Inspiration
Louis Levine I decided to feature my paternal grandfather in this first post of the new year. My cousins, my sisters and I referred to him as Zayde, an endearing Yiddish term for grandfather. He was a strong and independent man who may have appeared hard and gruff but he loved and cherished his children and grandchildren. Louis Levine was the second child and only son of Beryl and Tiba Levine nee Weiner. He was born on December 20th, 1885 in Traby which is in the western part of what is now Belarus not far from the Lithuanian border. Louis was his Americanized name but he was called Lazar (short for Eliezar?) possibly named after his grandfather. There may have been times that he was referred to Alexander but never in any official capacity. When Louis was 4 years old his father died. This happened on or about the day his sister, Bertha was born. Tiba, being a widow with a newborn and no income, sent Louis and his older sister Mary to live with relatives. Mary w