The History of The Assael Family
By Mitchell Solovay
Assael Family History
Preface
I distinctly remember being told by my grandfather Murray that we were Kohane’s. Both my mother and Sherry verified this. So, the info prior to our family going to Spain in 70AD is based on it. If anyone has other information, please let me know. But unless I hear otherwise, the antiquity info will be based on us being Kohane’s.
Also, keep in mind that dates may not be exact, especially those of antiquity (BCE). But this history gives us some idea of who we are, where we came from, and how we got here in the USA.
In the beginning
According to Biblical text, the earth was created 5776 years ago (roughly the year 3760 BCE).
Abraham was our forefather. He lived roughly 4,000 years ago (roughly the year 2018BCE). He was the 10th generation from Noah. With his covenant with G-d, he settled in Canaan. He had 2 sons – his first son the Ishmael who he had with Sarah’s concubine. His 2nd son, born 7 years later, was Isaac who had had with Sarah. Ishmael and his mother were forced to leave Canaan after Isaac was born, Ishmael would be the forefather of Islam/Muslims. Isaac would be the next heir to the Jewish people.
Isaac married Rebecca and had twin sons – Esau and Jacob. Jacob would take the birthright from Isaac and be the next heir to the Jewish people.
Jacob had 12 sons (hence the 12 tribes) between 4 women – his 2 wives Leah and Rachel, Leah’s concubine and Rachel’s concubine. His first 4 sons were with Leah – Reuben, Dan, Levi and Judah. His last 2 sons, Joseph and Benjamin, were with his favorite wife, Rachel. The middle 6 sons (plus a daughter Dina) were from the concubines. We are the descendent of Jacob and Leah’s 3rd son, Levi.
Levi (and his brothers and sister) lived about 1900BCE. We are his descendants. Levi and his brothers sold Joseph as a slave to Egyptians and years later, due to a famine in Canaan, Jacob and all the children relocated to Egypt, reunited with Joseph and all settled in an area known as Goshen, initially as free people but then became slaves for about 400 years.
Aaron and Moses were brothers and direct descendants of Levi. The Exodus out of Egypt occurred roughly 1446 BCE. Being descendants of Levi, they would be the Levi tribe. As mentioned, I was always told we were Kohane’s. As such, we are direct descendants of Aaron. Kohane is a Hebrew word meaning “High priest” and we were offshoots of the Levi tribe. As far back as I can go, the name Aaron remained in our family for millenniums. The Kohanes had a VERY important role.
Israel/Jerusalem 1300BCE-70BC
Once they got to what is now Israel by 1300BCE and the first temple was built under King Solomon in about 1000BCE, the Kohane’s basically ran the Temple. They were VERY IMPORTANT. Our ancestors lived in Jerusalem and ran the both temples (the first temple from 986BCE till 586BCE and the second temple from 536BCE to 70AD).
**During this 1300 years stay in Jerusalem, they had a brief 30 year expulsion. In 586BCE, the Babylonians destroyed the first temple and the Hebrews were forced to leave. They settled in what was then Persia. But then 30 years later the Persian’s destroyed what the Babylonians did and the Hebrews were allowed to return in 556BCE and they built the 2nd temple in 536 BCE and it stood until 70AD.
70AD/The Iberian peninsula – here we come
In 70 CE, the Romans conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the 2nd temple. The romans set a decree to for the expulsion of Jews out of Jerusalem.
Spain – 70CE to 1492
Our family left Jerusalem in 70CE and made their way to the Iberian Peninsula/Spain. There they lived and thrived for over 1400 years. Jews, Christians and Muslims lived side by side in peace for over a millennium. Jews became very integrated into Spanish life, they were important in politics, law, philosophy, medicine, etc. It truly was a golden age. But starting in the 1480s Christianity swept the country and all non-Christians were being forced to either convert or eventually leave.
August 2 1492
The edict of Expulsion for the Jews by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella occurred on March 31, 1492. The Jews were forced to either convert or leave the country in 120 days (or by July 31, 1492). Since July 31 fell on Tish B’Av (a holy Jewish holiday commemorating the destruction of both temples), the Jews asked if there could be an extension for that departure. The King and Queen granted a 2 day extension. The jews had to leave by August 2, 1492.
