 feet. The first assembly line automobile was developed by Henry Ford in 1908, the Model T, priced at $950. and later reduced to $280., when his employees were paid $5.00 per day.  In 1913 an Amendment to the Constitution established a permanent income tax. The Constitutional Amendment establishing women’s voting did not complete adoption until 1920.

They brought their Russian heritage with them. At family happy occasions, the popular dance which was the highlight of the celebration was the Russian Kozatski. The dancer would squat, fold his arms, kick out his-legs alternately, to a classic melody. Other guests would form a hand held circle around the main dancers and dance in a circle. This continued until after 1947, when Israel became a state, and the Kozatski was replaced by the Israel Hora, as the key dance at celebrations. The Kozatski is one track on the CD titled Songs of Our Fathers by Andy Statman and David Grisman.

Ben and Mayer, when they first came to San Francisco in 1913 were boarded in the home of the mother of William and Sam Stern. (William Stern told JF) . Louis Abrams sponsored them, to emigrate to the U.S. Louis, Eda, Leah, James, Ann, Ella, came in  1914.  Louis Licht become a U.S. citizen in 1914 (according to the 1920 Census).

Bennett and Mayer worked as fruit peddlers, from a push-cart, in San Francisco. Eda, their mother, would polish the fruit, starting at 4:00 AM. (SM)

Mayer said he had a job sandpapering wood furniture, that resulted in painful hands. That job was probably in Louis Abrams’ furniture factory, or in another furniture company arranged by Louis Abrams. Working days were long, pay was low, work conditions were poor, in those days before the advent of Labor Unions.

When Louis started in the furniture business, he was probably influenced and helped by Louis Abrams. When Louis Abrams came to San Francisco, he had a job lighting gas street lights. By the time the Lichts came to San Francisco, with his sponsorhip, Louis Abrams had a company manufacturing furniture. Also, Mr. Miller, an uncle of Morris and Sol Friedman,  who sponsored Morris Friedman in 1913, had a furniture store in Chester, Pennsylvania, south of Philadelphia

The San Francisco City Directories have these listings. 1915-1916: Lewis Licht, peddler. 1919: Louis Licht, furniture, 2221 Mission. 1920: Starlight furniture, 2213 Mission.

When Louis started the furniture store, on Mission Street, at 18th Street, he began by selling used furniture, and later on progressed to new furniture. Ben and Mayer soon went to work in the furniture store. It was a good location, because in later years, that part of Mission street became “furniture row”. In a row, between 18th and 16th Streets, in order going north, there were Starlight, Frank Newman, Redlick Newman, Lachman Brothers, and other smaller furniture stores in between them. Lachman Brothers was already listed by 1914, Redlick Newman first listed in 1920, and Frank Newman much later (city directories). Joe Friedman wrote that the furniture store gave yiches (status, prestige) to the Lichts. (5)

The Licht family lived at 1356 Scott St. in 1915. They had moved to 242a Capp St., behind the furniture store, by 1917. They moved to 563 Guerrero by 1919.  Later on they moved to 19th Ave., in the Richmond district.

Leah graduated from Lowell High School in 1917. Ann, and Ella, later graduated from Mission High School. Joe Friedman told me he was surprised how well the three sisters became Americanized. Sy Maltzer said “Leah, Ann, and Ella, were very beautiful, and when they walked down the street together, people would look at them”. Ella’s son Edward Bordin, told me that Ella was accepted to go to U.C. Berkeley, but her father, did not think she should go there , and should work instead. She was disappointed but did not go to college.   

Leah did the housework, so Eda could work in the furniture store. Leah cooked the meals, scrubbed the floors before Friday night Shabbos dinner, etc. (SM)

World War began in 1914. The United States entered the War  April 17, 1917. The Armistice was declared Nov. 11, 1918. They had just arrived in 1914, and one of the reasons for leaving Ukraine, was to avoid the Army, which persecuted Jews.

Ben and Mayer were vulnerable for the draft, but escaped by declaring themselves stateless residents which forfeited their rights to apply for citizenship, reportedly at Eliezer's direction. Amnesty was granted later. (JF).

