from my own family history:

My father's cousin arrived in US >from Poland on July 28 1914. WWI began
that day. He left wife and infant daughter in Poland. He served in the US
Army, a quicker way to citizenship in those days. After the War his wife
and child came over, I have a copy of her passport application where she
states she is a US citizen as a result of her husband's naturalization.

As for laws regarding emigrating and leaving children- All you have to
do us see a few ship passenger lists and see the number of mother's with
small children coming to meet her husband/their father who preceded them
to the US. It was the rule rather than the exception.

Birthdays- The Gregorian calendar was never adopted in the Russian
Empire. It changed in Russia after the Revolution. The Jews lived under the
Hebrew calendar. It is another case of the rule rather than the exception
that dates in US civil records, recorded after the fact as they were, were
often best guesses.

I'm not sure this applies in your case, but one reason for a younger age
on an immigration document is- fares for children under a certain age
were lower.

David Rosen
Boston, MA

On 12/25/2013 1:56 AM, David W. Perle wrote:

Hi, all. I came across a couple of odd things about my grandfather and
his family's U.S. naturalization, which I was hoping for some insight on:

Mystery #1

My grandfather (Sam BLUM) arrived at Ellis Island in July 1920, having
left his home in Poland which at the time was part of Russia. I know that
he did--I have the passenger list with that date showing him, his mother,
his brother, and his sister, and it shows that they were on their way to his
father's place in Cleveland at the address where I know that my
great-grandfather resided. It's them.

On his father's (Leiser/Louis BLUM) petition for naturalization in 1911,
my grandfather Sam's and his siblings' names are provided and it's also
written, "Born at Russia, reside at Cleveland, Ohio." Again, this is **nine
years** before they actually arrived. Now, in 1920, six months before they
arrived, my great-grandfather Leiser's Order of Court Admitting Petitioner
is stamp-dated January 15, 1920, and it is actually written in, "By the
Court: Admitted on condition he brings his family to the U.S. in 6 mos."
Whereas it was suggested on the 1911 paperwork that his children were in
Cleveland, it was acknowledged here that they were still in Poland.
(Interestingly, It was always stated that Leiser's wife--my
great-grandmother--was always still in Poland.)

My grandfather's index card says that he was naturalized at age 10. As
far as I can tell...he and his siblings were naturalized before they even
left their home in Poland to come to the U.S?? Was that even
possible/common?? (It just seems so odd to me that individuals would become
citizens in the U.S. before ever leaving their home country!)

Mystery #2

Now here's another thing. As far as my mom has ever known, her father
(Sam BLUM) was born September 10, 1910. However, on my great-grandfather
Leiser's petition to naturalize where it gives my grandfather's and his
siblings' names, it also states that my grandfather was born *August 5,
1909*. It is recorded that my grandfather was naturalized when he was 10
years old in 1920--evidently in January 1920--and that age only works with
that supposed 1909 birth date vs. when my mom always understood that her
father was born.

I have a theory. If my grandfather's birth date of 9/10/1910--which is
what my mom always knew to be her father?s birthday--is true, then that
means that his father Left Poland for the U.S. within a week or so of my
grandfather's birth. What I'm wondering is, were there prohibitions against
a father leaving his family with such a young child (say, within a year old)
at home, either by Polish/Russian law or by U.S. standards for accepting a
new immigrant, so that he perhaps lied about his child's age, adding 13
months to his age?

from my own family history:

My father's cousin arrived in US >from Poland on July 28 1914. WWI began
that day. He left wife and infant daughter in Poland. He served in the US
Army, a quicker way to citizenship in those days. After the War his wife
and child came over, I have a copy of her passport application where she
states she is a US citizen as a result of her husband's naturalization.

As for laws regarding emigrating and leaving children- All you have to
do us see a few ship passenger lists and see the number of mother's with
small children coming to meet her husband/their father who preceded them
to the US. It was the rule rather than the exception.

Birthdays- The Gregorian calendar was never adopted in the Russian
Empire. It changed in Russia after the Revolution. The Jews lived under the
Hebrew calendar. It is another case of the rule rather than the exception
that dates in US civil records, recorded after the fact as they were, were
often best guesses.

