Most of us if asked about our origins would be quick to state Romanian, and correctly so, but there are plenty of foreign blood lines which go to making up the Dalfen family as we know it. Our grandparents Menachem Mendel and Taube Devorah (Kastner) Dalfen lived in a town called Radauti, Romania or Radavitz as the Jews referred to it. This was a town with approximately 10,000 Jewish residents and our Zaide Menachem Mendel was a respected member of the community.
Menahem Mendel Dalfen sat on the Vaad Hair (Jewish city council) , had a seat on the eastern wall of the synagogue, and was well known for his charitable endeavors. He owned a lumber yard where he sold all types of lumber, and so made a living for his wife and nine children, all of whom helped in running the business when they were able. I recall uncle Morris telling me stories how on his way to school while passing competitors yards he would sidle up to waiting customers, and bring them to his father's yard, saying "Hey Mister come with me it's cheaper here" this was at the age of 8 on the way to cheder.
Radauti was situated in the province of Bukovina which up to the 1st world war 1914-1918 was a part of the Austro Hungarian empire governed by the emperor Franz Joseph. The province was ceded to Romania when the German Austrian alliance lost the war. Our parents went to German schools and of course read and wrote German as opposed to Romanian.The capital city was Chernovitz.
The family absorbed a real variety of sons and daughters in law. Auntie Esther married a Bukoviner Srul Tennenhouse, as did auntie Miriam who wed Moshe Lehrer. Uncle Sam who was first to come to Canada, married auntie Miriam Lazarus a Litvack, and so did auntie Regina who married uncle Julius Litwin a Russian immigrant. Uncle Issie married aunt Sarah Greenberg a Canadian, aunt Clara married uncle Jack Hutman a Romanian from Shotz (Suceava). My mother, Bertha married my father Mayer Sand from Cimpalung also a Bukoviner. Uncle Morris wed aunt Dinah Applebaum of Polish descent whom he met and wed in Israel, and uncle Joe married aunt Celia Month also a Canadian. There are many interesting details as to how each found their basherter , but this is not the time to go into the matchmaking machinations of all.
Originally they were brought over to Canada by Uncle David Kastner (der fetter Doodle) who was married to tante Esther, and that's how the family came to Canada. Please don't take as 100% true the various dates and times since this is really sketchy in my mind and if I need correction on any details please let me know.
First to come were uncles Sam and Issie in the early 1920's, followed by Regina and Morris also in the 20's. Issie started peddling in the maritimes around Grand falls with a horse and wagon, later opening a store in Grand Falls while Sam opened a store in Dalhousie which he later sold to Morris. Morris in the meanwhile had a store in Woodstock N.B. before he moved to Dalhousie.
Uncle Morris was always a sport, it was hard to pay when he was around.. We all knew him for his generosity not only with ice cream for the kids but he had an open hand and was always giving. While single and living in Woodstock he chummed around with Al who as 2 young bachelors were wont to do went to the movies 2 or 3 times a week. Uncle Morris being the sport that he was, ran ahead to the wicket, and always bought 2 tickets treating his friend Al, and this went on for quite a while.
Once Al beat him to the punch and got to the wicket first saying, "Oh no Morris not this time ," following which he bought one ticket for himself. Ever hear of the last of the great spenders ? I guess that was Al.
Aunt Regina worked for der fetter Doodle until she met uncle Julius following which they opened a store in Campbellton N.B.
The Sands, Hutmans, and also cousin Abe Dalfen came over on the SS Montcalm landing at Levis ,Quebec in March 1935. The Tennenhouse family arrived in 1939 on the last ship before the outbreak of the Second World War
