Hello Jewish Geneology,

I need some instruction/help in conducting Jewish Geneology research
for my Great-Grandfather. Although not new to geneological research,
I'm having problems with finding information about my Jewish Ancestry.
I just don't know where to begin my research. Most of the information
came to me >from "sitting shiva" notes taken at the time of my
grandfathers death.

Here's what I have so far:

Grandfather (Zaide) - Benjamin Samuel Tenner
Born: 14 March 1888 in Grodno Poland, Austria, Lithuania, Russia.
Immigrated to the US in 1909. (1930 census)
Died: 19 August 1974 in Baltimore MD.

Great Grandfather - Ben Zion Jakarovich (spelling of last name may
not be correct)
Married: Leba Rivka (Jakarovich) LNU (Last name unknown)

Great Uncle: David Jakarovich (believed to have also immigrated to
the US, possibly having lived in Philadelphia, PA.), married but no
additional information has been found.

Great Aunt: Rose Jakarovich (Lived in England and married a man
named Lowenthal. Believed to have had one child named Nina who
married a man named Sol Lessor) No further information found.

Great Aunt: Feigel Miriam Jakarovich (believed to have died in the
Holocaust)

from the stories I have been told, my Grandfather, Benjamin Tenner,

possibly entered the US through Canada (US POE is unknown). It
appears that he changed his surname on the ship coming to either
Canada or the US. If that is the case, then his name change would
not be keeping with tradition. It is my understanding that when
Jewish persons change their surname, they would always start the new
surname with the first letter of their original surname (i.e.
Wasserman, Waterman, Walters - as in Barbara Walters).

Additional difficulties have arisen due to not knowing exactly what
town/country my grandfather came from. I have four pieces of
documentatioin stating that his country of birth was one of the four
listed above. I believe that at the time of his birth, the country
borders were quite fluid and changed based upon the government
controlling that area.

Any help/information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Wayne Jackson