I'm not sure this applies in your case, but one reason for a younger age
on an immigration document is- fares for children under a certain age
were lower.

David Rosen
Boston, MA

On 12/25/2013 1:56 AM, David W. Perle wrote:

Hi, all. I came across a couple of odd things about my grandfather and
his family's U.S. naturalization, which I was hoping for some insight on:

Mystery #1

My grandfather (Sam BLUM) arrived at Ellis Island in July 1920, having
left his home in Poland which at the time was part of Russia. I know that
he did--I have the passenger list with that date showing him, his mother,
his brother, and his sister, and it shows that they were on their way to his
father's place in Cleveland at the address where I know that my
great-grandfather resided. It's them.

On his father's (Leiser/Louis BLUM) petition for naturalization in 1911,
my grandfather Sam's and his siblings' names are provided and it's also
written, "Born at Russia, reside at Cleveland, Ohio." Again, this is **nine
years** before they actually arrived. Now, in 1920, six months before they
arrived, my great-grandfather Leiser's Order of Court Admitting Petitioner
is stamp-dated January 15, 1920, and it is actually written in, "By the
Court: Admitted on condition he brings his family to the U.S. in 6 mos."
Whereas it was suggested on the 1911 paperwork that his children were in
Cleveland, it was acknowledged here that they were still in Poland.
(Interestingly, It was always stated that Leiser's wife--my
great-grandmother--was always still in Poland.)

My grandfather's index card says that he was naturalized at age 10. As
far as I can tell...he and his siblings were naturalized before they even
left their home in Poland to come to the U.S?? Was that even
possible/common?? (It just seems so odd to me that individuals would become
citizens in the U.S. before ever leaving their home country!)

Mystery #2

Now here's another thing. As far as my mom has ever known, her father
(Sam BLUM) was born September 10, 1910. However, on my great-grandfather
Leiser's petition to naturalize where it gives my grandfather's and his
siblings' names, it also states that my grandfather was born *August 5,
1909*. It is recorded that my grandfather was naturalized when he was 10
years old in 1920--evidently in January 1920--and that age only works with
that supposed 1909 birth date vs. when my mom always understood that her
father was born.

I have a theory. If my grandfather's birth date of 9/10/1910--which is
what my mom always knew to be her father?s birthday--is true, then that
means that his father Left Poland for the U.S. within a week or so of my
grandfather's birth. What I'm wondering is, were there prohibitions against
a father leaving his family with such a young child (say, within a year old)
at home, either by Polish/Russian law or by U.S. standards for accepting a
new immigrant, so that he perhaps lied about his child's age, adding 13
months to his age?

The latest issue of Landsmen [Vol. 23, Nos. 1-2] was mailed out at the
end of November. In addition to our usual networking features (Family
Finder ads, “Lucky Hits,” etc.) it has the following:

(1) Special Section on ‘Augustow District’ consisting of:

. A broad view of this area, drawing on over two decades of research by
Suwalk-Lomza SIG. The main towns are Augustow, Holynka, Lipsk, Raczki,
Sopockinie, Sztabin, and Szczebra. Several Appendices have information
on many Augustow District Jews extracted >from Landsmen data tables,
including: miscellaneous Czarist surveillance files; external and
internal passports; and portions of Resident Books [>from Suwalki
Gubernia Central Government fonds in the Vilnius Archives]; and a re-cap
of civil marriages in Paris (1850's-1902) relevant to emigrants >from
this area.

. Augustow District passengers >from Hamburg to New York (Indirect Lists)
in 1855-1873.

. Jews in Augustow Catholic 1825 death records (filmed by the FHL but
newly discovered by us).

. Augustow District Jews in Lomza Birth, Death & Marriage Records. Full
details - extracted >from all FHL (Mormon-filmed) records in Lomza which
have data on Augustow District Jews. Provides data as well on many
families >from the town of Lomza and some villages in its vicinity.

