Avotaynu has just published Dr. Alexander Beider's first book on Sephardic
surnames. Its title is "A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames >from the
Mediterranean Region - Volume 1 - Maghreb, Malta and Gibraltar,"

The book identifies nearly 2,000 independent root surnames >from which more
than 10,000 variant surnames are derived. A typical entry contains three
sections: Main, Origin and Variants.
. The Main section identifies the surname and spelling variants (in both
Latin and Hebrew characters), where in the region it was used, earliest
references, and bibliographic source of the information. There are nearly
300 sources >from which Dr. Beider draws his conclusions.
. The Origin section includes an identification of bearers of the name as
having a single common ancestor (monogenetic) or multiple independent
ancestors (polygenetic). This is followed by the etymology-the linguistic
origin of the name.
. Finally, the Variant section shows the main variants of the name that
exist in the region.

The book is 728 pages, hardcover. It can be ordered at
http://avotaynu.com/books/Maghreb.html. The website also includes a complete
list of names, a sample entry >from the dictionary (the surname Abecassis)
and the Table of Contents.

Gary Mokotoff

MODERATOR NOTE: This is a one-time announcement of a commercial work of
genealogical interest

The Israel Genealogy Research Association (IGRA) has just released new
and updated databases on its website. There are now over 967,000
records available in our databases on the IGRA website.

A preview of the databases is available at
https://www.slideshare.net/igra3/igra-release-may-2017

New Databases

Jerusalem Professionals, Trade and Industry 1921 3,033 listings

This database is derived >from a directory of professionals in trade
and industry. It gives the address and occupation of those listed. Our
thanks to Dr. Motti Friedman for this wonderful resource. (Images
available.)

Petah Tikva Census 1922 3,076 listings

This database was built >from material >from the Oded Yarkoni Archives
of the History of Petah Tikva. The information consists of birthplace,
age, nationality and some comments. The original was handwritten in
Hebrew script. (Images available.)

Members of Synagogues Beit Avraham & Beit Israel, Petah Tikva 1928 52 listings

This database includes members of these two synagogues in Petah Tikva.
The information is >from the Oded Yarkoni Archives of the History of
Petah Tikva. (Images available.)

Voter List Knesset Israel Petach Tikva 1936 6,070 listings

13 Settlements 1939 2,795 listings
Givatayim 1944 3,483 listings

Under the British Administration there were elections for Knesset Israel or the
Assembly of Representatives. This database is the list of elected parliamentary
assembly of the Jewish community in British controlled Palestine. It was
established on April 19, 1920 and functioned until February 13, 1949. The lists
include those eligible to vote in these elections.

The 1936 Petach Tikva lists include only the name and address. The 1939 Settlements
lists include the name, gender, age and locality. The 1944 Givatayim list include
the name, birth year and the neighborhood. The lists are >from the Central Zionist
Archives. (No images available.)

Hashomer Hatzair Kibbutz Census 1940-1 6,689 listings

This database is a census of the Hashomer Hatzair (youth group) >from kibbutzim
around the country. Each list is slightly different. Some are handwritten while
others are typed. Some indicate the birth year and a few have the birth date. All
indicate the name of the kibbutz and the name of the member. Some of the kibbutzim
have a separate list for the men and women. The lists come >from the Yad Ya'ari
Archives. (Images available.)

National Kibbutz Youth Organizations 1939-49

This database includes lists >from around the country of members of
kibbutz youth organizations. Each list is slightly different. The
information may include: name, date of record, birth year, birthdate,
locality, country of origin, town of origin, date of immigration and
education. These lists are >from the Yad Ya'ari Archives. (Images available.)

Cattle Growers 2009 1,049 listing

This database includes information such as the name, locality and
corporation. The list was found on the Internet. (No images available.)