**Ironically, on August 2 1492, Spain initiated 2 major events: the same day that the Queen and King forced the Jews to leave Spain, they also allowed a young Italian guy named Cristobul Colon go out and sail to India. Cristobul never made it to India. He managed to find the New World, and today we know Cristobul Colon better as Christopher Columbus.
Ottoman empire opens their door
With the decree of 1492, the Ottomom empire opened their doors to the Jews of Spain. The Ottoman empire was essentially Turkey and it’s “colonies”: Greece, Albania, Yugoslavia and part of the Balkins. Our family left Spain in the summer of 1492 and made their way to what was Castoria Turkey. They lived there for some 400 years, from circa 1492 to 1909-10
America
In 1908, there were a number of uprisings from Turkey’s colonies, all wanting independence. What they would do is put the Jews on the front line to fight. Aaron “Behor” Assael did not want to fight or have his family fight, so with his parents he set sail to America in 1909 for a better life. He made it through Ellis island. Within a year, he sent for his wife Buena (in America, Bella), his son Mosihe (known as Mooshiko) and his brother Haim. Bella, Mooshiko and Haim left from the Port of Patra on May 23, 1910 and arrived in Ellis island June 10, 1910. They were detained in Ellis island for about 2 days until Aaron was able to pick them up. Not all the relatives were able to get into America. Due to immigration quotas, some had to go elsewhere in the Americas. Some of our family settled in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and still live and thrive there.
Bella mysteriously died in June or July 1910 when Murray (My Grandfather) was about 5. I am still investigating what happened. In any event, Behor remarried Sophia Elias in January 1911 and together they had 7 children: Bella, Irving (nicknamed Spike), Lena (nicknamed Nellie), Matilda (nicknamed Tillie), Hyman (nicknamed Shelly), Clara and Sarah.
Aaron would have 8 children, some 20 grandchildren, and over 30 great grandchildren.
Preface
I distinctly remember being told by my grandfather Murray that we were Kohane’s. Both my mother and Sherry verified this. So, the info prior to our family going to Spain in 70AD is based on it. If anyone has other information, please let me know. But unless I hear otherwise, the antiquity info will be based on us being Kohane’s.
Also, keep in mind that dates may not be exact, especially those of antiquity (BCE). But this history gives us some idea of who we are, where we came from, and how we got here in the USA.
In the beginning
According to Biblical text, the earth was created 5776 years ago (roughly the year 3760 BCE).
Abraham was our forefather. He lived roughly 4,000 years ago (roughly the year 2018BCE). He was the 10th generation from Noah. With his covenant with G-d, he settled in Canaan. He had 2 sons – his first son the Ishmael who he had with Sarah’s concubine. His 2nd son, born 7 years later, was Isaac who had had with Sarah. Ishmael and his mother were forced to leave Canaan after Isaac was born, Ishmael would be the forefather of Islam/Muslims. Isaac would be the next heir to the Jewish people.
Isaac married Rebecca and had twin sons – Esau and Jacob. Jacob would take the birthright from Isaac and be the next heir to the Jewish people.
Jacob had 12 sons (hence the 12 tribes) between 4 women – his 2 wives Leah and Rachel, Leah’s concubine and Rachel’s concubine. His first 4 sons were with Leah – Reuben, Dan, Levi and Judah. His last 2 sons, Joseph and Benjamin, were with his favorite wife, Rachel. The middle 6 sons (plus a daughter Dina) were from the concubines. We are the descendent of Jacob and Leah’s 3rd son, Levi.
Levi (and his brothers and sister) lived about 1900BCE. We are his descendants. Levi and his brothers sold Joseph as a slave to Egyptians and years later, due to a famine in Canaan, Jacob and all the children relocated to Egypt, reunited with Joseph and all settled in an area known as Goshen, initially as free people but then became slaves for about 400 years.
