Sara Scheindel Kornmehl Schmerling, was the first child of Elias Kornmehl and Esther (Doba/Taube) Schmerling. She was born in Tarnow, Galicia (Poland) in 1872; either 27 July, 16 May, or 4 April (various records). The most common record shows 27 July.
Sara married Simche Isaac Beder, who was from Nowy Sacz. He was born: 29 January 1870.
The couple had 11 children (see 'Siblings' folder, here for details).
In 1913, the whole family migrated from Tarnow to the Netherlands, the Hague.
In 1939, together with son Max (Moses) Beder, Sara escaped to Palestine/Israel. It is assumed that Simche Isaac, sadly was not with them, as no grave has been found for him.
Sara had close relatives in Palestine/Israel: Her brothers David and Heinrich (born: Henach) had escaped from Vienna in November 1939, and arrived in Haifa / Israel on 13 February, 1940. She had a nephew, Gustel Schmerling (Gutek) (Hebrew name: Gideon), son of her brother, Ferdiand (and son of his wife, Nina). He moved there from Vienna in 1938, it is assume to be after his uncle, Heinrich was arrested by the Gestapo, July 1938 (he was taken to police prison: portelizabeth...where he remained for 2 months. Then he was transferred to Buchenwald c.c. He was held as a 'political prisoner' - he had belonged to the political party which opposed unification with Germany (the majority Catholic Party: VF). His brother, David paid the 'fine' for his release 6 months' later. He was also released after saying he would leave 'Greater Germany' (as Austria then was). They (Heinrich, David, his wife Mitzi and daughter Stella) went to Palestine as soon as they could. It is very likely that Gustel helped them to get on the journey, by paddle steamer, down the Danube and then from Romania (Sulina) by ship to Haifa. They were on the Sakarya ship, and left Vienna in November 1939, arriving in Israel Feb 1940. It was a very arduous journey. Arriving in Romanian waters, the Danube began to freeze over. The ship had not arrived, when it did it was a coal ship, and unsuitable to take so many (the largest group to go by ship to Palestine/Israel during WW2: 2,200 people approx). The owners of the ship kept increasing the price, and frantic arrangements had to be made to source the necessary funds. Meanwhile, the captain of the boat that Heinrich et al were on, was given strict orders to turn around and return to Vienna 'with or without' the passengers (the captain was a Nazi, the Swastika flag flew). They had just 24 hours to board the coal ship, mid sea (via a thin plank) - as they were not allowed to land due to the British pressure to prevent 'illegal immigrants' arriving in Palestine - and the international law then did not allow for Jews in transit to land. If they had remained on the paddle boat, the captain said he would take them to Lublin concentration camp when he returned to Vienna.
Arrangements were then made to hire carpenters, and those from the boat...helped them to make cabins, facilities and so on. The coal ship was freezing, and full of coal dust. They were 'stuck' on it for a long time, with the noise and dust of carpenters installing facilities. But they eventually moved out to sea, and on to Haifa, where they were interned by the British (Alit camp) for 6 months (men) and shorter for women.
Gustel - worked with the shipping / boat side of brining in refugees. He also helped with the covert operations to rescue Armenians (when they were being persecuted), and Jews escaping Iran (amongst other things)
Sara lived in Tel Aviv.
Max Beder (Moses). The only record found is this:
“Moshe son of Simche Beder, born 20/12/1898, made Aliya (emigrated to Israel) in 1939. He died in Israel 08/01/1984..”. he was not married (had no family). No grave has been found.
Details of Sara Beder's grave: She died on 9th Feb. 1948 (29 Shvat 5708), in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Avnei Zikaron Street
Tel Aviv, HaMerkaz, Tel Aviv District
Israel
Cemetery Website