Abraham & Lulu Shrem Family

It is believed, though not confirmed, that the Shrem family are descendents of Sephardic, not Syrian (Musta’arabi), Jews. Associated with every Shrem name is the letters SAMAKH TET, which is an abbreviation for SEPHARADI TAHOR (Originating from Spain).

The Shrem Family has been living in Kilis, on the outskirts of Aleppo, for some centuries prior to 1840. Today, Kilis is located on the border between Turkey and Syria. Kilis is known for being a “drug dealer” town and currently, a refugee town.

Abraham Shrem was born circa 1840. He was married to Lulu, and had seven children: (1) Eliahou (born 1865), (2) Gabriel (born 1867), (3) Saul (born 1869), (4) Rena (born 1873), (5) ‘Amar (born 1875), (6) Sarah (born 1876), and (7) Sion (born 1877).

If the rule of naming first born son after paternal father applies, this would make the name of Abraham’s father, Eliahou, and the name of Lulu’s father, Gabriel.

(1) Eliahou A Shrem was married to Sarah Ades, and was the father of (a) Abraham, born 1890, (b) Jacob, born 1897, and (c) Julia, born 1904.

Eliahou A Shrem was a peddler in Egypt. He would go day and night with bags on his back all around Egypt to sell his merchandise. There were some times when he wouldn’t come home for days at a time until he finished selling all of his goods.

Regarding Eliahou Shrem, according to our records, he has lived a very long life; getting to say the Birkat HaHamah (New Sun) Berakha a total of four times: 1869, 1897, 1925, 1953. Most other people only get to say this Berakha three times in their life (if they are fortunate).

Saul Shrem has been alive for 4 Birkat HaShemeshes: 1925, 1953, 1981, 2009. Most other people are only alive for three in their lifetimes.

Regarding Abraham Eliahou Shrem, granddaughter Florence Zeitouni Shrem recalls that he was a pious religious quiet man who was a card player and a chain smoker. He started weekly Tehillim readings each Shabbat at Magen David Congregation in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. In regards to the chain-smoking, Florence says “that was just his way.” He passed away in the mid-1940s.

I, DMB, am in possession of Abraham Eliahou Shrem’s personal pizmonim book with materials dated 1945. In this pizmonim book, there are many handwritten documents, including a very important, “Maqam of the Week” calendar (content found on pizmonim.com). I am also in possession of a few Siddurim from Syria.

(2) Gabriel A Shrem was married to Salha Cohab (daughter of Sarah Shrem, mentioned above, born 1876), and was the father of (a) Lulu [Ashkenazie], born 1890, (b) Abraham, born 1896, and Sion, born 1907.

I, DMB, am in possession of Gabriel A Shrem’s (born 1867) book, called “Hokhmah U’Mousar,” by Hakham Abraham Antebi. This is the oldest book that we have from the Shrem family.

First son of Gabriel A Shrem and Salha Cohab. Second child of the family after Lulu.

Legend has it that when he was younger, he had the most beautiful voice. So beautiful that others were jealous of him. At some point, someone maliciously gave him a poison drink, and this permanently damaged his voice. Regardless, if the above is true or not, Abraham G Shrem, was a religiously learned man, who was a Ba’al Qoreh (Torah Reader).

Abraham, like biblical Abraham, pioneered family into a new and unfamiliar land.

Abraham, with several male members of the Shrem family (i.e. first cousin, Abraham E Shrem, and uncle, Jacob E Shrem), came to the US in approximately 1920, which was 8-10 years prior to his family, in order to start up a business. The reason they left Egypt is because there was no work and no income. Once in America, they met with several relatives of Eliahou Shrem (i.e. Grazi’s, Bobo’s and Cohen’s) who were already “well-established” in America.

Mr __ Bobo and Mr Mourad Cohen were instrumental in helping start the linen shop in Macon.

Abraham G Shrem and Abraham E Shrem’s children (Gabriel and Rachel) later got married. Gabriel and Rachel were “third cousins,” whereas his parents, Abraham G Shrem and Flora, were first cousins.

For Florence Shrem Zeitouni, both of her grandfather’s names were “Abraham Shrem.”

Sito Flora was born in Kilis. Original name was Simbol, which means “wheat” in Arabic. Perhaps name was not fashionable or modern, so the name was changed to Flora. Logic for change: wheat à flower similarity. Arabic was the spoken language in the home.

According to cousin Linda Rosenberg, whose grandmother was Nazli Shrem, Flora's name was never officially changed from Simbol. Rather, when Simbol was a baby, everyone would tell her mother that she was so beautiful and that she should be called Flora (Flower). The name stuck.

Regarding her character, Linda Rosenberg recalls that she was as beautiful inside and outside. She always greeted her with a smile and a warmth that was truly genuine. All of her children possess this quality.