Aaron and Moses were brothers and direct descendants of Levi. The Exodus out of Egypt occurred roughly 1446 BCE. Being descendants of Levi, they would be the Levi tribe. As mentioned, I was always told we were Kohane’s. As such, we are direct descendants of Aaron. Kohane is a Hebrew word meaning “High priest” and we were offshoots of the Levi tribe. As far back as I can go, the name Aaron remained in our family for millenniums. The Kohanes had a VERY important role.
Israel/Jerusalem 1300BCE-70BC
Once they got to what is now Israel by 1300BCE and the first temple was built under King Solomon in about 1000BCE, the Kohane’s basically ran the Temple. They were VERY IMPORTANT. Our ancestors lived in Jerusalem and ran the both temples (the first temple from 986BCE till 586BCE and the second temple from 536BCE to 70AD).
**During this 1300 years stay in Jerusalem, they had a brief 30 year expulsion. In 586BCE, the Babylonians destroyed the first temple and the Hebrews were forced to leave. They settled in what was then Persia. But then 30 years later the Persian’s destroyed what the Babylonians did and the Hebrews were allowed to return in 556BCE and they built the 2nd temple in 536 BCE and it stood until 70AD.
70AD/The Iberian peninsula – here we come
In 70 CE, the Romans conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the 2nd temple. The romans set a decree to for the expulsion of Jews out of Jerusalem.
Spain – 70CE to 1492
Our family left Jerusalem in 70CE and made their way to the Iberian Peninsula/Spain. There they lived and thrived for over 1400 years. Jews, Christians and Muslims lived side by side in peace for over a millennium. Jews became very integrated into Spanish life, they were important in politics, law, philosophy, medicine, etc. It truly was a golden age. But starting in the 1480s Christianity swept the country and all non-Christians were being forced to either convert or eventually leave.
August 2 1492
The edict of Expulsion for the Jews by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella occurred on March 31, 1492. The Jews were forced to either convert or leave the country in 120 days (or by July 31, 1492). Since July 31 fell on Tish B’Av (a holy Jewish holiday commemorating the destruction of both temples), the Jews asked if there could be an extension for that departure. The King and Queen granted a 2 day extension. The jews had to leave by August 2, 1492.
**Ironically, on August 2 1492, Spain initiated 2 major events: the same day that the Queen and King forced the Jews to leave Spain, they also allowed a young Italian guy named Cristobul Colon go out and sail to India. Cristobul never made it to India. He managed to find the New World, and today we know Cristobul Colon better as Christopher Columbus.
Ottoman empire opens their door
With the decree of 1492, the Ottomom empire opened their doors to the Jews of Spain. The Ottoman empire was essentially Turkey and it’s “colonies”: Greece, Albania, Yugoslavia and part of the Balkins. Our family left Spain in the summer of 1492 and made their way to what was Castoria Turkey. They lived there for some 400 years, from circa 1492 to 1909-10
America
In 1908, there were a number of uprisings from Turkey’s colonies, all wanting independence. What they would do is put the Jews on the front line to fight. Aaron “Behor” Assael did not want to fight or have his family fight, so with his parents he set sail to America in 1909 for a better life. He made it through Ellis island. Within a year, he sent for his wife Buena (in America, Bella), his son Mosihe (known as Mooshiko) and his brother Haim. Bella, Mooshiko and Haim left from the Port of Patra on May 23, 1910 and arrived in Ellis island June 10, 1910. They were detained in Ellis island for about 2 days until Aaron was able to pick them up. Not all the relatives were able to get into America. Due to immigration quotas, some had to go elsewhere in the Americas. Some of our family settled in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and still live and thrive there.
Bella mysteriously died in June or July 1910 when Murray (My Grandfather) was about 5. I am still investigating what happened. In any event, Behor remarried Sophia Elias in January 1911 and together they had 7 children: Bella, Irving (nicknamed Spike), Lena (nicknamed Nellie), Matilda (nicknamed Tillie), Hyman (nicknamed Shelly), Clara and Sarah.
Aaron would have 8 children, some 20 grandchildren, and over 30 great grandchildren.
Assael Family Tree
Provided by Mitchell Solovay
(Still a Work in Progress)
