By Sheila Orysiek
SAN DIEGO — In the Ukraine outside of Kiev, my great grandfather and great grandmother had a very large home (not Downton Abbey – but large) serviced by a domestic staff, to accommodate their growing family. In the mid 1800’s Leopold de Rothschild and Ferdinand de Rothschild were traveling through Russia and needed a place to stay in the vicinity of Kiev.
Finding homes large enough to accommodate their retinue as well as adhering to the strict Orthodox religious requirements of Judaism was difficult. They sought the advice of the Chief Rabbi in Russia and he recommended my great grandfather’s home. The de Rothschilds wrote to my great grandfather and of course he was happy to extend an invitation to stay at his home. He was told that he need not hire additional staff as they were traveling with their own.
On the day of arrival a large train of wagons appeared with everything a Rothschild might deem necessary – and then some – including their own kosher chef. Apparently it all fit into the house and everyone enjoyed the occasion. At the end of the visit, the Rothschilds – as a way of saying “thank you” – had their chef prepare a magnificent supper set out on tables under the trees on my great grandfather’s lawns and gardens. Everyone was invited including neighbors and staff. The dessert was served on lacy spun sugar plates which could themselves be eaten.
So that’s the story as my grandmother told it.
Recently I read a book (reviewed for SDJW on May 18, 2014), written by Baroness Hannah Rothschild; a biography of her aunt. On the book jacket was an e-mail contact so I wrote to the Baroness and related this story curious as to whether there was any truth to it. I received a cordial reply in which she asked that I contact the director of the Rothschild Archives – whom she would alert to hear from me. In response to my contacting the director of the Archives, I was sent a hardback book – an “Annual” (quite beautiful) “The Rothschild Archive: Review of the Year April 2009 to March 2010,” detailing various activities and collections of art and artifacts pertaining to the Rothschild family history.
One article in the Annual was a history of two of the de Rothschilds (cousins) who did indeed make a trip through Russia, including Kiev, and stopping along the way at various homes with the ability to accommodate them. The date, description and itinerary fit exactly with my grandmother’s story.
She told this to us as we sat in her tiny home in an emigrant neighborhood in Philadelphia. The beautiful home in Kiev, the family, including her murdered husband (my grandfather), the staff had gone up in the flames of the Russian Revolution. But she had her grown children with her and three grandchildren (including me) and her proudest possession – her new American citizenship – for which she was forever grateful.
Hearing these tales gave me a perspective on life I would not otherwise have had. And, it was wonderful to learn that this event actually did happen.
I inherited a beautiful picture of the family sitting under those same trees.
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Sheila Orysiek is a freelance writer based in San Diego. She may be contacted via sheila.orysiek@sdjewishworld.com
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