Zeidy 👴 making his start in 🇺🇸
My Zeidy, on my father’s side was #RabbiBentzionYoselovsky. A Holocaust survivor, a father to 5, an author ✍️ a partisan fighter who co-founded the #BielskiBrothers, to later become a Jeweler. After my #Zeidy , survived with only his teenager brother, they fled to many European countries, ended up briefly in Israel 🇮🇱 Palestine 🇵🇸 to then migrate back to Brooklyn, NY. 🇺🇸 In the mid 1950s. The Diamond district didn’t have as many Jewish owned businesses back then, like today. A Christian guy, wanted to depart from his store / office on the 13th floor, due to superstition around #Jesus death. My Zeidy, joked to his kids “what’s bad for the Goys, is good for the Jews.” He acquired his floor, and started a Pearl business 🧑💼 From all his kids, my father, Shabtai was the liberal/secular one, and Levi became Modern Orthodox, which more enraged their father who hoped they would all remain in his denomination of the fold. But, as true love 💙 fatherhood and Kiruv goes, my Zeidy mentored them two, and Levi managed to make a fortune and move up in society to live in Riverdale, where he had a bunch of JAPs. While my father, took a smaller amount, to be able to explore his career and launch his own business in translations. My #JewishHistory isn’t known by most, as I’ve often been infantilized 👶 in many Jewish spaces that will cast you out if you don’t fit their beliefs or way of conduct, and will intellectually shame you or grossly harass you until you felt disposed. As my upbringing and intersectionality is different, as everyone has their own challenges, and accomplishments in life. May we never have to fear to hide where we come from, and for others to embrace where you are, and where you hope to go, even if it’s far away from where you started!
The story of Rabbi Bentzion Yoselovsky and his family is a powerful testament to resilience and adaptation in the face of history’s harshest trials. Surviving the Holocaust alongside just his teenage brother, my Zeidy's journey through multiple European countries before settling in Brooklyn during the mid-1950s highlights the complex migration patterns of Jewish refugees seeking safety and opportunity. The Diamond District of New York, not as Jewish-owned back then as it is today, became a place where he leveraged unique opportunities—even humorously acquiring office space on the 13th floor from a Christian businessman unsettled by superstition—to establish a pearl business. This anecdote not only illustrates the intersection of cultural beliefs but also the resilience and entrepreneurship characteristic of many immigrant stories. My Zeidy’s legacy extends beyond survival and business success. His influence on his children—Shabtai, who embraced a liberal/secular path, and Levi, who became Modern Orthodox—reflects the delicate balance between tradition and modernity many Jewish families navigate. The tensions and love within this family echo common themes in Jewish history regarding denominational adherence and cultural identity. Interestingly, my own experiences within Jewish communities have been mixed, facing infantilization and exclusion when not fitting expected molds. This highlights a broader conversation about inclusivity and acceptance within cultural and religious groups, especially considering diverse backgrounds and intersectional identities. Embracing one's heritage while also forging individual paths away from or outside orthodox norms is a dynamic aspect of modern Jewish life. The message here is powerful: honoring where we come from and where we hope to go is essential, even when that journey diverges from tradition. Stories like my Zeidy’s offer both historical insight and personal inspiration, reminding us that Jewish history is not just about survival, but also about thriving and evolving in new lands. The phrase from the Diamond District, “what’s bad for the Goys, is good for the Jews,” humorously underscores the irony and openings within cultural superstitions that immigrants have historically navigated to create new opportunities. This illustrates the intersection of humor, faith, and pragmatism that defines much of immigrant Jewish history. Whether through the legacy of the Bielski Brothers in resistance movements or the entrepreneurial spirit in America’s Diamond District, these narratives enrich our understanding of Jewish history and identity. They encourage openness, resilience, and pride in one’s unique journey, making it easier to relate to and support one another within diverse communities today.