The New JewishGen.org Discussion Group Member Guide
What is the JewishGen.org Discussion Group?
The JewishGen.org Discussion Group unites thousands of Jewish genealogical researchers worldwide as they research their family history, search for relatives, and share information, ideas, methods, tips, techniques, and resources. The JewishGen.org Discussion Group makes it easy, quick, and fun, to connect with others around the world.
Is it Secure?
Yes. JewishGen is using a state of the art platform with the most contemporary security standards. JewishGen will never share member information with third parties.
How is the New JewishGen.org Discussion Group better than the old one?
Our old Discussion List platform was woefully antiquated. Among its many challenges: it was not secure, it required messages to be sent in Plain Text, did not support accented characters or languages other than English, could not display links or images, and had archives that were not mobile-friendly.
This new platform that JewishGen is using is a scalable, and sustainable solution, and allows us to engage with JewishGen members throughout the world. It offers a simple and intuitive interface for both members and moderators, more powerful tools, and more secure archives (which are easily accessible on mobile devices, and which also block out personal email addresses to the public).
I am a JewishGen member, why do I have to create a separate account for the Discussion Group?
As we continue to modernize our platform, we are trying to ensure that everything meets contemporary security standards. In the future, we plan hope to have one single sign-in page.
I like how the current lists work. Will I still be able to send/receive emails of posts (and/or digests)?
Yes. In terms of functionality, the group will operate the same for people who like to participate with email. People can still send a message to an email address (in this case, main@groups.JewishGen.org), and receive a daily digest of postings, or individual emails. In addition, Members can also receive a daily summary of topics, and then choose which topics they would like to read about it. However, in addition to email, there is the additional functionality of being able to read/post messages utilizing our online forum (https://groups.jewishgen.org).
Does this new system require plain-text?
No.
Can I post images, accented characters, different colors/font sizes, non-latin characters?
Yes.
Can I categorize a message? For example, if my message is related to Polish, or Ukraine research, can I indicate as such?
Yes! Our new platform allows members to use “Hashtags.” Messages can then be sorted, and searched, based upon how they are categorized. Another advantage is that members can “mute” any conversations they are not interested in, by simply indicating they are not interested in a particular “hashtag.”
Will all posts be archived?
Yes.
What happens to the archived messages on the old JewishGen Discussion Group?
All the messages will be accessible and searchable, as they have always been. In the near future, we will be migrating all of the old messages (going back to 1993) into our new platform, and at that point, we will shut down the old platform.
Are all of the JewishGen Discussion Lists being improved?
To start, we are upgrading the main JewishGen Discussion Group. In the near future, we will focus on the Discussion Groups of various JewishGen areas and projects as well (such as the previously known SIG lists, topical lists, etc).
What if I have questions or need assistance using the new Group?
Send your questions to: main+help@groups.jewishgen.org
How do I access the Group’s webpage?
Follow this link: https://groups.jewishgen.org/g/main
So just to be sure - this new group will allow us to post from our mobile phones, includes images, accented characters, and non-latin characters, and does not require plain text?
Correct!
Will there be any ads or annoying pop-ups?
No.
Will the current guidelines change?
Yes. While posts will be moderated to ensure civility, and that there is nothing posted that is inappropriate (or completely unrelated to genealogy), we will be trying to create an online community of people who regulate themselves, much as they do (very successfully) on Jewish Genealogy Portal on Facebook.
What are the new guidelines?
There are just a few simple rules & guidelines to follow:
-
Topics: Posts should relate to Jewish genealogy. We do not discuss religious issues (such as "Who is a Jew" and other discussions that are frequently raised within the context of researching one's roots).
-
Moderation: This group is moderated to ensure civility, and that posts are related to Jewish genealogy.
-
Frequency: You may post unique messages as often as you like, but please try to be thoughtful in your posts, and do not abuse this approach by posting many messages the same day, etc.
-
Commercial Posts: We welcome everyone, including other non-profit organizations, to share commercial offers as long as they are related to Jewish genealogy, and that those posting them do not abuse the privilege. Commercial posts should not repeat more than once every three months. (For example: authors should feel free to post about recent book publications, etc., just please try not to abuse the privilege).
-
Fundraising Posts: Please do not post fundraising requests for other organizations.
-
Images/Files: You may attach images and files (if a file is too large, we will do our best to resize it, or ask you to upload it somewhere else, and provide a link).
-
Language: The official language of the group is English, but we can accept messages and content in most languages. If posting something in a language other than English, please provide a sentence describing the content.