(2) Suwalki “PSA” Marriage Records: 1887-1892. Not filmed by the
Mormons, these records were obtained at the Polish State Archives in
Suwalki (a Suwalk-Lomza SIG Foreign Research Project). Reflecting the
cosmopolitan character of the town of Suwalki in this period, these
records have data on families >from numerous localities throughout the
Suwalk-Lomza area and some bordering towns. Includes maiden surnames of
the newlyweds’ mothers, names of former spouses of widows and widowers,
late-reported births of children, related witnesses and other details.

Those of our members not yet renewed for the 2013-2014 membership year
(corresponding with the two double issues in Vol. 23 of Landsmen) may
view our website on JewishGen to confirm that our annual membership dues
remain the same as always.

www.jewishgen.org/SuwalkLomza

Click on the Membership button after reaching our Home Page on the above
link.

Interested non-members should view other components of our website
(still in process of updating) concerning our geographic focus area.
Those new to genealogy who are uncertain about whether their research
needs can be met by our activities should especially view the ‘Research
Guidance’ component. The Suwalk-Lomza SIG Chairman, Marlene Silverman
(together with others on our Production and Technical Assistants team)
provides a great deal of guidance, at no cost.

Suwalk-Lomza SIG gratefully acknowledges the hosting of its website by
JewishGen.

Allen Avner
Champaign, Illinois USA
For the Suwalk-Lomza SIG

The latest issue of Landsmen [Vol. 23, Nos. 1-2] was mailed out at the
end of November. In addition to our usual networking features (Family
Finder ads, “Lucky Hits,” etc.) it has the following:

(1) Special Section on ‘Augustow District’ consisting of:

. A broad view of this area, drawing on over two decades of research by
Suwalk-Lomza SIG. The main towns are Augustow, Holynka, Lipsk, Raczki,
Sopockinie, Sztabin, and Szczebra. Several Appendices have information
on many Augustow District Jews extracted >from Landsmen data tables,
including: miscellaneous Czarist surveillance files; external and
internal passports; and portions of Resident Books [>from Suwalki
Gubernia Central Government fonds in the Vilnius Archives]; and a re-cap
of civil marriages in Paris (1850's-1902) relevant to emigrants >from
this area.

. Augustow District passengers >from Hamburg to New York (Indirect Lists)
in 1855-1873.

. Jews in Augustow Catholic 1825 death records (filmed by the FHL but
newly discovered by us).

. Augustow District Jews in Lomza Birth, Death & Marriage Records. Full
details - extracted >from all FHL (Mormon-filmed) records in Lomza which
have data on Augustow District Jews. Provides data as well on many
families >from the town of Lomza and some villages in its vicinity.

(2) Suwalki “PSA” Marriage Records: 1887-1892. Not filmed by the
Mormons, these records were obtained at the Polish State Archives in
Suwalki (a Suwalk-Lomza SIG Foreign Research Project). Reflecting the
cosmopolitan character of the town of Suwalki in this period, these
records have data on families >from numerous localities throughout the
Suwalk-Lomza area and some bordering towns. Includes maiden surnames of
the newlyweds’ mothers, names of former spouses of widows and widowers,
late-reported births of children, related witnesses and other details.

Those of our members not yet renewed for the 2013-2014 membership year
(corresponding with the two double issues in Vol. 23 of Landsmen) may
view our website on JewishGen to confirm that our annual membership dues
remain the same as always.

www.jewishgen.org/SuwalkLomza

Click on the Membership button after reaching our Home Page on the above
link.

Interested non-members should view other components of our website
(still in process of updating) concerning our geographic focus area.
Those new to genealogy who are uncertain about whether their research
needs can be met by our activities should especially view the ‘Research
Guidance’ component. The Suwalk-Lomza SIG Chairman, Marlene Silverman
(together with others on our Production and Technical Assistants team)
provides a great deal of guidance, at no cost.

Suwalk-Lomza SIG gratefully acknowledges the hosting of its website by
JewishGen.

Allen Avner
Champaign, Illinois USA
For the Suwalk-Lomza SIG

I've posted a post card (found in relative's possessions) in Yiddish for
which I need a loose translation. It is on ViewMate at the following address

http://www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/viewmateview.asp?key=VM30454
Please respond via the form provided in the ViewMate application.

