Mikel Chumot (1875 - 1935?)
The Yizkor Book of Tuchyn (Book of the Dead), recounts some of the stories, ‘Tuchyn was a vibrant community with four synagogues, including one called The Great Synagogue. The Jews who lived there were mostly Hassidic, (a very religious form of Juda- ism.) The town also included multiple Zionist organi- zations that were teaching the youth the skills needed to return to Israel, a strong desire during those times.’ Dora’s father, Mikel Chumot, was a grocer. On Friday nights after temple, he collected small loans from those he had extended credit to during the week. He must have done well enough since he support- ed a live-in housekeeper and managed to raise eleven children. The shtetl of Tuchyn was divided into Jewish and non-Jewish sections. The Jews required extensive hours of worship. Prayer was done by davening or rocking back and forth while reciting the Hebrew text. Men were separated from women. One of the main prayers they recited was the desire to return to Jerusalem. Our family lived next to the temple.
“Sh’ma Yis-ra-ael,
A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu,
A-do-nai E-chad.”
Hear, O Israel,
The LORD our God,
The LORD is One.
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