Minnie Gould (1914 - 2002)

Minnie Gould is the neice of Simon Glynn, who is the husband of Esther Reizel Levin, my 2x great aunt. Glynn family HERE. Levin family HERE

Parents: Benjamin Gould (1889 - 1947) and Annie Glynn (1891 - 1972)

Tombstone for Annie and Benjamin Gould. They are buried in the Broadgreen Cemetery in Liverpool, England

Born: 2 April 1914 in Kamenitz, Grodno, Russian Empire, nowadays known as Kamyanyets, Belarus

Married: 

Berko Rubin in (January to March) 1935 in Liverpool, Engalnd. Berko was age 22 and Minnie was age 20

Children

Their only child was born in 1937 when Minnie was 23 and Berko 25

• Robert Stephen Rubin 1937 -

Ocupation

In 1932 Berko and Minnie Rubin set up the Liverpool Shoe Company, a small fashion wholesale footwear business. As Midland bank refused a loan of £500, £100 in capital was raised from family and friends. Minnie was recalled by her granddaughter Carrie as a very strong-willed lady and business woman, with a strong work ethic, who ran the family shoe shop for over 30 years after the death of Berko. And she was very tough.” “There was only one newspaper my grandmother would read. And that was the Financial Times,” said another grandchild, Andy. “All she wanted to talk about was business.” The Liverpool Shoe Company became quite diversified, manufacturing men’s, ladies’ and children’s fashion footwear in the 1940s to 1960s, followed by pioneering the outsourcing of footwear manufacturing to Asia in the early 1970s. Its “Beatle boots” were a big hit in the 1960s.

 

Census details

1921

In the 1921 census taken on 21 June of that year Minnie and her parents are living in a seven-room house at 180 Grove Street, Liverpool, England. Her father Benjamin is 31 and two months and a wholesale clothier. He is an employer operating out of premises at 36 St Anne Street, Liverpool. Her mother Annie is 30 years and 11 months and Minnie is age 7 years and 2 months.

1939 Register

In the 1939 Register conducted on 29 September 1939, Minnie and her husband Berko Rubin are at 18 Beauclair Drive, Liverpool, England. He is a wholesale boot merachant and the redacted line is their child Robert Stephen Rubin. Also living with them are Minnie's parents Benjamin and Annie, her brother Arnold and a 16 year old domestic servant, Olive Harding. It is probable that the house was that ofAnnie and Benjamin Gould and that Berko and Minnie and their baby son were just visiting as their permanent address at the time was 39 Montclair Drive, Mossey Hill, Liverpool, England

Travel

Minnie and her son Robert travelling on the Highland Chieftain from Buenos Aires to London arriving on 19 October 1948

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Berko and Minnie and their son Robert travelling from New York to Southampton arriving on 14 September 1951. Their addess is given as 5 Abbey Lodge, London N.W.8 and their occupation is company director

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Berko and Minnie travelling from Southampton to New York on 9 November 1959. Their addess is given as 5 Abbey Lodge, London N.W.8

Electoral Register

Berko and Minnie listed on the 1968 electoral register. Their address is given as 5 Abbey Lodge, Park Road, London, England

Death

8 January 2002 at age 87 in London, England. She was buried in the Bushey Jewish Cemetery in Bushey, Hertfordshire, England, plot no 8, V, 358 on 10 January 2002

Tombstone for Berko and Minnie 

"IN LOVING MEMORY OF BERKO RUBIN

WHO PASSED AWAY 30TH JUNE 1969. AGED 56 YEARS.

DEEPLY MOURNED AND SADLY MISSED BY HIS WIFE, SON, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, GRANDCHILDREN, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.

A man of integrity,compassion and human kindness Who considered all others before himself.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF MINNIE RUBIN

WHO PASSED AWAY 8TH JAN. 2002, AGED 87 YEARS.

DEEPLY MOURNED AND SADLY MISSED BY HER SON DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, GRANDCHILDREN, GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS."

Place of Birth

Minnie was born in Kamenitz, Grodno, Russian Empire, nowadays known as Kamyanyets, Belarus

Kamyenyets or Kamyanyets (Belarusian: Камянец), is a town in Brest Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Kamyenyets District.The town is located in the northwestern corner of Brest Region on the Lyasnaya River, about 40 kilometres north from Brest. The Leśna Prawa river flows through the town. In 2002, its population was approximately 9,000. The Jewish Population was 2,722 in 1897.