Thank you very much.
Donna Eschen
California

I've posted a post card (found in relative's possessions) in Yiddish for
which I need a loose translation. It is on ViewMate at the following address

http://www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/viewmateview.asp?key=VM30454
Please respond via the form provided in the ViewMate application.

Thank you very much.
Donna Eschen
California

The 34th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy will take =
place in Salt Lake City at the Hilton Center Hotel >from July 27 through =
August 1, 2014. To learn more about the conference, submit a =
presentation or computer workshop proposal, sign up for the conference =
blog and/or discussion forum, review the conference FAQs, or make hotel =
reservations at a special conference rate, visit the conference website, =
http://www.iajgs2014.org. Registration will open by the end of December.=20=


The program committee will consider all submissions, but has identified =
some focus areas of special interest. These include Genealogy and Jewish =
history related to World War I, Jews of the Western United States, =
technology in support of genealogical research, immigration and =
migration over the ages and ethical considerations in genealogy.

The conference will begin the day before the 100th anniversary of the =
start of World War I (Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, =
1914, one month after the assassination in Sarajevo of Archduke Franz =
Ferdinand of Austria.) Many of us have ancestors who served in the =
armies of the various nations engaged in this conflict. The war and =
subsequent fighting for control of Eastern Europe devastated much of =
Europe including the Jewish heartland in the Pale. It stimulated a wave =
of Jewish migration and resulted in the Balfour Declaration, calling for =
=93the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish =
people=94.=20

Please contact me off-list if you would like to submit a proposal for a =
session that you think will be of particular interest to H-SIGrs and =
anyone else researching families >from pre-Trianon Hungary. I would also =
appreciate receiving your specific suggestions for topics, session =
speakers, and lunch programs. Wishing you all best wishes for 2014 and =
looking forward to seeing many old and new faces in Salt Lake City next =
summer.

Vivian Kahn, Oakland, California
JewishGen Hungarian SIG Coordinator
vkahn@kmort.com

The 34th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy will take =
place in Salt Lake City at the Hilton Center Hotel >from July 27 through =
August 1, 2014. To learn more about the conference, submit a =
presentation or computer workshop proposal, sign up for the conference =
blog and/or discussion forum, review the conference FAQs, or make hotel =
reservations at a special conference rate, visit the conference website, =
http://www.iajgs2014.org. Registration will open by the end of December.=20=


The program committee will consider all submissions, but has identified =
some focus areas of special interest. These include Genealogy and Jewish =
history related to World War I, Jews of the Western United States, =
technology in support of genealogical research, immigration and =
migration over the ages and ethical considerations in genealogy.

The conference will begin the day before the 100th anniversary of the =
start of World War I (Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, =
1914, one month after the assassination in Sarajevo of Archduke Franz =
Ferdinand of Austria.) Many of us have ancestors who served in the =
armies of the various nations engaged in this conflict. The war and =
subsequent fighting for control of Eastern Europe devastated much of =
Europe including the Jewish heartland in the Pale. It stimulated a wave =
of Jewish migration and resulted in the Balfour Declaration, calling for =
=93the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish =
people=94.=20

Please contact me off-list if you would like to submit a proposal for a =
session that you think will be of particular interest to H-SIGrs and =
anyone else researching families >from pre-Trianon Hungary. I would also =
appreciate receiving your specific suggestions for topics, session =
speakers, and lunch programs. Wishing you all best wishes for 2014 and =
looking forward to seeing many old and new faces in Salt Lake City next =
summer.

Vivian Kahn, Oakland, California
JewishGen Hungarian SIG Coordinator
vkahn@kmort.com

Dear Friends,

Several friends of the Miskolc Cemetery have inquired how they can make year-end contributions to the cemetery project. Contributions should be made to:
JewishGen-erosity-Hungarian SIG (H-SIG) Project and donate to the Miskolc Jewish Cemetery- Burial Records and Photography. Please click on the address below:

http://www.jewishgen.org/JewishGen-erosity/v_projectslist.asp?project_cat=15

As you probably know we have already more than 6000 names of 20th century burials online in JOWBR and have acquired over 800 photographs of 20th and previous century headstones so far. There is, however, more work to be done.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year.

