JewishGen.org Discussion Group FAQs
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.
Can I still search though old messages?
Yes. All the messages are accessible and searchable going back to 1998.
What if I have questions or need assistance using the new Group?
Send your questions to: support@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, which you can read here:https://groups.jewishgen.org/g/main/guidelines
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
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Jim Yarin
#general
Fred Apel <fapel@...>
Sorry to bother the list, but I am unable to locate Jim Yarin
and ShtetLinks needs to get a hold of him. Thanks, Fred Apel MODERATOR NOTE: Please respond privately
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Searching for Marvin GOLDBERG, dentist
#general
Webinquiry@...
Searching for Marvin GOLDBERG, a dentist, perhaps about 70 years old, son of
Louis GOLDBERG (also a dentist, New York area), and Faye GOLDBERG. Marvin would be my second cousin. No listing on American Dental Association website; too many Marvin GOLDBERGs out there to identify on various people-finder sites. Any leads appreciated. Please respond privately. Howard Weinman Chevy Chase, MD
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Jim Yarin
#general
Fred Apel <fapel@...>
Sorry to bother the list, but I am unable to locate Jim Yarin
and ShtetLinks needs to get a hold of him. Thanks, Fred Apel MODERATOR NOTE: Please respond privately
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Searching for Marvin GOLDBERG, dentist
#general
Webinquiry@...
Searching for Marvin GOLDBERG, a dentist, perhaps about 70 years old, son of
Louis GOLDBERG (also a dentist, New York area), and Faye GOLDBERG. Marvin would be my second cousin. No listing on American Dental Association website; too many Marvin GOLDBERGs out there to identify on various people-finder sites. Any leads appreciated. Please respond privately. Howard Weinman Chevy Chase, MD
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Paying Belarus archive
#general
Hanna K. Grossman <hannakg@...>
I have reeived many responses to my inquiry on this subject. Thank you
all. They fall into the following categories: 1. Your bank,no matter how small, will know how to do this. The instructions are for them. 2, Please let us know, because we have had similar problems. 3. What could you posibly have asked for that would cost only $4? The bank transfer will cost many times that. I'm not sure about 1, but had thought 3 myself and will thus write to the Archive to check, before I spend more time and money. My inquiry was dated June, so it will probably be a long time before I have an answer. Hanna Grossman, Cornwall
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one more about "senility"
#general
Martin Kronman <mkronman@...>
The explanations about the use of the term "senility" which have been given
here are certainly correct. However, there is one other explanation which I believe is probably more significant. In the context of a medical examination at Ellis Island "senility" is just a clinical term which has attached to it certain symptoms which define the state. The earmarks of senility would include "confusion", "disorientation" an inability to respond to ordinary questions, etc.. I would suggest that the stress of being "processed" by the examiners at Ellis Island which might well generate these symptoms in a person who is otherwise relatively normal. I am in my 70's and I know that the experience of being treated as "cattle" in the atmosphere generated by "processing" hundred and hundreds of immigrants, would produce such symptoms in me. Martin J. Kronman Syracuse, NY
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Paying Belarus archive
#general
Hanna K. Grossman <hannakg@...>
I have reeived many responses to my inquiry on this subject. Thank you
all. They fall into the following categories: 1. Your bank,no matter how small, will know how to do this. The instructions are for them. 2, Please let us know, because we have had similar problems. 3. What could you posibly have asked for that would cost only $4? The bank transfer will cost many times that. I'm not sure about 1, but had thought 3 myself and will thus write to the Archive to check, before I spend more time and money. My inquiry was dated June, so it will probably be a long time before I have an answer. Hanna Grossman, Cornwall
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen one more about "senility"
#general
Martin Kronman <mkronman@...>
The explanations about the use of the term "senility" which have been given
here are certainly correct. However, there is one other explanation which I believe is probably more significant. In the context of a medical examination at Ellis Island "senility" is just a clinical term which has attached to it certain symptoms which define the state. The earmarks of senility would include "confusion", "disorientation" an inability to respond to ordinary questions, etc.. I would suggest that the stress of being "processed" by the examiners at Ellis Island which might well generate these symptoms in a person who is otherwise relatively normal. I am in my 70's and I know that the experience of being treated as "cattle" in the atmosphere generated by "processing" hundred and hundreds of immigrants, would produce such symptoms in me. Martin J. Kronman Syracuse, NY
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Jeffrey Cohens, don't be alarmed!
