Title
I Yield to Destiny: From Shop to Synagogue
Category
Author/Originator
Wolwoff (Vilvovsky), Israel (1872-1944)

Year of Publication/Creation
1938
Place of Publication/Creation
New York
Language(s)
English
Geographic Places
  • Znamyanka 1 (Znamenka, Znaminke), Ukraine (p. 1) map
  • Dmytrivka 3 (Dmitrovka, Mitrefke), Ukraine (p. 2) map
  • Dykivka (Dikovka, Dikyevka, Dikyefke), Ukraine (p. 3) map
  • Fedirky (Fyodorki, Khviderka), Ukraine (p. 3) map
  • Kropyvnytskyi (Kirovohrad, Kirovograd, Kirovo, Zinovyesk, Yelisavetgrad, Elisavetgrad, Yelysavet, Yolosvet), Ukraine (p. 10, 23, 35, 60, 63) map
  • Kremenchuk (Kremenchug, Krementshuk), Ukraine (p. 18) map
  • Hubivka (Gubovka, Hubovke), Ukraine (p. 26) map
  • Mykolayiv 1 (Nikolayev), Ukraine (p. 29) map
  • Manhattan 1, New York, New York, USA (p. 48) map
  • Crown Heights (part of Brooklyn), New York, USA (p. 57) map
    • https://zikaron-imports.s3.amazonaws.com/Wolwoff1938/Wolwoff1938 001.pdf
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    The author immigrated to the US in 1903 and remained Sabbath observant. Though he notes that his surname was originally Wolwoffsky (p. 36), it was actually Vilvovsky, according to Ukrainian documents. It seems that the author dictated his memoirs to someone ufamiliar with Jewish life in Tsarist Russia. For example, on p. 44, it states " Tsardikem" instead of Tsadikem or Tsadikim and Tvarski instead of Tverski. Also, many town names are mistranscribed, such as Mitterkefke instead of Mitrefke. See also the autobiography of the author's sister Sarah Yetta Reznikoff.
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