Born on 16 October, 1903, in Chelm, Poland, Moszko Szyf grew up at Poeztowa/Potchtova 28, the cherished son of Mordka Josef Szyf and Ruchla Gitla Zygiel. Mordka studied in a Talmud school with rabbi Abraham Fink, while Ruchla kept open a shop. In Chelm there was a small synagogue, built in the years 1912-1914, on the corner of Kopernika and Krzywa Streets. Moszko had two older sisters Gaja (born in ...

Dora Szajner (later Factor, 1897-1972) was born in Działoszyn, Russian Empire, to Hillel (?-1924) and Rosa Chaja Isbitska Szajner. Hillel was a Hebrew teacher, calligrapher, folk carver, and a felcher [traditional healer]. Dora had seven siblings, four brothers and three sisters, including Max Moszek (1905-1942), Sarah (later Koopman, 1908-1993), Hela (later Helen Bialogurski), Roza (Rosa), Joseph, ...