Updated Databases

Palestine Marriage/Divorce Certificates, 1921-48 4,822 listings

These certificates were issued upon request and are not the same as
the ledgers >from the Rabanut. Some certificates for marriages were
issued 3-20 years after the marriages took place. The information
available may include: name, address, age, status, date of record,
name of parent, occupation of parent, date of document, etc. These are

from the Israel State Archives. (Images available.)

Name Changes 1957 2,061 listings

The lists >from which this database of name changes was built were
published in Yalkut HaPirsumim (the official publication of the
government of Israel). The information is in Hebrew and contains prior
surname, prior other names, new surname, new other names, date of
record, locality, ID number. The information is located at the David
J. Light Law Library, Tel Aviv University. (Images available.)

Births in Zikhron Ya'akov 1883 -1920 1,409 listings

This database is a list of children born in Zikhron Ya'akov. The
information is >from the Mathilde A. Tagger Collection and includes
name, birth date, license number and gender. It was prepared >from the
Book of Births at the Zikhron Ya'akov Historical Archives. (No images available.)

Notrim Pre-State Jewish Police Force 485 listings

This database on Notrim, the Pre-State Jewish Police Force may include
information such as: name, date, address, rank, regiment and unit.
This information is in English. The list comes >from the Central
Zionist Archives. (No images available.)

Before viewing the databases, please register for free on the IGRA websit:
http://genealogy.org.il/

To view the databases, go to http://genealogy.org.il/AID/index.php

Please note, images can be seen by paid IGRA members only. If you are
not an IGRA member, you will be able to see the transcriptions only.

Let us hear of your successes with the IGRA databases! Write to us at
webmaster@....

Many thanks to all of our dedicated volunteers.

Elena Biegel Bazes
IGRA Publicity Chairperson

Avotaynu has just published Dr. Alexander Beider's first book on Sephardic
surnames. Its title is "A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames >from the
Mediterranean Region - Volume 1 - Maghreb, Malta and Gibraltar,"

The book identifies nearly 2,000 independent root surnames >from which more
than 10,000 variant surnames are derived. A typical entry contains three
sections: Main, Origin and Variants.
. The Main section identifies the surname and spelling variants (in both
Latin and Hebrew characters), where in the region it was used, earliest
references, and bibliographic source of the information. There are nearly
300 sources >from which Dr. Beider draws his conclusions.
. The Origin section includes an identification of bearers of the name as
having a single common ancestor (monogenetic) or multiple independent
ancestors (polygenetic). This is followed by the etymology-the linguistic
origin of the name.
. Finally, the Variant section shows the main variants of the name that
exist in the region.

The book is 728 pages, hardcover. It can be ordered at
http://avotaynu.com/books/Maghreb.html. The website also includes a complete
list of names, a sample entry >from the dictionary (the surname Abecassis)
and the Table of Contents.

Gary Mokotoff

MODERATOR NOTE: This is a one-time announcement of a commercial work of
genealogical interest

The Israel Genealogy Research Association (IGRA) has just released new
and updated databases on its website. There are now over 967,000
records available in our databases on the IGRA website.

A preview of the databases is available at
https://www.slideshare.net/igra3/igra-release-may-2017

New Databases

Jerusalem Professionals, Trade and Industry 1921 3,033 listings

This database is derived >from a directory of professionals in trade
and industry. It gives the address and occupation of those listed. Our
thanks to Dr. Motti Friedman for this wonderful resource. (Images
available.)

Petah Tikva Census 1922 3,076 listings

This database was built >from material >from the Oded Yarkoni Archives
of the History of Petah Tikva. The information consists of birthplace,
age, nationality and some comments. The original was handwritten in
Hebrew script. (Images available.)

Members of Synagogues Beit Avraham & Beit Israel, Petah Tikva 1928 52 listings

This database includes members of these two synagogues in Petah Tikva.
The information is >from the Oded Yarkoni Archives of the History of
Petah Tikva. (Images available.)