Sito Flora did not read, write, go to school, or leave the house. At this time, women did not leave the home, go to the market, or get jobs to earn money.

The Shrem Family moved from the Aleppo region to Egypt due to economic hardships and also perhaps because the Ottoman Empire was trying to draft adult men into their army.

It was arranged that Sito Flora (Saul) Shrem marry her first cousin, Abraham G Shrem. As per the Arab culture at the time, girls were married disturbingly young. Thus, Flora was married as young as 13-14 years of age. Flora’s father, Saul, already passed away by the time of Flora’s marriage.

Regarding the wedding of Flora and Abraham G Shrem, as per Alan Sam Shrem, Saul recalls hearing that they got married the morning of Ereb Pesah, 14 Nissan, so it would be a Seudat Misvah; thus exempting the Bekhorim (first borns) from fasting.

Whereas Sito Flora left Egypt for the United States, her sister, Jemile, and her mother, went to Israel. Florence Shrem Zeitouni never heard of or met her great grandmother, Esther Kredi, until Florence was approximately 20 years old (circa 1960), and it was officially announced that she passed away in Israel. The families were not close due to the distance between Israel and the United States.

In Egypt, Sito Flora’s mother, Esther Kredi Shrem, and mother-in-law, Salha Cohab Shrem, went to the boat to say goodbye to Sito Flora and children, never to reunite again. Sito Flora was 28 years old when leaving Egypt en-route to United States.

Sito Flora’s younger sister, Jamile Shrem, married Sion Cohen, had 4 children; most of whom live in Israel.

The children of Abraham and Flora Shrem are: Gabriel (November 1916- August 22, 1986), Saul (October 14, 1919- ), Sam (1929- 2012), Sarah, Sally, and Esther. Sam (“Uncle Sam”) was the first to be born in the United States. Esther is just a few years older than her first niece, Florence.

Gabriel and Saul A Shrem ("Charlie") were born in Cairo. Saul is 3 years younger than Gabriel. The life in Egypt during the 1920’s was relatively pleasant, peaceful, with no real political hardships. The Jewish Community of Egypt was large and influential. The synagogues in Egypt were large and beautiful. Saul recalls hanging out by the large courtyards of the synagogue listening to Dibre Torah from rabbis after the prayer services.

Finances were the reason for leaving Aleppo in the early 1900’s, and finances, again, were the reason for leaving Cairo, in the later 1920’s. There was no work!

In 1929, Saul was 9 years old and he got on a boat heading to the United States. Before getting onto the boat, the inspectors of the boat held back his brother, Gabriel (age ~11), due to an eye condition common in Egypt (Trachoma) that was thought by Americans to be contagious. For whatever reason, Saul, who had the same problem, was allowed to get onto the boat. Upon hearing that Gabriel was not allowed to get onto the boat, his two grandmothers (Salha and Esther) who originally came for the trip to say farewell, forced Flora, Gabe's mother, to get onto the boat without Gabe and continue the trip while they take care of Gabriel until further notice.

Saul never visited Egypt again and never again saw his grandparents or Uncle Abraham Chehebar. The boat ride lasted 30 days, and Saul Shrem recalls that Flora cried all 30 days on the boat about leaving her son, Gabriel, behind. The boat was nice and they were able to eat Kosher food on it. The destination was New York City's Ellis Island, and then down south to Macon, Georgia, where Abraham Shrem, the father of Saul, had a small linen shop.

Gabriel Shrem spent the next two years in Egypt with his maternal uncle, Abraham Selim Chehebar. The original name of the Chehebar family was LAHAM, and was changed to CHEHEBAR (SHE’HE BAR = “The Boy Should Live”) to stop the curse of Selim Ibrahim Chehebar’s parents constantly losing children at childbirth. Abraham Chehebar (born 1884, Aleppo, and moved to Egypt in 1906) was married to Abraham Shrem’s sister, Zakieh (also known as “Giselle?”). Abraham Chehebar had two wives prior to Zakieh. The first wife passed away without any children in Aleppo. His second wife, Latifa Bobo, also passed away, but leaving one child, Solomon Chehebar. Zakieh raised Solomon Chehebar after his mother passed away. Zakieh’s 8 children were: Gabriel A Chehebar, Joseph, Alice, Allegra, Maurice, Charlie, Aslan, and Nina. Abraham Chehebar took great care of his nephew, Gabriel, for the next few years and assumed the responsibility of father while the rest of the family was in the US.