John (Janos) Kovacs
Coordinator Miskolc Cemetery Project

Dear Friends,

Several friends of the Miskolc Cemetery have inquired how they can make year-end contributions to the cemetery project. Contributions should be made to:
JewishGen-erosity-Hungarian SIG (H-SIG) Project and donate to the Miskolc Jewish Cemetery- Burial Records and Photography. Please click on the address below:

http://www.jewishgen.org/JewishGen-erosity/v_projectslist.asp?project_cat=15

As you probably know we have already more than 6000 names of 20th century burials online in JOWBR and have acquired over 800 photographs of 20th and previous century headstones so far. There is, however, more work to be done.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year.

John (Janos) Kovacs
Coordinator Miskolc Cemetery Project

Please help translate a birth record for Syma Laia DUCZYMINER >from Ciechanow
in 1883.

The link is http://www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/viewmateview.asp?key=VM30141.

I am interested in all the facts in the record: names, dates, locations,
parents, witnesses, occupations.

Reply through the form in ViewMate or directly to my email
esjoachim@optonline.net.

Thank you and happy new year to all of you,

Eden Joachim

Please help translate a birth record for Syma Laia DUCZYMINER >from Ciechanow
in 1883.

The link is http://www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/viewmateview.asp?key=VM30141.

I am interested in all the facts in the record: names, dates, locations,
parents, witnesses, occupations.

Reply through the form in ViewMate or directly to my email
esjoachim@optonline.net.

Thank you and happy new year to all of you,

Eden Joachim

Dear Fellow Tarnopol Researchers:

Earlier this year, JRI-Poland restarted our indexing of Jewish vital
records at the AGAD Archive and this resulted in the Tarnopol 1906-1911
death record indices being placed online for searching. We have now
completed the 1906-1911 indexing of the birth and marriage records
and will soon index the 1912 births, marriages and deaths.

These indices will not be placed online for public use until we have
raised the funds that have already been spent, and the additional
funds needed to complete the 1912 indexing. We need your help. The
total cost is expected to be $1,800. A donation of any size would be
welcomed and appreciated.

However, a contribution of $150 or more will qualify the donor to
receive the Excel file with all the current indices. This Excel file
will be available to qualified contributors before the indices are
placed online.

The AGAD Archive has told JRI-Poland that images of these records
(1906-1912) will be placed online in the first half of 2014. Links to
these online images can only be placed online if we reach the funding
goal of $1,800.

The JRI-Poland website http://jri-poland.org/support.htm provides
instructions on how to contribute. Be sure to identify your contribution
for "AGAD-Tarnopol."

Join me in making this project a success and placing the indices online.

A very Happy New Year to all.

Mark Halpern
AGAD Archive Coordinator

Dear Fellow Tarnopol Researchers:

Earlier this year, JRI-Poland restarted our indexing of Jewish vital
records at the AGAD Archive and this resulted in the Tarnopol 1906-1911
death record indices being placed online for searching. We have now
completed the 1906-1911 indexing of the birth and marriage records
and will soon index the 1912 births, marriages and deaths.

These indices will not be placed online for public use until we have
raised the funds that have already been spent, and the additional
funds needed to complete the 1912 indexing. We need your help. The
total cost is expected to be $1,800. A donation of any size would be
welcomed and appreciated.

However, a contribution of $150 or more will qualify the donor to
receive the Excel file with all the current indices. This Excel file
will be available to qualified contributors before the indices are
placed online.

The AGAD Archive has told JRI-Poland that images of these records
(1906-1912) will be placed online in the first half of 2014. Links to
these online images can only be placed online if we reach the funding
goal of $1,800.

The JRI-Poland website http://jri-poland.org/support.htm provides
instructions on how to contribute. Be sure to identify your contribution
for "AGAD-Tarnopol."

Join me in making this project a success and placing the indices online.

A very Happy New Year to all.