#general
Renee Steinig <rsteinig@...>
Stuart LeVine <sblevine@bezeqint.net> wrote...
<<23 Jeffrey Cohens in the SSDI and only 1 lived past 50 (that one lived until until 54). The average life expectancy for someone with this name appears to be about 38.>> Jeffrey Cohens in the Social Security Death Index appear to be short-lived because the name Jeffrey first became popular in the United States in the 1940's. Enter the name "Jeffrey Cohen" into the 1930 US census index, and only one listing comes up; enter "Morris Cohen" and you get 1300 matches! If most Jeffrey Cohens were born after 1940, there can't be any octogenarians by that name in the SSDI. Renee Renee Stern Steinig Dix Hills (Long Island), New York, USA RSteinig@suffolk.lib.ny.us MODERATOR NOTE: Any further messages on this subject will be considered for posting only if they have a reasonable genealogical content. Any other comments should be sent privately
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Jeffrey Cohens, don't be alarmed!
#general
Renee Steinig <rsteinig@...>
Stuart LeVine <sblevine@bezeqint.net> wrote...
<<23 Jeffrey Cohens in the SSDI and only 1 lived past 50 (that one lived until until 54). The average life expectancy for someone with this name appears to be about 38.>> Jeffrey Cohens in the Social Security Death Index appear to be short-lived because the name Jeffrey first became popular in the United States in the 1940's. Enter the name "Jeffrey Cohen" into the 1930 US census index, and only one listing comes up; enter "Morris Cohen" and you get 1300 matches! If most Jeffrey Cohens were born after 1940, there can't be any octogenarians by that name in the SSDI. Renee Renee Stern Steinig Dix Hills (Long Island), New York, USA RSteinig@suffolk.lib.ny.us MODERATOR NOTE: Any further messages on this subject will be considered for posting only if they have a reasonable genealogical content. Any other comments should be sent privately
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Poor Jeffrey Cohen
#general
HENKEN9@...
Genners,
Despite not having definitive proof, I tend to believe that this particular spelling of Jeffrey is of fairly recent usage. I don't remember seeing many Jewish Jeffrey's on the EIDB or generally running into any elderly Jewish Jeffrey's in my youth. I suspect that almost all the unfortunate Jeffrey COHENs on the Death Index were likely of the boomer generation, and therefore, met early demises. Happy Holiday. Ty Henken Centennial, Colo. Henken9@aol.com HENKEN,SMOLINSKY>Vitebsk POLCHINIKOFF/POLTINIKOW>Gomel, Mogilev PECKEL>Ushachi, Vitebsk LEVIN,LEVITT>Cherven, Minsk WOLODARSKY>Riga,Svetlovodsk,Kherson,Astrahkan INTRELEGATOR>Siauliai, Kaunas GUTMAN>Jaunjelgava, Latvia
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Re: Warning: Jeffrey Cohen Name is Cursed!
#general
Robert Israel <israel@...>
In article <3de51213$1@news.bezeqint.net>,
Stuart LeVine <sblevine@bezeqint.net> wrote: 23 Jeffrey Cohens in the SSDI and only 1 lived past 50 (that one lived untilObviously, only dead people are in the SSDI. The ones that are still alive are not, so this is a very biased sample. I'm guessing that Jeffrey was not a common name for Jews more than 54 years ago, so you don't get lots of older ones in the database. If it only became a popular name 40 years ago, then most of the Jeffreys were born less than 40 years ago, and those in the database will have died at age less than 40. Just for fun I tried "Jeffrey Israel", and got only one (who died at age 25 in 1996). Robert Israel israel@math.ubc.ca Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z2
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Poor Jeffrey Cohen
#general
HENKEN9@...
Genners,
Despite not having definitive proof, I tend to believe that this particular spelling of Jeffrey is of fairly recent usage. I don't remember seeing many Jewish Jeffrey's on the EIDB or generally running into any elderly Jewish Jeffrey's in my youth. I suspect that almost all the unfortunate Jeffrey COHENs on the Death Index were likely of the boomer generation, and therefore, met early demises. Happy Holiday. Ty Henken Centennial, Colo. Henken9@aol.com HENKEN,SMOLINSKY>Vitebsk POLCHINIKOFF/POLTINIKOW>Gomel, Mogilev PECKEL>Ushachi, Vitebsk LEVIN,LEVITT>Cherven, Minsk WOLODARSKY>Riga,Svetlovodsk,Kherson,Astrahkan INTRELEGATOR>Siauliai, Kaunas GUTMAN>Jaunjelgava, Latvia
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Re: Warning: Jeffrey Cohen Name is Cursed!
