The Greenbergers

Joseph Greenberger husband of Bertha Weiss/ father of Maxwell Green /Grandfather of Elma Green & Richard Green/ Great Grandfather Steven Sherer, Judi Sherer Mink, Susan Green, Michael Green, Stacey Green

Born  1852 or 1855 in Hungary 

Died 1926 in Manhattan, NY 

Bertha Weiss wife of Joseph Greenberger/ mother of Maxwell Green /Grandmother of Elma Green Sherer & Richard Green/ Great Grandfather Steven Sherer, Judi Sherer Mink, Susan Green, Michael Green, Stacey Green

Born 1863 in Hungary 

Died ? New York 

My great grandfather, Joseph Greenberger came to the US from Hungary in 1876 when he was around 21/23 years old.  We have two birth date years so not exactly sure of his age.  He was a tailor.  

He married Bertha Weiss (my great grandmother)  who had also emigrated from Hungary when she was 17 years old.  They lived in Manhattan and had 6 kids, 5 of which survived: 

• Henry (aka Harry- died in 1963 & left a legacy of a closet full of shoes & pants. He was the private secretary to John Jacob Astor.) 

• Morris 

• Maxwell - who became my grandfather, my mother's father

• Lillian

• Frank 

I don’t know much about my great grandparents, but my mother, Elma, knew them. Joseph was her grandfather on her paternal side.  He died when she was 6 years old.  The only story my mother told about them was on Yom Kippur she would visit her grandparents ( Joseph & Bertha) at the Synagogue.  She said it wreaked of bad breath. 

Joseph. Elma, Bertha

I don’t doubt it. Synagogue breath is a thing even when you do brush your teeth.  And I’m sure no one brushed their teeth on Yom Kippur back in the day because they were fasting.    

Joseph & Elma

Do you fast for Yom Kippur? And if so do you brush your teeth? What do you do to combat synagogue breath? Drop a comment and let us know!