Davidovitz

Zalman Davidovitz was born in Skapiskis (Skopishok in Yiddish) Lithuania. The shtetl was near to Kupishok, Ponidel and Rakishok. Zalman arrived in South Africa in 1924. Zalman moved to Vryburg in 1930/1, following a few years working on the alluvial diggings, first, and unsuccessfully, as a prospector and then, successfully, as a general dealer. According to his wedding certificate from 1931, he was in Lichtenburg before coming to Vryburg. Zalman and his business partner, Ephraim Hechter, created Headermans and aquired S. Solomon and Compnay. They later parted ways.

Whilst on vacation in Parys he met his wife to be Pessie (or Pessa) Alufovitz, the eldest child of Moses Elias Alufowitz from Kupiskis in Lithuania. Moses Elias's first wife, Mary (nee Kartun) passed away in 1920 and Pessa raised her six siblings. Pessa's brother Solly joined them in Vryburg after he completed his schooling. After the Second Word War, Solly moved to Kimberley, where he had a clothing store. Solly was a POW in an Italian camp.

David Rauff, who was at CBC realls the following about Solly:

Solly supplied my Barmi Suit - took one look at me & pulled out the right suit first time! He had impeccable taste & always dressed well.

Zalman and Pessa had two children, Joe and Miriam. They lived in Vryburg twice, first leaving for Johannesburg in 1949 and then returning in 1954 to resume the running of Headermans. In 1960 Zalman and Pessa again left for Johannesburg. They had two children, Miriam Frieda (born in 1934) and Joe (born in 1931). Miriam and her husband Mike Shapiro also lived in Vryburg.

Zalman and Pessie Lea Parys 1931	Zalman and Pessie Circa 1931	Davidovitz Pesha, Zalman and Joe Davidovitz, 3 November 1932
Shneur Zalman and Pessie Lea ( Alufovitz) Davidovitz	Zalman and Pessie	Zalman and Pessie Holiday, Venice 1958
Zalman and Pessie 1942, Zalman in the home Gaurd	Zalman 1959	Pessie
Moshe (Moses) Elias Alufovitz and Pessie 1932	Moses Elias Alufovitz September 1945	Moses Elias Alufovitz 14 April 1939
Moshe Elias Alufovitz and Pessa Davidovitz 1932	Family Holiday, Cango Caves Circa 1940	Family occasion Circa 1959/1960
Miriam Davidovitz 20 May 1937	Family Photo 1945	Joe and Miriam - the family car August 1936
Davidovitz Home	Joe+Miriam	Joe and Miriam Circa 1935
Joe and Miriam 1937	Joe and Miriam September 1945	Miriam 1945
Miriam on her bike Circa 1945	Miriam and Pessie December 1938	Miriam October 1936
muizenbergholiday	Miriam and Pessa 1945	Joe September 1945
Pessa and the kids Kimberley? Circa 1942	Vryburg home Circa 1936	Zalman in his Homeguard uniform 1942
Zalman and Pessie wedding certificate 1931, Zalman was listed as being in Lichtenburg and Pessa in Parys	Davidovitz Family (13 May 1937) From left: Julia Davids, Zalman Davidovitz, Miriam Davidovitz, Davidovitz, uncle Gershon Davids, Pessa Davidovitz, grandpa Refoal Davidovitz. Uncle Gershon shortened his surname from Davidovitz to Davids.	Solly and friend
Miriam Davidovitz	Solly Alufovitz	Solly Alufovitz
Solly Alufovitz obituary	Moses Elias Alufovitz estate It mentions Pessie, Headermans and Vryburg	Moses Elias Alufovitz, death certificate He died in 1947, in Klerksdorp. His parents were Chaim Abraham and Mariasha.
Joe Davidovitz	Joe and Miriam Davidovitz	Davidovitz Davidovitz Home, 1947
Joe and Miriam Davidovitz Joe Davidovitz, Miriam Davidovitz (Shapiro) and cousin’s Freda Davids (Lipshitz) & Jean Davids	Davidovitz Rosh Hashana 1932 Stellelander	Letter from Hebrew Emigrant Aid Society, Lithuania 12 June 1936
Zalman Davidovitz trying to get his father to South Africa Letter to BOD, 7 July 1936	BOD resposne to Zalman Davidovitz 23 July 1936	Hechter + Davidovitz = Headermans ?, Solomon Strashun [married to Chae Alufovitz, sister of Pessie Davidovitz], Ephraim Hechter, Leah Hechter, Zalman Davidovitz,?
Stellenander 1948	Stellenander, 1948	Second Davidovitz valedictory Stellelander, 10 April 1958
Giving up the house The Stellelander, 27 April 1961