#general
Robert Israel <israel@...>
In article <3de51213$1@news.bezeqint.net>,
Stuart LeVine <sblevine@bezeqint.net> wrote: 23 Jeffrey Cohens in the SSDI and only 1 lived past 50 (that one lived untilObviously, only dead people are in the SSDI. The ones that are still alive are not, so this is a very biased sample. I'm guessing that Jeffrey was not a common name for Jews more than 54 years ago, so you don't get lots of older ones in the database. If it only became a popular name 40 years ago, then most of the Jeffreys were born less than 40 years ago, and those in the database will have died at age less than 40. Just for fun I tried "Jeffrey Israel", and got only one (who died at age 25 in 1996). Robert Israel israel@math.ubc.ca Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z2
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Wishing everyone "Senility"
#general
Nachum <nachum@...>
Dear Steve and other Genners,
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
If the dictionary definition is the correct answer to the 'senility' question, then I wish that it be handed down to all of us. So, may we all have a very 'senile' (long) life. Nachum Tuchman Tekoa, Israel Researching: TUCHMAN/KLARMAN/ASPIS? >from Busko-Zdroj, Poland (Kielce Gubernia) to US - LIEBERMAN/ZYSSMAN >from Lowicz, Poland to US RAIDER/all spellings/GINSBERG - >from Smorgon/Soly, Belarus (Vilna Gubernia) to US - SHUB/BERNSTEIN/ROSINSKY/BAYLETT >from Lituania?/Estonia? to London - KIWI/AVRAHAM/BUETOW/RHODE/ZAHLMAN from Samter/Wronki,Posen/Koenigsberg?/Berlin, Germany
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Orlen [mailto:sorlen@email.arizona.edu] Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2002 5:14 PM To: JewishGen Discussion Group Subject: "Senility" One respondent had the good sense to look theword up in the dictionary, and found that a secondary definition was, simply, "old age." "My grandfather was listed as having died >fromsenility!" It is good to know, >from all this, that senility wasn't necessarily a condition that would be handed down to me, and to you. Best, Steve Orlen Tucson, Arizona
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Wishing everyone "Senility"
#general
Nachum <nachum@...>
Dear Steve and other Genners,
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
If the dictionary definition is the correct answer to the 'senility' question, then I wish that it be handed down to all of us. So, may we all have a very 'senile' (long) life. Nachum Tuchman Tekoa, Israel Researching: TUCHMAN/KLARMAN/ASPIS? >from Busko-Zdroj, Poland (Kielce Gubernia) to US - LIEBERMAN/ZYSSMAN >from Lowicz, Poland to US RAIDER/all spellings/GINSBERG - >from Smorgon/Soly, Belarus (Vilna Gubernia) to US - SHUB/BERNSTEIN/ROSINSKY/BAYLETT >from Lituania?/Estonia? to London - KIWI/AVRAHAM/BUETOW/RHODE/ZAHLMAN from Samter/Wronki,Posen/Koenigsberg?/Berlin, Germany
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Orlen [mailto:sorlen@email.arizona.edu] Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2002 5:14 PM To: JewishGen Discussion Group Subject: "Senility" One respondent had the good sense to look theword up in the dictionary, and found that a secondary definition was, simply, "old age." "My grandfather was listed as having died >fromsenility!" It is good to know, >from all this, that senility wasn't necessarily a condition that would be handed down to me, and to you. Best, Steve Orlen Tucson, Arizona
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New book on Sephardic Genealogy
#scandinavia
Elsebeth Paikin
Posted for Jeff Malka
--------------------- Dear fellow newslist members, I am pleased to announce the publication of my new book: "Sephardic Genealogy: Discover your Ancestors and their World", Avotaynu, 2002 (for ordering information see http://www.avotaynu.com/books/sephardic.htm and http://www.avotaynu.com/catalog.htm) The first and only book in English to focus on Sephardic genealogy, this 384 page, extensively documented book is divided into 4 parts and would be of benefit to both the beginner and advanced researcher of Sephardic genealogy. Part I deals with a brief review of Sephardic history, the status of Jews under Islam, Sephardic languages, and the evolution of Sephardic names >from biblical times to the present. Part II covers the methodology for valid genealogical research including record keeping and date conversions >from a variety of calendars. Part III discusses the known archives and resources for genealogical research in 20 countries where Sephardim have lived, >from pre-expulsion Spain to North Africa, Turkey, the Balkans, Egypt, Syria, and more. Part IV contains a directory, sorted by country, of internet sites and resources of interest to Sephardic genealogists. An appendix provides a dictionary of many Sephardic surnames giving their etymological meanings and origins. Eleven other appendixes offer reference tables of Arabic and of Sephardic Hebrew cursive alphabets, Islamic calendars, genealogy forms, archival resources, and similar. An extensive bibliography, 19 illustrations and maps, 8 tables, separate person and topic indexes make for easy reference and use. Jeff Malka, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.A.O.S. <malkajef@orthohelp.com> "SefardSIG: Sephardic Genealogy at JewishGen" website: http://www.jewishgen.org/sefardsig/ "Resources for Sephardic Genealogy" website: http://www.orthohelp.com/geneal/sefardim.htm (Jewish Agency for Israel TOP TEN; Britannica 2 STARS)
