The Lipunski family is to the viewer’s right of the patriarch with
the book. He is Ya’akov Bar Kobrin (the roite zaide for his red beard).
His daughter Sarah Devorah (the woman with the embroidery on here black
blouse with her hand on her father’s left shoulder), married Chaim
Velvel Lipunski, the gentleman with the youngest girl, Tzivia (b. 1900)
in front of him. Between Chaim Velvel Lipunski and Ya’akov Bar Kobrin is
Yoshua Lipunski (b. 1895), probably eight or nine years old in this
picture. The two girls on the end are: Libby (b. 1894) who is standing
and the oldest, probably nine or ten in this picture. Seated is Fanny
(b.1897). A child named Bunya (1898 – 1904) had already passed away.
The matriarch is seated and her name is Frume. Behind her are her
children, one of whom is named Zelda, the one behind her father with the
red beard and the book. She left Grodno with her daughter Charlotte,
unhappy in a pre-arranged marriage, thus voyaging to America. Here she
lived in the commune with Emma Goldman, where her best friend broke her
heart by stealing her lover. Zelda left and moved to Los Angeles, was
active in the founding of the International Ladies Garment Workers’
union, and took up the balalaika at age sixty.
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