-
Links: If posting a link to a website not in English, please provide a description of the content.
Thank you in advance for contributing to this amazing online community!
If you have any questions, or suggestions, please email support@JewishGen.org.
Sincerely,
The JewishGen.org Team
Re: NYC Area Volunteers for a Cemetery Project this Sunday
Hoffbrew@...
Hi Allan,
I live in Florida so obviously can't help you this Sunday. I've read you go thru various cemeteries in New York. I have a grandmother buried at Mt.Hebron, Flushing if you could ever look for that stone: N.Y.Society: Knehin Stanislauer 5 10 f 33 Fannie Janofsky Hoffman. Her sister Rebecca Janofsky Hoffman is also buried there (yes Rebecaa married Phillip and Fannie passed. Do you know anyone who does this in NJ? Thanks Carole Hoffman Brewster hoffbrew@...
|
|
translation from Polish (or maybe Russian)
Nurit Har-zvi
Hello,
I would like to request a translation of a document that I have placed on ViewMate at the following address: http://www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/viewmateview.asp?key=VM75757 Please respond via the form provided on the ViewMate image page. Thank you very much. Nurit Har-zvi New York
|
|
This week's Yizkor book excerpt on the JewishGen Facebook page
Bruce Drake
As if suffering through the horrors of the Nazi occupation was not enough, many of those who survived grappled with sorrow and loss when they returned to their home towns and found little or nothing left of the people and places they had known. “Dabrowa without Jews,” from the Yizkor book of Dabrowa Gornicza in Poland, is Juda Parasol’s account of returning to the town where he was born after a 15 year absence. He had been expelled to Siberia and, while there, received a last letter from his father wishing the family could be together again. But they had all died in Auschwitz. “Now I am standing in front of my father's house, and tears of murdered blood wash the windows,” Parasol laments. “The doors in front of me are locked and a cold, distant wind blows from them. The heart no longer wants to believe that here once lived Jews.” Bruce Drake Silver Spring MD Researching: DRACH, EBERT, KIMMEL, ZLOTNICK Towns: Wojnilow, Kovel
|
|
Re: Where is Politzk, Russia?
#russsia
#Lithuania
Irina Fridman
It's Polotzk or Polotsk in Belorus
|
|
Khashchevate - Chashivater Aid Society
paul.finelt@...
Does anyone have any information on this town and/or the Burial Society that has plots ar Montefiore Cemetary in Queens, NY and Beth Moses on Long Island?
My grandfather and uncle are buried there. My uncle was an officer of the society. I have not been able to locate any details about the organization either at YIVO or from the cemeteries or other family members. Thank you. Paul FINELT FINELT WEINSTEIN LOTTERSTEIN LOITERSHETYN FRANTSUSKI PRILUTSKI BERSHAD OLGOPOL KHASCHEVATE KISHINEV BALTA TEPLIK MOSCOW
|
|
Request Polish to English translation
ESLVIV@...
I've posted a vital record in Polish for which I need a translation. It is on ViewMate at the following adddress ;...
Polish to English Marriage record- Grandfathers second
Thanks Errol Schneegurt ESLVIV@... LI NY
|
|
Jan Meisels Allen
There is a new free, downloadable tourist guide for Jewish Kaliningrad (formerly Königsberg, East Prussia) available at: https://jewsineastprussia.de/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Flyer-Jew-Koenigsberg-selfprint.pdf
The Jews in East Prussia History and Culture Society has now published a walking tour itinerary of the city’s former Jewish district .The brochure includes photographs and a map as well as historical information about places and people. There are 10 sops on the walking tour.
An article about the tourist guide is available at:
Jan Meisels Allen Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee
|
|
ArkivDigital Free Access Through November 10
#sweden
#scandinavia
#archives
Jan Meisels Allen
Starting today through Sunday, November 10 ArkivDigital is offering free access. You can browse for free more than 85 million photographed color images of their collections which include religious records, more than 160 million register posts searchable by name estate inventories, tax registers, military rolls, spy documents, passenger ship manifests, and more. You can search by name in the household congregation books for all of Sweden between 1860 and 1947. Also available are millions of aerial photos of Sweden.
You are required to register first. Go to: https://www.arkivdigital.net/users/register You need to provide your name, email address , street address and password. No credit card information is requested. Then start the program in your browsers: Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge. If you have previously registered you do not have to reregister.
