This is a reminder that the deadline for submission of nominations for
German Jewish History Awards is September 20, 2002. These awards will
be given to five Germans who have made extraordinary contributions to
preserving the Jewish history, culture, cemeteries and synagogues in
their local communities. Thousands of Germans have carried out such
activities as volunteers because they feel it is the right thing to do -
the preservation of Jewish material is one of the few ways in which they
can respond constructively to their country's horrible past. We, as
Jewish genealogists, are the recipients of their good work.

These awards are sponsored by the GerSIG, the German-Jewish Community
History Council, and the Berlin Parliament. Many of you previously
submitted worthy nominations. Those nominees who have already received
Certificates of Commendation are prime candidates for this year's
awards, and will only require updating of the submissions.

This will be the third year for such awards, which will be given on
January 27, 2003, the German Holocaust Memorial Day (the anniversary of
the liberation of Auschwitz). Each awardee and their spouse will be
invited on an all expenses paid trip to Berlin to receive the award at
the Plenary Chamber of the Abgeordnetenhaus, the home of the Berlin
Parliament. The honorees will receive a framed certificate and an
honorarium to be used for the furtherance of their work. Awardees'
contributions will be described to attendees and to the local, national
and international news media. Last year's awards received extensive news
coverage, including The New York Times, the Associated Press, Jewish
Telegraphic Agency, and a great many German daily newspapers, as well as
specific articles in American Jewish weeklies.

If you know someone who may be appropriate for nomination, further
information -- including the Call for Nominations and profiles of
previous award winners and the jury -- can be obtained at

http://home.attbi.com/~obermayer/award

You may obtain a hard copy of the Call for Nominations by sending an
email to

germanaward@hotmail.com

or a letter to the German-Jewish Community History Council, 239 Chestnut
Street, West Newton, MA 02465 USA or to Hendrik Kuebler, Referat
Protokoll, Abgeordnetenhaus von Berlin, D-10111 Berlin-Mitte, Germany.

Remember that the deadline for submission of nominations is September
20, 2002 -- only three weeks away!

Arthur Obermayer West Newton, MA USA