Louis bought the building that housed the furniture store in 1920 (JF). Later he bought the homes on Capp Street, behind the furniture store.

In about 1990, the S.F. Jewish Federation published a brochure, and in it is a photograph which shows Louis seated with a group of men, around a long table, at a meeting of the Hebrew Free Loan Association, in about 1920.  Mr. Dollinger once visited me in my office and told me had been on the Board with Louis.

Mayer had a serious accident in about the time of World War I. He was on a San Francisco downtown street, in front of his car turning the crank to start the engine, and his leg was hit by a moving cable car. Mayer was in Mount Zion hospital for about one year, with many operations by the chief surgeon Dr. Brun, who Mayer credited with saving his leg. There was extensive damage to the inside calf muscle, and a large scar. For the rest of his life Mayer walked with a slight limp.

Mayer opened his own tire business, in 1920 and 1921. I have an all metal flat handle screw driver, for advertising. On one side it says Valencia Tire Supply Co., Mayer Licht, 540  Valencia St., San Francisco, Calif. On the other side it says “Portage Tires, All Oversize.”

Mayer at this time was living with his parents and siblings at 653 Guerrero St., and Bennett was living at 1849 Howard. After this business Mayer returned to the Starlight Furniture Company (city directories). 

In 1924 a tragic accident occurred, when James and a friend, who were canoeing in the Russian River, both drowned. James was tall and handsome, when he died at age 21. He was called Jimmie. He was active in the social activities of the men’s club,  the Congenials, with his brother Mayer, who had many events jointly with the members’ women friends. Their activities included dances, and hiking. Gail Nathan, told me that her father Fred Goldstein had tried to save James in vain before he drowned.

Mayer Licht married Sarah Kirschbaum, June 16, 1925. I, their son, Norman, was born March 30, 1927. Mayer became a U.S. citizen October 3,1927. Their daughter Carolyn was born August 15, 1930.

Ben married Rose Schick, Leah married Joseph Lanfeld, Ann married Sam Friedman, and Ella married David Bordin.

The Lichts, Maltzers, and Friedmans, all were active members of B’nai David, at 19th St. between Valencia and Guerrero Streets, know as the “19th St. Shul”. It was Orthodox, the men sat downstairs and the women sat upstairs.  I only remember going to services one time, and sitting in front with the men of the family at a Bar Mitzvah, probably my cousin Robert Licht. Joe Friedman, and Irving Maltzer, also were Bar Mitzvah there.

The 121,000 square foot  building, built in 1907, has a  design like in the Shtetls of Europe: ground floor entry, one flight of stairs to the Sanctuary, and another flight of stairs to the balconies on three sides above the Sanctuary. Downstairs, to the left of the entrance, was the door to the Mikvah (ritual bath). The Mikvah was managed by step-grandmother of Irving Maltzer and Sarah Fields (nee Maltzer). She was of the Calic family. Sarah remembers as children they said their grandmother had a swimming pool. The Mikvah had an important role in Orthodox Jewish life. At that time, there were dozens of small Shuls located all around the Mission District.

The building was closed for many years, after Jews moved away from the Mission district. The Mikvah continued for many years, until a new one was built elsewhere. In 1980 to 1988 the building was converted to four living quarters. Frieda Koblick, an acrylic sculpturer, became the main tenant. The main Sanctuary was divided into two halves. Some of the original windows were retained. The table for the Torah reading is in the entry. The exterior of the building is the original, with the name of the Shul. Carolynn and I visited there in 1998, when we and Richard and Sandi Harte, led a bus trip for Temple Beth Jacob, for Jewish roots in S.F.

My cousin Ed Bordin remembered that Joe Friedman thought grandma Eda, and also the three daughters were strong women. Joe told Ed that Mortimer Fleischacker made an important loan to Joe Lanfeld, and the loan was arranged by the Licht women. That would have been before the stock market crash in  1929, and the end of the end of Joe’s Public Food Stores in 1931.

