Page 14 - The Legacy of Abraham Rothstein - text

Introduction

therefore the story of Abraham would have concluded no later than
mid-November of that year. Obviously, the three dates cannot easily
be reconciled, separated by five-week gaps. Why he believed his
birthday to be so much later than either of the two datable events is a
mystery. It is, however, understandable why he did not unearth this
information himself: his lack of schooling would have kept him from
the research materials necessary to establish those dates. Of the three
possibilities, the pogrom period seems the most likely: AR was
probably born in the last week of December 1881. Given its relation
to the central events in his life (and its place in the chain of events
leading to my own existence), arriving at this deduction concerning
his origins has been one of the most satisfying aspects of editing AR’s
manuscript and preparing this book.
Others have given me valuable assistance in that task: first and
foremost, my mother, Carmel, archivist and curator of Rothsteiniana,
without whom nothing could have been accomplished; the providers
of reminiscences, who gave their time and encouragement; Ruth
Isaacs, of the Los Angeles Historical Society, who graciously
permitted me access to the AR documents in their archives; Limor
Talias, David Einsiedler and Moshe Rosenthal, translators of
occasionally recondite Hebrew inscriptions; my wife, Dale, who
advised on costume details; and Jan Steward, graphics artist and
designer, who added a necessary touch of professionalism to
photography and printing. All editorial decisions were my own, and
my apologies to anyone offended by what I have written. With luck
and a little effort, all the source material will be extant when some
future descendant tries his or her hand at reassembling the legacy of
Abraham Rothstein.

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