After you have registered click on "start the program" –the blue button". You can select English or Swedish as the language of choice in the upper right hand corner. They recommend Chrome as your browser for the best functionality. You will have to insert your email address and password again.
If you think you might not have ancestors from Sweden, there have been Jews in Sweden since the early 1700’s. albeit a small population. Sweden opened its doors to Jews during WWII and again in 1956 when Jews were fleeing Hungary and then again when fleeing Communists in 1968. According to the Jewish Virtual Library the Jewish population increased tremendously between 1850 and 1920 due to immigration from Russia and Poland. The population reached nearly 6,500 in 1920. Small groups of German, Austrian, and Czech Jews were allowed to immigrate to Sweden during the 1930's. Once the Nazi brutalities were known Sweden opened its doors to Jews. In 1942, Sweden allowed the immigration of 900 Norwegian Jews. In October 1943, Sweden gave asylum to more than 8,000 Danish Jews, the whole Danish Jewish community, which came to Sweden via small fishing boats. The Jewish population doubled between 1945-1970.
Questions on this can be sent to ArkivDigital in Swedish time to kundtjanst@...
I have no affiliation with ArkivDigital and am posting this solely for the information of the readers.
Jan Meisels Allen Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee
|
|
Re: Help - Crack a puzzle about Ptaszek family research
Eva Lawrence
I can think of two explanations:1) Dvora died before Asher and he married again. 2) That your grandfather was born to Nachman's parents after th first Asher died and given the same name. Neither is very likely, I admit, unless some of the data is very vague. Could Asher have been a bigamist? Did Beyla's date of death? Or the names of her parents? Eva Lawrence St Albans, UK. 30
|
|
Re: NYC Area Volunteers for a Cemetery Project this Sunday
A. E. Jordan
Hi
I can do Hebron but I doubt this week ... depends how long we will spend at Zion.
Which cemetery do you need in New Jersey? Occasionally I have done northern New Jersey but otherwise it is hit or miss. You can ask on the discussion group or try Find A Grave but then you need to be very specific on the location. People post a lot of generic requests on Find a Grave and those get ignored in the larger cemeteries.
Regards
Allan
-----Original Message-----
From: Hoffbrew via Groups.Jewishgen.Org <Hoffbrew=aol.com@...> To: A. E. Jordan <aejordan@...>; main <main@...> Sent: Fri, Nov 8, 2019 11:29 am Subject: Re: [JewishGen.org] NYC Area Volunteers for a Cemetery Project this Sunday Hi Allan,
I live in Florida so obviously can't help you this Sunday. I've read you go thru various cemeteries in New York. I have a grandmother buried at Mt.Hebron, Flushing if you could ever look for that stone: N.Y.Society: Knehin Stanislauer 5 10 f 33 Fannie Janofsky Hoffman. Her sister Rebecca Janofsky Hoffman is also buried there (yes Rebecaa married Phillip and Fannie passed. Do you know anyone who does this in NJ? Thanks Carole Hoffman Brewster hoffbrew@...
|
|
Jan Meisels Allen
In a recent decision, the Quebec Court of Appeals declared the 2017 Genetic Non-Discrimination Act (the "Act"), adopted by the federal Parliament and which came into force on May 4, 2017, to be ultra vires because of its encroachment on the jurisdiction of provincial legislatures. (Ultra Vires- beyond one's legal power or authority. (https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/ultra_vires). This is being appealed to Canada’s Supreme Court by the Canadian Coalition for Genetic Fairness. The Supreme Court will have to decide on the constitutional validity of a law under the Constitution's Division of powers, and incidentally, on which level of government is entitled to legislate on protection against genetic discrimination for Canadians. The Court heard the case on October 4th, a ruling is not expected until sometime in 2020.
The question put before the Court was: "Is the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act enacted by sections 1 to 7 of the Act to prohibit and prevent genetic discrimination, (S.C. 2017, c. 3) ultra vires to the jurisdiction of the Parliament of Canada over criminal law under paragraph 91 (27) of the Constitution Act, 1867?"
They then had to analyze the sections of the Act. The Court found that the main purpose of the Act was not to address a criminal law object but rather to protect and to promote health by fostering the access by Canadians to genetic tests for medical purposes
The Quebec Court opined that the main purpose of the Act was to promote the health of Canadians by encouraging access to genetic tests for medical purposes. Therefore, the Act sought to regulate matters falling under the province's jurisdiction, namely genetic discrimination in employment and insurance contracts (civil and property rights), rather than criminal law, which would fall under federal jurisdiction. This is the crux of the court case: whether the Act is a valid exercise of Parliament’s criminal law power or does the aw really regulate the insurance industry an area that falls under provincial jurisdiction.