Voter List Knesset Israel Petach Tikva 1936 6,070 listings

13 Settlements 1939 2,795 listings
Givatayim 1944 3,483 listings

Under the British Administration there were elections for Knesset Israel or the
Assembly of Representatives. This database is the list of elected parliamentary
assembly of the Jewish community in British controlled Palestine. It was
established on April 19, 1920 and functioned until February 13, 1949. The lists
include those eligible to vote in these elections.

The 1936 Petach Tikva lists include only the name and address. The 1939 Settlements
lists include the name, gender, age and locality. The 1944 Givatayim list include
the name, birth year and the neighborhood. The lists are >from the Central Zionist
Archives. (No images available.)

Hashomer Hatzair Kibbutz Census 1940-1 6,689 listings

This database is a census of the Hashomer Hatzair (youth group) >from kibbutzim
around the country. Each list is slightly different. Some are handwritten while
others are typed. Some indicate the birth year and a few have the birth date. All
indicate the name of the kibbutz and the name of the member. Some of the kibbutzim
have a separate list for the men and women. The lists come >from the Yad Ya'ari
Archives. (Images available.)

National Kibbutz Youth Organizations 1939-49

This database includes lists >from around the country of members of
kibbutz youth organizations. Each list is slightly different. The
information may include: name, date of record, birth year, birthdate,
locality, country of origin, town of origin, date of immigration and
education. These lists are >from the Yad Ya'ari Archives. (Images available.)

Cattle Growers 2009 1,049 listing

This database includes information such as the name, locality and
corporation. The list was found on the Internet. (No images available.)

Updated Databases

Palestine Marriage/Divorce Certificates, 1921-48 4,822 listings

These certificates were issued upon request and are not the same as
the ledgers >from the Rabanut. Some certificates for marriages were
issued 3-20 years after the marriages took place. The information
available may include: name, address, age, status, date of record,
name of parent, occupation of parent, date of document, etc. These are

from the Israel State Archives. (Images available.)

Name Changes 1957 2,061 listings

The lists >from which this database of name changes was built were
published in Yalkut HaPirsumim (the official publication of the
government of Israel). The information is in Hebrew and contains prior
surname, prior other names, new surname, new other names, date of
record, locality, ID number. The information is located at the David
J. Light Law Library, Tel Aviv University. (Images available.)

Births in Zikhron Ya'akov 1883 -1920 1,409 listings

This database is a list of children born in Zikhron Ya'akov. The
information is >from the Mathilde A. Tagger Collection and includes
name, birth date, license number and gender. It was prepared >from the
Book of Births at the Zikhron Ya'akov Historical Archives. (No images available.)

Notrim Pre-State Jewish Police Force 485 listings

This database on Notrim, the Pre-State Jewish Police Force may include
information such as: name, date, address, rank, regiment and unit.
This information is in English. The list comes >from the Central
Zionist Archives. (No images available.)

Before viewing the databases, please register for free on the IGRA websit:
http://genealogy.org.il/

To view the databases, go to http://genealogy.org.il/AID/index.php

Please note, images can be seen by paid IGRA members only. If you are
not an IGRA member, you will be able to see the transcriptions only.

Let us hear of your successes with the IGRA databases! Write to us at
webmaster@....

Many thanks to all of our dedicated volunteers.

Elena Biegel Bazes
IGRA Publicity Chairperson

I have just added a Draft List to our site, >from 1878, the Merchant
Draft List which consists of 1254 lines of information. There are still
over 40 of these lists to translate.

This is only one of the many valuable lists on our site. We have vital
records, revsion lists, tax lists etc. >from Vilnius itself and >from
towns in the Vilnius area. Please consider joining our group, so helping
us to translate more records >from the Lithuanian Archives. All records
are on Excel spreadsheets which can be downloaded to your computer and
sorted in various ways. If you contribute $100, you will have access to
our group's records for five years and you will have access to the new
records as they are translated. They will be put onto the All Lithuania
Database, which is free to access, about eighteen months after they are
translated.