Jews likely settled in Kamyanyets in the 16th or early 17th century, during a time when many towns in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth welcomed Jewish settlers. By the 18th and 19th centuries, Kamyanyets had an organized Jewish community with a synagogue, schools, and various religious and social institutions. Jews played a significant role in the town's economy, often working as merchants, artisans, and traders. The Jewish population grew and established a vibrant community, including Hasidic influences. After World War I, the area became part of the Second Polish Republic. Despite growing antisemitism, the Jewish community in Kamyanyets remained active, with political and cultural organizations such as Zionist groups and Hebrew schools. Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, and Kamyanyets was occupied shortly after. In 1942, most of the Jewish population of Kamyanyets was murdered during the Holocaust, either in local massacres or deportations to extermination camps. 

Residences

In the 1921 census the family are living at 180 Grove Street, Liverpool, England. The property no longer exists

In the 1939 register the family is living at 18 Beauclair Drive, Liverpool, England

In the late 1930s and early 1940s the family were living at 39 Montclair Drive, Liverpool, England

The families' London address is given as 5 Abbey Lodge, London, Park Rd, London NW8 7RJ, United Kingdom

Getrude Leila (Girlie) Helfet (1914 - 1992)

Gertrude Leila Helfet, known as Girlie, is my 1st cousin 2x removed and also my Godmother. Helfet family HERE

Parents: Leon Helfet (1877 - 1945) and Sarah Ann Levin (1880 - 1953)

Tombstones for her parents Leon Helfet and Sarah Ann Levin. They are both buried in the Pinelands no 1 Jewish Cemetery in Cape Town, South Africa

Born: 29 July 1914 in Calvinia, South Africa

HELFET.-On Wednesday, the 29th of July, at Calvinia, C.P., South Africa, to Mr. and Mrs. Leon Helfet (née Sara Levin, of Liverpool), a daughter (Gertrude Leila). (Jewish Chronicle 4 September 1914)

Early photo

Ceres

Cape province

Dec 6th 1914

Dearest Hannah (her sister-in-law)

Am sending you, at last, a photo of my little family. Only regret that my dear hubby is not with us, but as there is such a good photographer here, it was an opportunity not to be missed, especially as I wanted to introduce you to my darling little Girlie. She is very tiny here but T.G. she is really a splendid child for her age.

Baba is in his favourite cadet attitude. It is too bad that he is not smiling, for smile come far more natural to him than seriousness in fact it was quite an effort for him to keep his face straight and you will see in Esther’s that the smile is nearly bursting through. Hope you like our little group. 

Sincerely trust all is well with you all.

Do write, dear, am longing to hear from you again.

With ever fond love from us all to you and your loving sister. Sara

The picture is as follows: Ceres, Cape Province, South Africa, December 1914. L-R, Cyril Helfet, Girlie Helfet (on the maid Esther's lap), Arnold Helfet, Sara Helfet and Arthur Helfet

Cape Town, about 1921. Sarah Helfet with her 3 youngest children. At left is Girlie, at the back is Miriam Pearl and on the right is Theodore Herzl

Married: Isadore (Issie) Meyers on 7 March 1937 in Cape Town, South Africa. Girlie was age 22 and Issie age 30

Antenuptial contract for Girlie and Issie dated 18 January 1937

Marriage of Girlie and Issie Meyers in Sea Point, Cape Town on 7 March 1937

Children

Their first child was born in 1938 when Girlie was 24 and Issie 32. Their last child was born in 1946 when Girlie was 31 and Issie 39

• Avril Nola Meyers 1938 - 2012
• Pamela Meyers 1942 - 2020
• Leone Hilary Meyers 1946 -

Travel to England and Europe in 1949

Girlie and her mother Sara travelled to England on 7 April 1949 aboard the Bloemfontein arriving in Southampton on 24 April 1949. They returned to South Africa on 22 July 1949, as per Sara's diary