Joe and Leah Lanfeld had lived in 1924 at 667-24th, 1928 in Burlingame, and 1931 at 700 El Camino Del Mar, Seacliff, S.F., 1938 at 6330 Fulton. In 1931 The Public Food Stores had 88 grocery stores in S.F. After that, in 1936 Joe owned 4 stores in S.F., and later moved to L.A. and worked for the Friedman Bag Co.

Eda, died in 1933, at age 59, of cancer. Joe Friedman told me, in thinking about the extended family,  he came to the conclusion that Eda was the driving force in the family, until she died. He felt that Eda held the family together, and had the greatest effect on all the others.

When Eda died I was age 6, and my sister Carolyn was age 3. I remember seeing my grandmother Eda only one time. She was sitting up in bed, and had strikingly curly black hair. She gave me her brown leather, double compartments, gold color snap, coin purse, which I have kept in the nightstand in my bedroom ever since. She gave Carolyn a brightly colored embroidered white handkerchief. She wanted each of us to have a personal gift. That was shortly before she died.

My younger cousins Ed Bordin and Eileen Lanfeld are named after our grandmother Eda Licht.

In 1935 Louis went alone on a trip to Palestine, to visit his brother Joseph and his family in Haifa. En route he visited his two brothers in Warsaw, Poland, Moishe and Eisik, and their families. I remember we received a postcard from him, at our house, which had a standard size postage stamp, bright orange,  with a picture of the Tower of David. I was collecting stamps, and that was the first stamp I had seen from Palestine. Carolyn recently reminded me, and I do remember, that he brought a gift for us, which was a small transparent bag containing sand from Palestine. It was very rare for a person to travel that far in those days, way before jet airplanes, and probably relatively expensive. Jerusalem, was in the daily and other prayers, and “next year in Jerusalem” was said by observant Jews at the conclusion of Yom Kippur and Passover. He must have been thrilled to visit Palestine.

Bob Licht told me that his father, Ben, intentionally while Louis was away on the trip, ordered a neon sign for the furniture store, that would become a landmark. The sign, which said Starlight,  had a star at the top, and was three stories in height, from the ground floor to the top of the building.

Sometime before 1935, Louis joined Temple Beth Sholom, at 14th Ave. and Clement Streets, in the Richmond district of San Francisco. It was know as “fourteenth avenue”. This is a Conservative Shul, which was a change from his previous Orthodox Judaism. In 1935 a new building was completed there, and Rabbi Saul White became the Rabbi. He was born in Kolno, Poland. In 1920 he immigrated to Brooklyn. He married Ruth Shapiro, and had children, David, Linda, and Salene. He was a dynamic speaker, and gave provocative sermons, often political. Mayer and Sarah became good friends of Rabbi and Mrs. White, on a first name basis. For instance, I remember Rabbi White playing poker with Mayer after a dinner party at our home. He continued as Rabbi at Beth Sholom for 48 years, and died in 1983.

The services at Beth Sholom were memorable, mostly in Hebrew, with a good Cantor, with a small choir of men on the bima, and no organ or piano. I had my Bar Mitzvah there in 1940.  The seats were reserved. Louis had about 7 seats, all in the second row, a few rows from the front, on the right side of the central section as you faced the bima. There were not enough seats for the whole family on Rosh Hashona. The grandchildren would have to alternate, and wait outside the Sanctuary some of the time. There was someone at the door checking tickets, and there was a sense of anticipation, and appreciation, when you got inside and got a seat. In front of the Temple there were a lot of people standing on the sidewalk. This same thing took place at other Temples, such as Beth Israel at Geary and Fillmore Streets. People who couldn’t get a seat, still wanted to be at the Temple for the holidays.

Louis married Jennie Guthertz, and they lived at the apartment house that she owned in the Richmond district of San Francisco within walking distance from Temple Beth Sholom, at 14th and Clement Streets. That was a good location, because it was close to shopping, and he could walk to and from Temple on Shabbos. Louis did not drive a car.

