Immigration of Jews from Janina, then a part of Turkey, began about the year 1900. By the middle of 1906, there were perhaps two to three hundred in New York City, most of them residing in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and probably less than 100 “Uptown”, meaning Harlem. Most of the “Uptowners” were employed by Sephardim operating a cigarette factory and warehouse on Manhattan's west side.
About September 1, 1906, a terrible accident occurred in Harlem which resulted in the death of a beloved teenager in the course of his duties as assistant to the driver of a horse drawn truck delivering merchandise for the factory. The sudden death of this young man raised many problems for the small Jewish community. They were not organized for such disasters. They had no religious or civic associations – no provision for such emergency. There were no workmen’s compensation laws, nor any provisions for burial.
Realization of need resulted in the organization of the Society of Love and Brotherhood of Janina and the Good Hope Society, Sons of Israel, in 1906 and 1907. The Israelite Community of Janina was incorporated in 1913. The purposes of each were to provide for religious services as well as burial for their members and families. In 1926, the first and third of the above-named were merged into United Brotherhood of Janina.
The two surviving societies continued separately for a half century. Finally, in 1976 they were merged under the name of United Brotherhood Good Hope Society of Janina, Inc.
Leon Colchamiro*
Menachem Sabetay*
Benjamin Levy*
Juda Cofino*
Jacob Batino*
Michael Eliasaf*
Elias Colchamiro*
Zacharia Levy*
Avram David*
Ezra Bacola*
Aaron W. Sadock*
M. J. Levy*
Ovadia Solomon*
Solomon Ovadia*
David Calef*
Beny Calef*
Eli E. Jacob*
A. Mustaki*
I. Levy*
Max Benyamen*
Beny Askenazi*
Daniel Abraham*
Mr. & Mrs. Haim Angelo*
Jessula Levy* (1913-1946)
Leon Colchamiro*
Zacharia Levy*
Menachem Sabetay*
Elie Contente*
Morris W. Sadock*
Ezra Bacola*
Solomon Schinasi*
Mathias Naphtali*
Isaac Kones*
D. Davidson*
A. W. Sadock*
Joseph I. Josephs*
Morris L. Cohen*
Jess M. Colchamiro*
Sam Nahoum*
Milton H. Ezra*
Matthews De Castro*
Morris J. Ezra*
Abraham David*
Milton Dostis*
Morris Yomtov*
Joseph Matza*
Samuel Confino*
Raphael S. Battino*
Sol Lafazan
Hyman Genee*
Max Nachmias*
Sol Matsil*
Martin Genee
Barry Yomtov
Steven M. Matza
*Of Blessed Memory