Photo 

Girlie with her siblings and their spouses in Cape Town on 23 January 1960. Back row: Cyril Helfet, Edna Helfet (Nee Landsman), Arnold Helfet, Theo Helfet, Celia Helfet (Nee Polen), Arthur Helfet. Front row Girlie Meyers (Nee Helfet), Cynthia Helfet (Nee Bernstein), Nathalie Helfet (Nee Freedman) 

Biographical information

Girlie, born in 1914, studied music at the Cape Town University and then joined the Civil Service in Pretoria. She married a Chemist, I. Meyers, in Pretoria, and has three daughters. (a biographical extract written by her brother Arthur)

Letter

A letter from Girlie to my parents dated 8 April 1956 congratulating them on their wedding.

Telegram

Telegram from Issie and Girlie Meyers, their daughter Nola, Arnold and Edna Helfet and their boys sent from Pinelands in Cape Town to Johannesburg on 11 March 1972 congratulating me on my Barmitzvah. Girlie and her family were unable to attend as it clashed with the wedding of their nephew Leon Helfet, who married Ellen Nouens in Cape Town on 12 March 1972

Pictures

A very poor quality photo of Issie and Girlie (at left) with my grandparents Marcus and Zella Levin at the Kruger National Park, South Africa in the late 1950s

Pretoria 1959. L-R, Rosalie (Dinkie) Morris (Nee Wasserman) holding Clive Wasserman with his brother Anthony in front of him, Pamela Meyers, my mom Ruth, my sister Sarah-Nan getting a piggyback from my grandmother Zella Levin, and at the far right is Girlie Meyers. In the second photo Issie Meyers is added between my mother and Girlie Meyers; Leonie Meyers is at the back on the far right, and my grandfather Marcus Levin, smoking his habitual pipe, is now seated next to his wife Zella Levin. Seated on the far left is Ettie Morris and on the far right is Abe Morris

Pretoria 1959. L-R, My sister Sarah-Nan, behind her is Leonie Meyers, then Pamela Meyers, and at the far right is Girlie

Girlie with her grandchildren Gary and Sara Galanti, mid to late 1970s

Girlie Helfet at left in Johannesburg, September 1991

Death

29 March 1992 in Pretoria, South Africa at age 77, from breast cancer. She is buried in the Jewish section of the Rebecca Street cemetery section D, location no 13, grave no 2717

Residences

In Calvinia Girlie and her family lived at Carmel Villa in 19 Pastorie Street, which her father Leon had built. It is now a bed and breakfast establishment

In Pretoria the family lived at 75 Nicolson St, Bailey`s Muckleneuk, Pretoria, South Africa. I remember a giant cactus in one corner of the garden

At the time of Issie's death in 1973 he and Girlie were living at 9 Lynwood Hof, the Ring, Lynwood, Pretoria, South Africa 

Cynthia Bernstein (1922 - 2014)

Cynthia Bernstein is the wife of Cyril Bernard Helfet, my 1st cousin 2x removed. Helfet family HERE

Parents: Solomon Bernstein (1889 - 1969) and Annie Louisa Israel (1891 - 1977)

Cynthia's parents Solomon and Annie Bernstein

Born: 22 March 1922 in Cape Town, South Africa

Hebrew Name: Sheina bat Shlomo

Siblings:

• Sydney Meyer Bernstein (1917 - 1997) married Sybil Sonenscher
• Beatrice Rosaline Bernstein (1917 - 2001) married Aaron Shwer (1911 - 1984) on 19 May 1938
• Arthur Bernstein (1919 - 1993) married Helen Kershaw Smith (1927 - 2004) on 30 October 1957

Sydney and Beatrice were twins

Married: Cyril Helfet on 25 October 1943 in Cape Town, South Africa. Cyril was age 35 and Cynthia age 21

Marriage certificate for Cyril and Cynthia. They were married in the Great Synagogue, Cape Town on 25 October 1943. Cynthia's occupation was listed as a clerk and Cyril as a motor dealer, but presently a soldier

Cyril and Cynthia on their wedding day. She wore a borrowed dress as there was a limited amount of fabric available during the war

This account is an extract from a biography by Cynthia's great-granddaughter Stella Basserabie. The full biography is available HERE

Meeting Nana (Cynthia)

Once Cyril returned to North Africa from Palestine, he did not return the battlefield. He stayed in Cairo and was in charge of the tank training school, which was the "first purely S.A. (South African) one in the Middle East."