The case is also a test of Parliament’s criminal law power. The genetic characteristics as a ground for discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Canada Labor Code. Which were unaffected by the Quebec decision.
Of course privacy is a key element as one’s genetic makeup is something that should only be used with one’s permission.
History
Prior to the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act Canada did not have legislation in force that addressed genetic discrimination and particular protection of the human genome. The purpose of the legislation was to prohibit and prevent genetic discrimination in requiring any individual from undergoing genetic testing or disclosing genetic test results under certain circumstances. The Act also amended the Canada Labor Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act to address discrimination, particularly in the areas of insurance and labor relations, by adding the terms "genetic characteristics".
The Act went forward by the federal parliament although there was concern at the time due to the Constitution’s division of powers. The issue is if the regulation of contracts and provision of goods and services in the Constitution is being violated. Following its adoption, it did not take long for the Government of Québec to issue a decree in order to ask the Court of Appeal to verify the constitutional validity of the law, on the grounds that the Act encroaches on the jurisdiction of provincial legislatures to regulate private law. Interestingly, for the first time the government of Canada has intervened to challenge the constitutionality of a bill passed by Parliament, the Attorney of Canada rather than supporting the constitutionality of a federal law joined the Quebec Attorney General to defend Quebec’s ruling on jurisdictional grounds.
To read more see: and
There may be legislation introduced in the provinces to protect their citizens while this is being reviewed by the Supreme Court. While I heard about a campaign for such legislation in the Province of Ontario, I was not able at this time to find the bill.
Jan Meisels Allen Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee
|
|
Jan Meisels Allen
The United Kingdom’s General Register Office (GRO) has added the index of deaths from 1984 to 2019. These cover England and Wales records only.
It is recommended that you go to the FAQs before ordering: https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/faq.asp#GROIndexReferences This also includes the pricing and explains the GRO indexing reference numbers.
Go to: https://www.gro.gov.uk. Click on order records online. You must be registered with email address and password to proceed. The next window asks what you want to do and click on the GRO Indexes. That will open asking if you want birth or death indexes and then fill out the form for whom you are looking for.
Note: birth records are available only through 1918 due to the 100 privacy requirement.
Thank you to Jeanette Rosenberg, JGS United Kingdom for informing us about the death index update.
Jan Meisels Allen Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee
|
|
Ancestry Canada and Ancestry UK Offering Free Access to War Time Records
Jan Meisels Allen
As I mentioned in yesterday’s posting about Ancestry.com and their Veterans Day free access offer, I did not know at the time what the Ancestry Canada or Ancestry UK sites would be offering for their Remembrance Day. They too are offering free access, but you have to log into each one individually to access the free records.
Canada Ancestry is offering free access to all Canadian Military Records from 8 November 2019 to 11 November 2019 11:59 p.m. ET Please use the time converter to check the time in your time zone; http://www.timezoneconverter.com/cgi-bin/tzc
You must register with your name, email address and password. Go to: https://www.ancestry.ca/cs/remembrance-day Fill out the form with the person you are searching with their name and location and birth year if you have it. When the results page comes up select the record for your person. Then select the record. If you want to save the record to your computer click on the green save box in the upper right. If you want to print or download click on the tools icon on the right of the screen.
https://www.ancestry.ca/search/categories/ca_military/
After the free access period ends, you will only be able to view the records in the featured collection using a paid Ancestry membership. If you try to access any records not included in the free offer you will be invited to subscribe.
United Kingdom
Ancestry is offering free access to all United Kingdom Military Records (World War l and World War ll) from 8 November 2019 to 11 November 2019 11:59 p.m. ET Please use the time converter to check the time in your time zone: http://www.timezoneconverter.com/cgi-bin/tzc You must register with your name, email address and password. You must register separately from your US or Canadian subscription.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/categories/uk_wartime_collections/ On the top of the page fill out the form with the person you are searching with their name and location and birth year if you have it. When the results page comes up select the record for your person. Then select the record. If you want to save the record to your computer click on the green save box in the upper right. If you want to print or download click on the tools icon on the right of the screen.
After the free access period ends, you will only be able to view the records in the featured collection using a paid Ancestry membership. If you try to access any records not included in the free offer you will be invited to subscribe.