Mark Halpern
AGAD Archive Coordinator

Please reply to me if you have information about the children of
Kalman Ze'ev/Wolf Wissotzky, the founder of the tea company
[1824-1904]. I know of Nathan, David and Loba/Liba. There was Golda
Maryam, possibly a daughter or niece. Another daughter married "Mr.
Breskin," and we believe that was Na'az Zvie Bereskin, my great great
grandfather. They had Nisan/Nathan, and probably Sarah. Mrs. Wissotzky
Bereskin died; Na'az Zvie remarried Fannie Chen and had at least three
more sons. The Bereskins were also in the tea business in Bobruisk and
grocers in Winnipeg and Chicago.

Thank you!!

Linda Wolfe Kelley
lkelley49@gmail.com
Portland, Oregon, USA
Bereskin in Bobruisk, Resnick in Riga, Wolfe in Raseiniai and Leeds,
Harris in Leeds

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Please respond privately with family information.
Suggestions of research methods or resources may be shared with
the list.

Please reply to me if you have information about the children of
Kalman Ze'ev/Wolf Wissotzky, the founder of the tea company
[1824-1904]. I know of Nathan, David and Loba/Liba. There was Golda
Maryam, possibly a daughter or niece. Another daughter married "Mr.
Breskin," and we believe that was Na'az Zvie Bereskin, my great great
grandfather. They had Nisan/Nathan, and probably Sarah. Mrs. Wissotzky
Bereskin died; Na'az Zvie remarried Fannie Chen and had at least three
more sons. The Bereskins were also in the tea business in Bobruisk and
grocers in Winnipeg and Chicago.

Thank you!!

Linda Wolfe Kelley
lkelley49@gmail.com
Portland, Oregon, USA
Bereskin in Bobruisk, Resnick in Riga, Wolfe in Raseiniai and Leeds,
Harris in Leeds

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Please respond privately with family information.
Suggestions of research methods or resources may be shared with
the list.

Dear fellow Litvak researchers,

I have found a Bronia ZEZMER, living in Vilnius, who could conceivably
be a relative of mine, given the fact that the ZEZMER surname is unique.

If someone could help me contact her, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to Lithuania's 118.lt website, I have her address and phone number.
If you write me privately, I can provide you her contact information.

I have no Lithuanian/Russian language skills, so I wonder if anyone in
our group might be willing to contact her or recommend someone who could
do so on my behalf.

Please respond privately.

Thank you.

Amos ZEZMER
Yerres, France

Dear fellow Litvak researchers,

I have found a Bronia ZEZMER, living in Vilnius, who could conceivably
be a relative of mine, given the fact that the ZEZMER surname is unique.

If someone could help me contact her, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to Lithuania's 118.lt website, I have her address and phone number.
If you write me privately, I can provide you her contact information.

I have no Lithuanian/Russian language skills, so I wonder if anyone in
our group might be willing to contact her or recommend someone who could
do so on my behalf.

Please respond privately.

Thank you.

Amos ZEZMER
Yerres, France

Hi:

My REICHZELIGMAN family were originally, ZELIGMAN or SELIGMAN and
they came >from Staliskes and/or Kaunas.

Anyone have SELIGMAN >from those areas?

Thanks.

Regards
Angie Elfassi
Yehud, Israel
Searching:=0ARAYKH-ZELIGMAN/RICHMAN, Stakliskes, Lithuania/Leeds
COHEN, Sakiai, Lithuania/Leeds MAGIDOWITZ, Jurbarkas, Lithuania/Leeds
KASSIMOFF, Rezekne, Latvia/Leeds

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Please respond privately with family information.

Hi:

My REICHZELIGMAN family were originally, ZELIGMAN or SELIGMAN and
they came >from Staliskes and/or Kaunas.

Anyone have SELIGMAN >from those areas?

Thanks.

Regards
Angie Elfassi
Yehud, Israel
Searching:=0ARAYKH-ZELIGMAN/RICHMAN, Stakliskes, Lithuania/Leeds
COHEN, Sakiai, Lithuania/Leeds MAGIDOWITZ, Jurbarkas, Lithuania/Leeds
KASSIMOFF, Rezekne, Latvia/Leeds

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Please respond privately with family information.