At the Magnes Museum in Berkeley, there is a copy of a 25th year anniversary Journal, in the year 1940 (from a start date of 1915). There is a page with a photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Licht, “member of the Board of Directors, Past-chairman School Committee, Reader of Torah,” There is also a box ad with a picture of Mayer Licht, “member Board of Directors.”

There is also a page with a picture of Louis Abrams, “Chairman Building Committee”, and his other activities for Beth Sholom. The first person from Kopaigorod to leave and go to San Francisco was Yosel ( Louis) Abrams. He left about 1898. His first job in San Francisco was lighting street lamps. He started Metropolitan Funiture Corp. in 1905, originally a mattress manufacturer. During the 1930's his company changed to making medium-quality residential furniture. He died unexpectantly in 1949. Then Louis’s grandsons, Sylvan and Jay Heumann  ran and expanded the business, with factories in South San Franciso and San Diego. I remember Louis Abrams at Temple Beth Sholom, with his white hair and goatee, walking with a cane, sitting in the center about half way back in the sanctuary.

Having come from the Shtetl, Kopaigerod, Ukraine, Louis Licht, Louis Abrams, and Joseph Kernfeld were life long friends, members and supporters of Beth Sholom.

There is a copy of a Beth Sholom Bulletin of 1945. The officers are Aaron Rapoport Pres., Charles Edelson Vice Pres., Lou Wendroff Chairman of the Board, Nate Narin Vice Chairman, Fred Honig Sect., and Robert Sadik. All these men, and their wives, were close personal friends of Mayer and Sarah.

In that Bulletin there is an Editorial by Rabbi White. I will refer to it in my chapter about  Israel.

When I was a child, Mayer and Sarah, Carolyn, and I, would frequently go to visit Louis and Jennie in their apartment, on a Sunday. When we were about to leave, Jennie would call out “Louie” to remind him, and he would go into the bedroom and get a paper one dollar which he gave to Carolyn and me.

I don’t remember many outings together, but I do have photograph of Louis and Jennie on a bench when they went to the 1939 Worlds Exposition on Treasure Island, with my parents and Carolyn and I.

By the 1940’s Louis had his many grandchildren. Jennie also had several children, and many grandchildren. The two families were there together each Passover, at the home of Louis and Jennie. There was a T shaped table, with a side end table across the dining room, and a very long table from the dining room to the end of the living room. From the far end it was difficult to hear and see the Seder, conducted by Louis. The food was passed around the room, and everyone had plenty to eat.

Carolyn and I and our parents would go to Louis’s Seder on the second night of Passover. At the Seders, I would meet Jennie’s grandson, Elliot Shane, who was an optician who had been discharged from the Army, having served in Burma. I was in Optometry School, and our relationship continued throughout my career. Jennie’s other grandchildren included Allan Miller, who later became a good friend of my cousin Gail and Gordon Nathan. Also Sanford and Francis Annixter. Louis’s grandchildren, who lived in San Francisco,  were Norman and  Carolyn Licht:  Robert and Joy Licht: Edward and Gerald Bordin, His grandchildren who lived in Los Angeles were Beverly, Albert, and Gerry Friedman; Roselle, Alvin, Sylvia, and Eileen Lanfeld. The family from Los Angeles would also sometimes come to the Seders. These cousins, and their parents, were a lot of people in one apartment. It was always a lively group, and a happy celebration.

Louis’s education  was in Heder (Hebrew School) in the Ukraine. He was very learned in Judaism, frequently read from the Torah, read the Haftorah, and the Maftir at services on Saturdays and Holidays I have a vivid memory of a time on Rosh Hashana, when Louis and Don Calic were standing in front of the elevated bima: Louis called out the Shofar service words, and Don blew the Shofar. It takes great skill to read the Torah, because there are no written notes, and the words and  melody are supposed to be done correctly. Barney Korenfeld, told me that his father, and Louis, used to frequently do Jewish studying together, for many years. They had been friends in Kopeigerod, Ukraine, and their friendship continued, at their homes, and at Beth Jacob.