I have no affiliation with Ancestry and am posting this solely for the information of the reader.
Jan Meisels Allen Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee
|
|
The DNA Testing Companies Reply to Warrant Permitting Police Full Access to GEDmatch Database
#DNA
Jan Meisels Allen
Earlier this week I posted about a Florida judge granting a warrant to law enforcement to search GEDmatch’s full database. The court basically overruled the public DNA company’s policy on privacy. Since then both Ancestry and 23andMe—both private DNA testing companies, have issued statements.
Ancestry Ancestry believes GEDmatch could have done more to protect the privacy of its users by challenging the warrant in court or at least pushing back on the warrant. Ancestry has emphasized that their customer’s privacy and being good stewards of their data is their highest priority. They also have a transparency report that outlines law enforcement requests for member data. They say they received no valid requests for information related to genetic information. To read their statement in full including the Coalition for Genetic Data Protection’s comments, of which Ancestry is a member see: https://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2019/11/08/your-privacy-is-our-top-priority/
23andMe
23andme also issued a statement commenting on how troubling they find GEDmatch’s lack of challenging the warrant. They question as a private database whether the Florida court’s warrant impacts them. 23andMe also has a transparency report and they have received 10 requests out of their 10 million customers and successfully challenged each one. They are also a member of the Coalition for Genetic Data Protection. Their statement may be found at: https://blog.23andme.com/news/our-stance-on-protecting-customers-data/
I have no affiliation with either Ancestry or 23andMe ad am reporting on this solely for the information of the reader.
Jan Meisels Allen Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee
|
|
Jan Meisels Allen
American Ancestors is offering free access to their 1.4 billion names covering 18 countries from 12 November 12:00AM ET to 19 November 11:59 PM ET. You will be required to register for a guest account in order to have access. If you try to access the database before or after the time of the free offer, you will be limited in which data you will have access to unless you pay for a subscription.
Go to: https://www.americanancestors.org/free-billion
You will need to create a guest account to see the images. Click on sign up for account: https://www.americanancestors.org/membership/guest-users The information requested is email address; password; first and last name. No credit card information is required.
You can also download a free guide to getting started on your genealogy from this site as the window pops up middle of page. When you click on download button it asks for your email address and it will be sent to your email inbox.
To browse the database which is far more than New England records see: https://www.americanancestors.org/browse-database
There is a free video in YouTube on how to search the indexes on American Ancestors.org which is viewable at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsFL2vliTGA&feature=youtu.be
I have no affiliation with American Ancestors and am posting this solely for the information of the reader.
Jan Meisels Allen Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee
|
|
N. Summers
My grandfather (Sol Finkelstein) was from Radziwillow, Ukraine. He served (voluntarily, I think) in the Russian army during WWI. Apparently he spoke several languages and served as a translator. He was injured and sent to a POW camp, which I think was in/near Vienna. He must have been treated well there as i have a photo of him with two other men, all dressed in military-style uniforms. Will try to post it in ViewMate.
1. Does anyone know which army he would have joined and where? 2. Are there any records which might help? Thanks Nancy S Maryland USA Finkelstein, Bookstein, Liss/Alper, Lifshitz/Leaf
|
|
Radomsk Chasidim In Sosnowiec
dsandsue@...
Shalom to the Discussion Group
I have been researching my wife's TUCHSCHNEIDER and BRONSTEIN families in Sosnowiec, Poland for quite a while now. The town was a centre for Radomsk Chasidut until its virtual annihilation during the Holocaust. I believe that Susan's great-grandfather Leib TUCHSCHNEIDER (1871-1942) may have been a Radomsk chasid, and I want to learn more about the movement's connection with Sosnowiec: addresses of their steiblach and synagogues, lists of rabbis, officials and congregants, and so on. Apparently there is a strong Radomsk presence in Bnei Brak today, but I can't find a link to them. I will be visiting Sosnowiec later this month and would like to have some basic information about the movement's history there before I leave. With thanks in advance for any guidance anyone can give Derek Stavrou Kfar Sava, Israel
|
|
Re: Rabbinic SIG
Carol Lieberman
|
|
Re: Surnames: Palumbo - SIcily/ Homer - Poland
My cousin's machatenister's maiden name was PALOMBO. She comes from Boltiere, Lombardia, Italy.
|
|
Ava Cohn
The uniform will help you find out which country and the date of the photograph will help also because the Russian army only participated formally in the war until the Russian Revolution of 1917.
|
|