Uncle Chehebar took everyone to synagogue each Shabbat to the Baqashot. Abraham was a genius when it came to pizmonim, and took a special interest in teaching Gabriel, similarly a genius in pizmonim. Abraham Chehebar was very influential in his congregation, especially when it came to all aspects of Baqashot and prayers. In Egypt’s Aleppo Jewish community, he and two others (Obadia Antar and Joseph A Levy) put together “Miqrah Qodesh,” a Baqashot book, in 1930. Gabriel A Chehebar, Abraham's son, was also good at pizmonim and Hazzanut. Saul Shrem did not learn pizmonim, because he was in the US at the time. Abraham Chehebar did well in his business even though his store was the size of a closet. It was insisted by the grandparents that Abraham G Shrem go all the way back to Egypt by boat in order to pick up Gabriel and bring him to the United States. This would be the first time in approximately ten years that Gabriel has seen his father. The grandparents intentionally delayed Gabriel’s Bar Misvah until father returned to Egypt when he was age 14. (Whether Gabriel wore Tefillin at age 13, as per Halakha, is questionable to me.) While in Egypt, Gabriel celebrated his delayed Bar Misvah with his father, and then left on a boat with him. Gabriel was too young at the time to be involved in leading the services in Egypt (pre-Bar Misvah aged).

Regarding the family of Gabriel A Chehebar, most siblings eventually moved to the United States. They opened a successful retail chain called "Rainbow." They are also involved in many charitable causes associated with Congregation Ahaba VeAhva as well as the larger Jewish community in the United States.

For whatever reason, once in the United States, the Chehebar family associated themselves with the “Egyptians,” whereas the Shrem family associated themselves with the “Syrians.” Meanwhile, both families are identical in heritage; Syrians who moved to Egypt and then moved to the United States.

Abraham Chehebar died in Egypt as did the Shrem's grandparents. They never came to the US.

Gabriel A Shrem came to the US in 1930, whereas the rest of his family came to the US in early 1929. The first ten years in the United States, ages 14-24, were spent mostly in the South.

Once in Macon, Saul Shrem went to the local public school and ended up getting his high school diploma. After high school, Saul participated in the family business.

At the late age of 14, it is unclear whether Gabriel went to public school without knowledge of English. A great majority of everything that Gabriel A Shrem knew was self-taught. By the time he was an adult, Gabriel’s proficiency in the English language was so advanced that he would read “The New York Times” newspaper every day.

In the late 1930's, while passing through New York for an occasion, Gabriel A Shrem met with the greatest hazzan of his generation Hakham Hazzan Moshe Ashear ONLY ONCE prior to Ashear's death in 1940, and later assumed his cantorial position at Congregation Magen David from 1944-1963. Gabriel said that he only learnt one pizmon from Ashear (“LeMee Yizrah Or”, Maqam Lami, page 183). When Gabriel got to the Brooklyn community in the 1940’s, he caught on quickly to how they conducted their Shabbat prayers. He was immediately offered the prestigious position of Hazzan of Congregation Magen David of 67^th Street.

Florence Shrem Zeitouni recalls that throughout her childhood, there were less than 40 “Shomer Shabbat” families in the community. Though she went to mainstream Magen David Yeshiva with other “SY’s,” when they got home, the only people that they socialized with were the Shrem cousins. “Our cousins were our friends,” says Florence.

Gabriel was hazzan of Congregation Magen David and Bnai Yosef Congregation. Gabriel spent about 15 years of his life putting together the Red Pizmonim Book, “Shir Ushbaha Hallel VeZimrah.” All of his works, recordings, and writings have been compiled, digitalized, and modernized by the Sephardic Pizmonim Project at www.pizmonim.com. Gabriel was also the administrator of the Bnai Yosef Congregation since the synagogue's inception until his death. Florence Zeitouni, Gabriel's daughter, has assumed this role at the Bnai Yosef Congregation since the 1960s. Gabriel was a professor at the Yeshiva University Cantorial Institute in the 1970s, where he recorded Hazzanut tapes for his students. Both Gabriel and Saul Shrems were also founding members of Yeshivat Mikdash Melech (under Rabbi Haim Benoliel).

According to some close family members, they did not appreciate the fact that Gabriel was more often in the synagogue than in their home. Rachel Shrem is quoted as saying, “We should move your bed into the shul!”

His Pizmonim and Hazzanut, though by far, the most important accomplishment in terms of his legacy, was only a side-job. It did not pay the bills, and he received very little money for his services. Gabriel needed to take any side job that he can get as a shipping clerk in order to make money for his family.

According to Morris Arking, who happened to be in studying in Israel at the time of Gabriel A Shrem’s funeral in 1986, recalls that Eddie J Sitt exclaimed “Gabriel A Shrem was the most humble man on the face of the Earth!” Joey E Mosseri recalls that his death was a very sad day for the entire community.

