Ben Richman

(Suzanne's uncle)

Rose's older brother Ben, an adventurer and world traveler, joined the Lincoln Brigade to fight Franco during the Spanish Civil War. He sent Joshua several letters about family history in 1977 including the story of Uncle Mendel.

He was the son of David Richman and Zelda Eichenberg Richman, who died when he was born. David's second wife, Bertha Dayan Richman, raised Ben and his older brother Joe.

First letter to Joshua
"I can remember when your Grandmother Rose was born. Our father was already in America. He left Ostropol, a small town on the Slutch River about 100 miles from the Bug River where they met and flowed down to the Black Sea..."

Second letter to Joshua
"I'm glad to have heard from your mother that the story was incomplete. I felt it was, but I thought maybe you were in a hurry to get at least part of it. I will continue with the Ostropol part-that town was really something special..."

Ostropol map and description
"On market Mondays wagons with merchandise displays gathered next to all center highways & displayed their wares. Customers paraded back and forth among wagons looking inspecting bargaining..."

Uncle Mendel
"There was quite a crew of the Richman boys -- my father David; then Srulber, he was older (than my father); and Mendel, he was the oldest. I remember my uncle Mendel..."

Click the images below to view a larger image.

Ben Richman in his home in the 1950's.

Photograph sent to his sister, Rose Richman Freedman. Hand-written message on back of photo reads:

14 July 1943

I just scored a hit on the Nazi Junkers that bombed my train on April 14, 1938.

Ben

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