Louis did not have a secular public education, but I think he was wise. One time, about 1948,  he was at our house for dinner, I was in Optometry School, and I complained I had so much studying to do, that I didn’t know how I was going to do it. He advised me to choose the most important thing to do, and start in doing it, and then the other things would follow. I wondered how he knew that, and I remembered the advice. 

We never talked to each other much about my becoming an Optometrist. In the 1990’s, when I talked to Barney Korenfeld, he told me the first time he heard about me, was when he heard Louis tell his father that I had become an Optometrist, and how proud and happy he was about that. That was in 1951.

Joe Friedman wrote his impressions about Louis, whom he called Lazer. “Lazer Licht dominated his sons and daughters in a stereotype of European patriarchal tyranny then and for more than forty years more, sometimes in a benign fashion and sometimes otherwise. His strikingly handsome appearance, obviously excellent religious education and forcefulness impressed most strangers. The families of his wife’s relatives were free from direct intervention but not from freely offered comments.” (18)

He was always kind to my sister Carolyn and I, and I think he treated my cousins well.

Edward (Happy, Hap) Bordin, my cousin, one of the younger grandchildren, had his grandfather Licht teach him in preparation for his Bar Mitzvah. In addition to the studies, Edward would accompany him going to Saturday morning services at Beth Sholom for more than one year. This took discipline and perseverance, and gave Edward the opportunity to really get to know his maternal  grandfather.

Edward remembered at his Bar Mitzvah, in 1948, he had a very long Torah portion to read. While reading he made a mistake, and grandpa Licht from his seat called out a correction, and Jennie nudged him to shush. It is customary for a person standing next to the reader to correct any mistakes, but not from the seated congregation.

Edward remembered his mother taught him to ask the Four Questions in Yiddish, and at a seder she told her father that she had a surprise, and that was it. He always remembered the words. 

My cousin Sylvia, nee Lanfeld, has fond memories of her relationship with Grandpa Licht before her wedding to Bill Wolff. 

“We met in the summer of 1949 and before we left for Brandeis Camp Bill proposed to me. When we left camp and went back to L.A., Bill asked my mother if she would like him to ‘take Sylvia off your hands’. She replied that it wasn’t necessary to have me off her hands – but she more or less gave her approval of the match. After the summer Bill returned to Pomona. Some months later (after almost daily correspondence) Bill sent me a ring – by mail- and we became officially engaged. In December, Grandpa and Grandma Licht hosted an engagement party – for which Bill arrived so late (long airplane delay) that  all the guests had gone home, feeling very sorry for me. We stayed a few days in S.F., during which time grandpa spoke to Bill about his ‘prospects’. He said that the family hoped that he would not take me away from California and all of the family – so Bill could talk to uncle Mayer and uncle Ben about joining the Starlight, and to Uncle Sam about joining Friedman Bag. ‘After all’, he said, ‘what kind of a future was there in being a cantor or a singer?’ Bill had the meetings, but took me instead to Sioux City after we married in June 1950. Love conquered all – and w’ere now married 21,075 days’. (2-27-08).”

Grandpa Licht and Jennie, were at the wedding of Carolynn and me on 9/3/50, and Carolyn and Stan on 9/14/50.

Louis was fairly tall, taller than his sons, Ben and Mayer. He stood erect, had grey hair and a mustache. In 1988, when we remodeled our office, Elliot Shane came to visit me, and said that “as I was getting older I was looking more like Louie”.

Louis would go to the furniture store to visit, while he was retired for many years. He would get the income from the properties. He had been in good health through his lifetime.  He often would go to Los Angeles to visit his daughters, Leah, and Anne before she died in 1950. When he was visiting Leah in 1953, he had a serious heart attack. Mayer flew to Los Angeles to see him, and after a brief illness he died in Los Angeles, at the age of 83. His funeral was at Sinai in San Francisco. Our son, Ron, was born soon afterwards,  in June 1953, and Ron’s middle name, Leonard, is named in memory of Louis, his fraternal great-grandfather.