My great-grandfather Zalmen Hersch(Salomón)STEINBERG was the son of Yosef Steinberg and Hinde (surname unknown). He was born abt. 1852 presumably in Odessa, and the story goes that
he was the landowner of a tobacco growing in Odessa or near to it. When this fact came to common knowledge, persecution and attempt of lynching followed. He then took his wife Malke REMPEL (born abt. 1856 in Dubesar, the daughter of Rafael Rempel and Sime RAIZEN) and their seven children, and headed to Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1891(where they finally settled), not before trying to settle in Palestine, where they found only desperation and disease. Malke had a brother named Elie. This is all I know about their lives in the old country. Of course I know the story from then on, but I'm trying to find some connection with their past, or to other branches of the family.

I recently discovered that my great-grandmother's maiden name, REMPEL, is considered as "strictly Mennonite". Immediately after, I discovered the Rootsweb mailing list dedicated to this surname, and therefore posted a query to it. What came out promises to be a very interesting connection: Judith Rempel, the moderator, put me in contact with Max Myakishev, who not only has REMPEL as his mother's maiden name, but has also a STEINBERG line related to his Rempels! Dates and places coincide, both families lived around Odessa, Kishinev, Dubesar (Bessarabia), but we haven't been able to ascertain a relationship yet. Max Myakishev felt inspired enough as to translate the Russian version of his family tree into English. If any of these names ring a bell to someone, please check this site, and email me if you find a connection or have some information to share. Thanks a lot!