For quite a while Cyril was uncertain of his future movements and of his future status in the military. Due to a change of programme, he suspected that he would be given "Union Leave in the very near future," and that he "may even be in C.T. (Cape Town) for Herzl's wedding." As he hoped, Cyril's request for leave was granted and he was able to attend his brother's wedding in Cape Town.

Little did Cyril know that at this wedding he would be meeting his future wife....

Cyril's brother, Herzl, was getting married to a women named Celia Pollen. Cyril was Herzl's best man and Celia's maid of honour was her first cousin, Cynthia Bernstein. 21 year old Cynthia and 35 year old Cyril met and got along extremely well at the wedding. Just three short weeks after the wedding, Cynthia and Cyril got engaged and three weeks later on the 25th of October 1943, they got married!

The reason for their rushed engagement was due to the fact that Cyril was concerned about being made a Major in the military and being sent back to battle. Since the South African military did not send married men to active combat, getting married meant that he would not have to return to front lines or North Africa.

Children

Their first child was born in 1945 when Cyril was 36 and Cynthia 22. Their second and last child was born in 1947 when Cyril was 38 and Cynthia 24 

• Barbara Gene Helfet 1945 -
• Leon S Helfet  1947 -

Cyril and Cynthia

Cape Town, 27 February 1954, Left to right: Marcus Levin, Herzl and Celia Helfet, Zella Levin, Cynthia and Cyril Helfet and their children Barbara and Leon

Cyril with his siblings and their spouses in Cape Town on 23 January 1960. Back row: Cyril Helfet, Edna Helfet (Nee Landsman), Arnold Helfet, Theo Helfet, Celia Helfet (Nee Polen), Arthur Helfet. Front row Girlie Meyers (Nee Helfet), Cynthia Helfet (Nee Bernstein), Nathalie Helfet (Nee Freedman) 

Cynthia Bernstein

80th Birthday

C is for Cape Town, where her life began,

and for Cyril, who was her special man;

Years of happy family life

made her a great daughter, mother and wife;

Nana and Mom to those she holds dear,

also called "bokkie", "baby" and Thea;

To her family and friends she is a treasure 

spending time with them is always her pleasure!

Her heart of gold is her greatest wealth,

to all who need her, she gives of herself. 

It's hard to believe she is eighty years old

- it seems like her story has hardly been told!

And so an invitation we send your way 

To celebrate Cynthia's special day.

DATE: 24th March, 2002

TIME: Anytime between 3.30p.m. - 7p.m. for tea or drinks

PLACE: 1/93 Ocean Street, Woollahra

Please phone regrets only: 

90th Birthday

Cynthia's 90 Birthday

You're invited to join us and celebrate

On the 25th March, remember the date.

The day is auspicious because that's when we toast

Our mother and Nana, of whom we will boast.

Her name is Cynthia, who on a summer's morn,

Ninety years ago, in Cape Town was born.

Now she's at the top of our family tree

Which ranges in age from ninety to three!

Family and friends from far and near

Please join us to toast Cynthia's ninetieth year;

To wish her much happiness and good health aplenty

And may we all be here for her 120!

Date: 25th March 2012

Time: 12.30pm - 3pm

Venue: 23 Avoca Street, Randwick

Death

10 September 2014 (15 Elul 5774) at age 92 in Sydney, Australia. She was buried on 12 September 2014 in Macquarie Park Cemetery, Sydney, Australia section F row 21 grave no 53

Letters

A letter from Cynthia to my mom dated 11 July 1955

A letter from Cynthia to my mom dated 3 August 1956

Telegrams

A telegram from Cyril and Cynthia dated 10 April 1956 on the occasion of my parent's wedding

A telegram from Cyril and Cynthia dated 18 December 1963 on the death of my grandfather Leon Hodes

A telegram from Cyril and Cynthia dated 10 March 1972 congratulating me on my Barmitzvah

Residences

In 1955 the family were living at 72 Molteno Road, Oranjezicht, Cape Town, South Africa

In 1978 the family were living at 7 Cutter Cl, Marina Da Gama, Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa