My father's name was Menachem Yoel Hacohen Kaplan (1868-1936). This was also his grandfather's name. My mother's name was Chaya Targownik .
My great-grandfather
I know my great-grandfather's name on my father's side, because I have a copy of a small book that my grandfather had published on education in the year 1894.
Barnovichi was a town of "Mitnagdim", Jews who emphasized learning the Talmud and the intellectual side of Judaism. These were opposed to the "Chasidim", Jews worshipping with dance and music and devoted to their rebbe. These rebbes held court and became dynasties with their positions handed down from father to son. Despite the hostility of the "Mitnagdim", the Chasidim kept coming and settling in the town. Eventually they built their own synagogue, called a "shtibel", from the word "shtub" meaning a house. Once a Rabbi came to town. That Shabbat, some big boys got together and went to the Chasidim while the Rabbi was eating with them. At the entrance to each synagogue was a small tank with water and a basin for washing the hands - and some very wet towels. The boys rolled up some of these wet towels and pelted the Rabbi with them!
V. Случайные разговоры и встречи
(мемуары: Шавельскі Г.І.)
Пра апошнія дні стаўкі ў Баранавічах, закладку царквы, пад час якой рассыпаўся камень і ад'езд ўспамінае былы протапрасьвіцер Расейскага войска і флёту Шавельскі Г.І.