Please see this link for further information:
https://www.litvaksig.org/district-research/


Jill Anderson
Coordinator for the Vilnius District Research Groups of LitvakSig

I have just added a Draft List to our site, >from 1878, the Merchant
Draft List which consists of 1254 lines of information. There are still
over 40 of these lists to translate.

This is only one of the many valuable lists on our site. We have vital
records, revsion lists, tax lists etc. >from Vilnius itself and >from
towns in the Vilnius area. Please consider joining our group, so helping
us to translate more records >from the Lithuanian Archives. All records
are on Excel spreadsheets which can be downloaded to your computer and
sorted in various ways. If you contribute $100, you will have access to
our group's records for five years and you will have access to the new
records as they are translated. They will be put onto the All Lithuania
Database, which is free to access, about eighteen months after they are
translated.

Please see this link for further information:
https://www.litvaksig.org/district-research/


Jill Anderson
Coordinator for the Vilnius District Research Groups of LitvakSig

I've posted a vital record in Polish for which I need a translation.
It is on ViewMate at the following address:

http://www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/viewmateview.asp?key=VM54663

Please respond via the form provided in the ViewMate application.

Thank you much.

Nomi Waksberg

I've posted a vital record in Polish for which I need a translation.
It is on ViewMate at the following address:

http://www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/viewmateview.asp?key=VM54663

Please respond via the form provided in the ViewMate application.

Thank you much.

Nomi Waksberg

Dear friends of JRI-Poland.

After more than 20 years of outstanding devoted service, our
treasurer Sheila Salo has decided to retire. As one of the
staunch backbones of the JRI-Poland team since the beginning,
Sheila has contributed to our success on many levels and has
been the welcoming link of our organization with the many
supporters with whom she has come into contact and given
loving attention on a daily basis.

On behalf of my colleagues on the JRI-Poland executive committee
and board and all of you who look to JRI-Poland as "your"
organization in the research of your roots in Poland, we extend to
Sheila a hearty Yasher Koach for the superb role she has played
over these two decades.

On a personal level, I must add that working closely with Sheila
has been a true pleasure. It is impossible to put into words the
feeling of comfort and confidence that has characterized our
relationship. I will truly miss that.

I also want to add a word of thanks to JRI-Poland co-founder
Steve Zedeck who first "discovered" Sheila and brought her on
board way back in our organization's infancy.

Finally, I want to welcome Dennis Gries of Sarasota, Florida
to the team as our new treasurer. Dennis' name and contacts
now appear on our website. Dennis will be more formally
introduced in the next few days.

Stanley Diamond
Executive Director
For the board of Jewish Records Indexing - Poland

Dear friends of JRI-Poland.

After more than 20 years of outstanding devoted service, our
treasurer Sheila Salo has decided to retire. As one of the
staunch backbones of the JRI-Poland team since the beginning,
Sheila has contributed to our success on many levels and has
been the welcoming link of our organization with the many
supporters with whom she has come into contact and given
loving attention on a daily basis.

On behalf of my colleagues on the JRI-Poland executive committee
and board and all of you who look to JRI-Poland as "your"
organization in the research of your roots in Poland, we extend to
Sheila a hearty Yasher Koach for the superb role she has played
over these two decades.

On a personal level, I must add that working closely with Sheila
has been a true pleasure. It is impossible to put into words the
feeling of comfort and confidence that has characterized our
relationship. I will truly miss that.

I also want to add a word of thanks to JRI-Poland co-founder
Steve Zedeck who first "discovered" Sheila and brought her on
board way back in our organization's infancy.

Finally, I want to welcome Dennis Gries of Sarasota, Florida
to the team as our new treasurer. Dennis' name and contacts
now appear on our website. Dennis will be more formally
introduced in the next few days.

Stanley Diamond
Executive Director
For the board of Jewish Records Indexing - Poland

Hello,

This question might seem strange but, during my family history research, I came across a marriage which intrigues me. It took place in the end of the 1860s in Kecskemet (Bacs-Kiskun County) and all the elements I could gather lead me to believe that the groom and bride were uncle and niece (the man apparently married his older sister's daughter).