Captain Maurice D and Florence Zeitouni~ Victor and Emily Zalta~ Albert and Brenda Heffez~ Abie and Esther Shrem~ Meir and Iris Yaron

David Zeitouni, Estelle Betesh, Gabe Zeitouni, Rachel Ringer, Bea Beda, Kelly Shrem, Max Zalta, Gaby [Zalta], Larry Heffez, Gabriel Heffez, Jack Heffez, Gabriel Shrem, Rachel Steinberger, Randi Matsas, Lauren Tobias, and Gabriel Yaron.

Morris D Zeitouni, Florence Zeitouni, Joyce Zeitouni, Joseph Zeitouni, David Matouk Betesh, Florence Lauren Abadi, Morris M Betesh, Sauly M Betesh, Morris G Zeitouni, Florence Zeitouni, Neil Tobias Zeitouni, Moselle Zeitouni, Stacy Ringer, Adam Ringer, Laura Ringer, Morris James Ringer

Adele Orfali-Mizrachi, Jack Beda, Victor Beda, Joseph Beda, Moshe Beda, David Beda, Emily Beda, Abraham Beda, Charlie Shrem, Ginette Shrem, Emily Shrem, Victoria Shrem, Victor M Zalta, Jason M Zalta, Morris M Zalta, Lulu Ishaq, Emily Ishaq, Moe Ishaq

Brenda Heffez, Rosy Heffez, Albert Joseph Heffez, Brenda Heffez, Albert G Heffez, David G Heffez, Michael G Heffez, Brenda Heffez, Albert J Heffez, Gary I Heffez

Cheri Steinberger, Esther Steinberger, Binyamin Steinberger

Shelly Matsas, Ben Matsas, Marsha Tobias, Iris Rachel Tobias

Regarding Saul A Shrem, he also got married to a cousin, Pauline Ashkenazie. Pauline’s mother, Lulu, was the older sister of Abraham G Shrem. Saul says that he was persuaded/pushed many times by his uncle (very old man) to ask Pauline out on a date, but she rejected him a few times, until she finally agreed.

Money was always tight, but they made enough to get by. Saul had a store in Maine, and he lived there for many summers in order to run it. The legend, as recalled by Victor Betesh (Boston), was that Saul would not open his store on Shabbat, and would convince other Jewish store owners to do the same. They successfully made up for the Shabbat business lost by having big “Saturday Night Sales” every Saturday night. Saul became well-known as the person to have started this “Shomer Shabbat” trend. Saul’s son, Abe Shrem, learned many pizmonim from Gabriel Shrem, as did Saul’s grandson, Saul Hassoun (Cantor at Avenue O Synagogue). B”H Saul A Shrem will be turning 94 on October 14, 2013. Saul's motto is "Always SMILE; it costs nothing!"

Saul and Pauline had the following children: Florence Hassoun, Julie Zakharia, Sandra Haber, Abraham S Shrem.

Both Gabriel and Saul's eye problems persisted throughout their lives, gradually getting worse and worse, eventually resulting in blindness.

Sam A Shrem was married to Norma Chappan. Norma Chappan was not a cousin of the Shrem family. Their children are Lori, Alan, Joey, and Eve.

Sarah and Esther, two sisters, got married to two brothers, Eli and Sonny Shalam. Eli and Sonny’s mother was Julia Shrem, who was a daughter of Eliahou Shrem. Julia was married to Selim “Lumeh” Shalam.

Children of Esther and Eli Shalam are: Julie, Laurie, Debbie, Selim (Lumeh), and Abe.

Eli and Sonny Shalam were very well-known to be financial supporters of Jewish religious institutions.

Both Eli and Sonny passed away and are buried in Israel. Eli’s ENTIRE family was present when Eli passed away in Israel in January 2006.

Sally Roffe lives in Mexico City. Married Raymond Roffe (passed away in 2013). Children of Sally and Raymond Roffe: David, Jacklyn, Abe, Lorrie.

Regarding Sito Flora, for many years, she lived in the Ahi Ezer senior citizen home on the corner of East Seventh and Avenue S. I recall that in her apartment, there were hundreds of pictures of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren hanging on the wall.

The date of Sito Flora’s passing was 10 Sivan 5753 or May 29, 1993 at the age of 91. Despite long life, she only got to say Birkat HaHammah three times (1925, 1953, 1981).

Gabriel Abraham Shrem was Sito Flora’s first child.

Florence Rachel Zeitouni was Sito Flora’s first grandchild.

David Maurice Zeitouni is Sito Flora’s first great grandchild.

David Matouk Betesh is Sito Flora’s first great great grandchild.

Morris Gabriel Zeitouni was the last descendent (great great grandson) born during her lifetime in April 1993.

Henry Joey Abadi, born August 2, 2012, would be the first great great great grandchild had Sito Flora been alive today.

Abraham and Lulu Shrem of 1840 are Henry J Abadi’s great great great great great grandparents.