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Scandinavia SIG #Scandinavia New book on Sephardic Genealogy
#scandinavia
Elsebeth Paikin
Posted for Jeff Malka
--------------------- Dear fellow newslist members, I am pleased to announce the publication of my new book: "Sephardic Genealogy: Discover your Ancestors and their World", Avotaynu, 2002 (for ordering information see http://www.avotaynu.com/books/sephardic.htm and http://www.avotaynu.com/catalog.htm) The first and only book in English to focus on Sephardic genealogy, this 384 page, extensively documented book is divided into 4 parts and would be of benefit to both the beginner and advanced researcher of Sephardic genealogy. Part I deals with a brief review of Sephardic history, the status of Jews under Islam, Sephardic languages, and the evolution of Sephardic names >from biblical times to the present. Part II covers the methodology for valid genealogical research including record keeping and date conversions >from a variety of calendars. Part III discusses the known archives and resources for genealogical research in 20 countries where Sephardim have lived, >from pre-expulsion Spain to North Africa, Turkey, the Balkans, Egypt, Syria, and more. Part IV contains a directory, sorted by country, of internet sites and resources of interest to Sephardic genealogists. An appendix provides a dictionary of many Sephardic surnames giving their etymological meanings and origins. Eleven other appendixes offer reference tables of Arabic and of Sephardic Hebrew cursive alphabets, Islamic calendars, genealogy forms, archival resources, and similar. An extensive bibliography, 19 illustrations and maps, 8 tables, separate person and topic indexes make for easy reference and use. Jeff Malka, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.A.O.S. <malkajef@orthohelp.com> "SefardSIG: Sephardic Genealogy at JewishGen" website: http://www.jewishgen.org/sefardsig/ "Resources for Sephardic Genealogy" website: http://www.orthohelp.com/geneal/sefardim.htm (Jewish Agency for Israel TOP TEN; Britannica 2 STARS)
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1930 U.S. Census - Missing Image?
#general
Debbie Raff
Well, I finally located an elusive relative via the 1930 U.S. Census. He
lived in Spring Valley, NY (Rockland County) and happens to be one of those folks on ancestry.com who does not have an image attached to his name in its 'index' section. But, since I now know the 'enumeration district number' and the 'page number', I went to the non-indexed database to locate my guy. As luck would have it, this is the only page number missing, of course! ;-( So, here's my question...if I were to obtain the microfilm, should that image be there? Or does ancestry's information reflect the microfilm exactly? If anyone out there has run across this problem, and can answer me, I would really appreciate it. I never thought I would actually find this person, and now that I am so close, it seems a shame that I can't see more details to possibly determine his specific relationship to me. TIA, Debbie Raff California
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen 1930 U.S. Census - Missing Image?
#general
Debbie Raff
Well, I finally located an elusive relative via the 1930 U.S. Census. He
lived in Spring Valley, NY (Rockland County) and happens to be one of those folks on ancestry.com who does not have an image attached to his name in its 'index' section. But, since I now know the 'enumeration district number' and the 'page number', I went to the non-indexed database to locate my guy. As luck would have it, this is the only page number missing, of course! ;-( So, here's my question...if I were to obtain the microfilm, should that image be there? Or does ancestry's information reflect the microfilm exactly? If anyone out there has run across this problem, and can answer me, I would really appreciate it. I never thought I would actually find this person, and now that I am so close, it seems a shame that I can't see more details to possibly determine his specific relationship to me. TIA, Debbie Raff California
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