I found out that the halakha doesn't prohibit such marriages but I was wondering whether anyone else had come across similar situations. What would have been the reason(s) for such a union? Was it common in Hungarian Jewish communities in the 19th century? Though it was not forbidden, did the bride and groom need a permission >from the local rabbi?
I imagine that the state laws would have prohibited it, so did the family need to apply for a special permission >from the authorities? Would this document be available in the National/County Archives?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!

Best,

Jonathan Vandewiele

Hello,

This question might seem strange but, during my family history research, I came across a marriage which intrigues me. It took place in the end of the 1860s in Kecskemet (Bacs-Kiskun County) and all the elements I could gather lead me to believe that the groom and bride were uncle and niece (the man apparently married his older sister's daughter).

I found out that the halakha doesn't prohibit such marriages but I was wondering whether anyone else had come across similar situations. What would have been the reason(s) for such a union? Was it common in Hungarian Jewish communities in the 19th century? Though it was not forbidden, did the bride and groom need a permission >from the local rabbi?
I imagine that the state laws would have prohibited it, so did the family need to apply for a special permission >from the authorities? Would this document be available in the National/County Archives?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!

Best,

Jonathan Vandewiele

JewishGen offers Basic 4: Explore the Belarus SIG website May 15 - May 29.

This two-week class is taught on the private JewishGen Education Forum website
open 24/7 to registered students. Daily lessons with skill building exercises will
help you learn your way to research your family on the Belarus SIG website.
Students will be able to work at their own pace by downloading the lessons to their
computer. Lessons must be downloaded before the end of the session.

Tuition for this class is $18. The fee will be waived if you qualify for
JewishGen's Value Added Services. Value Added means you have made a $100 donation
to JewishGen’s General Fund within the past 12 months.

Registration is open.
If you have questions, please email the instructor at
JewishGen-Education@....
For more information and to enroll
go to http://www.jewishgen.org/education

Nancy Holden Instructor

JewishGen offers Basic 4: Explore the Belarus SIG website May 15 - May 29.

This two-week class is taught on the private JewishGen Education Forum website
open 24/7 to registered students. Daily lessons with skill building exercises will
help you learn your way to research your family on the Belarus SIG website.
Students will be able to work at their own pace by downloading the lessons to their
computer. Lessons must be downloaded before the end of the session.

Tuition for this class is $18. The fee will be waived if you qualify for
JewishGen's Value Added Services. Value Added means you have made a $100 donation
to JewishGen’s General Fund within the past 12 months.

Registration is open.
If you have questions, please email the instructor at
JewishGen-Education@....
For more information and to enroll
go to http://www.jewishgen.org/education

Nancy Holden Instructor

Hello,

I have posted 4 vital records in POLISH for which I would appreciate
translations. They are on ViewMate at the following addresses:

http://www.jewishgen.org/ViewMate/viewmateview.asp?key=54743
http://www.jewishgen.org/ViewMate/viewmateview.asp?key=54744
http://www.jewishgen.org/ViewMate/viewmateview.asp?key=54741
http://www.jewishgen.org/ViewMate/viewmateview.asp?key=54742

They are really two sets of two pages that should be read side by side.
They are a Polish registry of two families in the LERER line.

Thank you,

Robert Schnapp
Reston, Virginia

Hello,

I have posted 4 vital records in POLISH for which I would appreciate
translations. They are on ViewMate at the following addresses:

http://www.jewishgen.org/ViewMate/viewmateview.asp?key=54743
http://www.jewishgen.org/ViewMate/viewmateview.asp?key=54744
http://www.jewishgen.org/ViewMate/viewmateview.asp?key=54741
http://www.jewishgen.org/ViewMate/viewmateview.asp?key=54742

They are really two sets of two pages that should be read side by side.
They are a Polish registry of two families in the LERER line.

