Shalom,

With the end of the year here, it's time for a little bit of statistics.
During the first 6 months of 2009 we updated and added a total of 54 books
and entries, whilst during the second half of the year we took care of 164
updates and new books. I would say >from this impressive fact that we are
definitely looking up and would sincerely like to thank the many, many
people and their friends who are behind this amazing achievement. I am
hopeful that in 2010 we will continue to grow even more and raise greater
interest in our project which opens windows into both our glorious and
troubled past.

Anyway, during this last month we have added these 6 new projects:

Jaroslaw, Poland
Krasnystaw, Poland
Mezokovesd, Hungary
Raciaz, Poland
Sahy, Slovakia
Warka, Poland

Added 5 new entries:

Ariogala, Lithuania (Pinkas Lita)
Chervonograd, Ukraine (Pinkas Poland)
Sarvar, Hungary (Vas Megye)
Vaukavisk, Belarus (Pinkas Poland)
Zagare, Lithuania (Pinkas Lita)

And finally, we have continued to update many of our existing projects (17):

Berezhany, Ukraine
Brzeziny, Poland
Chelm, Poland
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Czestochowa, Poland
Dembitz, Poland (Polish)
Dusetos, Lithuania
Gargzdai, Lithuania
Katowice, Poland
Kolo, Poland
Kutno, Poland
Mir, Belarus
Nowy Sacz, Poland
Przytyk, Poland
Rokiskis, Lithuania
Rozyszcze, Ukraine
Stepan, Ukraine

Please remember that all this month's additions and updates have been
flagged at http://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/translations.html to make it
easy to find them.

This month we were excited to see the completion of the Dusetos Yizkor book
that has been patiently and intricately built up over the last seven years.
I wish to salute Hedva Scop for her coordination over this period and the
results clearly reflect her untiring endeavors behind this mammoth project.

During this month I announced a new Translation Fund for assisting people
interested in translating particular chapters on communities on >from the
Pinkasei Hakehillot (Encyclopedias of Jewish Communities). I was very
encouraged by the response received and welcome any of you interested in
finding out more about this fund to take some time to look over the Pinkas
Hakehillot project entry appearing here:

http://www.jewishgen.org/JewishGen-erosity/v_projectslist.asp?project_cat=23

And whilst you're there, I also suggest to look over the other projects that
we are running and your financial assistance to any of the other projects
appearing there would be most welcome.

So, here's wishing you a New Year of good health, great achievements and
peace to all.

Lance Ackerfeld
Yizkor Book Project Manager