Thank you,

Robert Schnapp
Reston, Virginia

A few days ago I came across an article by Oded Aderet in the Israeli
paper Haretz about the visit by Mr. Meir Bulka to his ancestral town
of Ostrowiec. He discovered that the Jewish cemetery there had been
liquidated in the 1950s after WW II and the stones had been used to
construct a wall around the Catholic cemetery. Attached to the article
in Haaretz there is a photo showing part of the wall with Hebrew
lettering clearly visible on some of the stones.
When Mr. Bulka went to see the mayor about this and suggested to recover the
stones, the mayor agreed but only for a payment of half a million Zloty. Since Mr.
Bulka claims some property in Ostrowiec he feels that he has some bargaining power.
Frankly I have no personal relation to Polish Jewry, I am an Austro-Hungarian, but
I am wondering if this is the 1st time this has happened in Poland or other places
in eastern Europe? This is certainly quite upsetting.
Henry Wellisch
Toronto

MODERATOR NOTE: Private responses only, please

A few days ago I came across an article by Oded Aderet in the Israeli
paper Haretz about the visit by Mr. Meir Bulka to his ancestral town
of Ostrowiec. He discovered that the Jewish cemetery there had been
liquidated in the 1950s after WW II and the stones had been used to
construct a wall around the Catholic cemetery. Attached to the article
in Haaretz there is a photo showing part of the wall with Hebrew
lettering clearly visible on some of the stones.
When Mr. Bulka went to see the mayor about this and suggested to recover the
stones, the mayor agreed but only for a payment of half a million Zloty. Since Mr.
Bulka claims some property in Ostrowiec he feels that he has some bargaining power.
Frankly I have no personal relation to Polish Jewry, I am an Austro-Hungarian, but
I am wondering if this is the 1st time this has happened in Poland or other places
in eastern Europe? This is certainly quite upsetting.
Henry Wellisch
Toronto

MODERATOR NOTE: Private responses only, please

I am going to be helping someone with a visit to Montefiore Cemetery in Springfield
Queens early this week and since I am going I wanted to offer if anyone else needs
assistance at this individual cemetery please contact me.

I will only be visiting Montfiore on Springfield Avenue in Springfield Gardens,
Queens, New York but if you need a grave photographed I should be able to do it..
Of course priority has to be for the person who asked for the visit and since time
will be somewhat limited, plus it can be difficult move around the cemetery, I can
only do a few graves. Plus I am at the mercy of the office to help me locate the
graves and >from experience I have found out these offices are not as helpful when
you show up with a list of 30, 40 or 50 graves. (I have tried.)

This will be similar to my NYC look ups where I appreciate a few dollars to help
off set the costs and I will take a digital photo and email it to you.

Montefiore has a database of internments on its website but please be certain it is
your person that you are requested and not a general search for a name. For
example there are 82 Harry Cohen graves in their database ... so please no "cousin
Harry died in Queens" so could you look for me requests.

Allan Jordan

I am going to be helping someone with a visit to Montefiore Cemetery in Springfield
Queens early this week and since I am going I wanted to offer if anyone else needs
assistance at this individual cemetery please contact me.

I will only be visiting Montfiore on Springfield Avenue in Springfield Gardens,
Queens, New York but if you need a grave photographed I should be able to do it..
Of course priority has to be for the person who asked for the visit and since time
will be somewhat limited, plus it can be difficult move around the cemetery, I can
only do a few graves. Plus I am at the mercy of the office to help me locate the
graves and >from experience I have found out these offices are not as helpful when
you show up with a list of 30, 40 or 50 graves. (I have tried.)

This will be similar to my NYC look ups where I appreciate a few dollars to help
off set the costs and I will take a digital photo and email it to you.

Montefiore has a database of internments on its website but please be certain it is
your person that you are requested and not a general search for a name. For
example there are 82 Harry Cohen graves in their database ... so please no "cousin
Harry died in Queens" so could you look for me requests.

Allan Jordan