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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Re; seeking professional genealogist/Moscow
#general
Saul Goldstone <sgoldsto@...>
JewishGeners,
I am seeking a professional genealogist to do some research for me in Moscow. If you can recommend someone to me I would appreciate it. Saul Goldstone sgoldsto@... MODERATOR NOTE: Please respond privately.
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Re; seeking professional genealogist/Moscow
#general
Saul Goldstone <sgoldsto@...>
JewishGeners,
I am seeking a professional genealogist to do some research for me in Moscow. If you can recommend someone to me I would appreciate it. Saul Goldstone sgoldsto@... MODERATOR NOTE: Please respond privately.
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Where are Affidavit and Visa Records?
#general
Jean A. Holz <jholz@...>
I recently sent a Freedom of Information form to:
Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service 425 I Street NW 2nd Floor ULLICO Building Washington, DC 20536 Within one week, I had a return letter with a request for more information. I had neglected to attach an obituary or death certificate. The form itself is simple to complete. The more information you have, the more information they have to work with. I received copies of every paper I requested >from the immigration/ship arrival card, affidavit of intent to become a citizen, application for citizenship, affidavits of witnesses, citizenship papers. I was thrilled to receive them. On another note, the information I had about my other grandfather yielded a letter saying the based on the information supplied, there were no records to be found. It seems that my grandfather arrived prior to 1892 when he was naturalized. Records would be in the county/state/district court, but no court I've checked has anything on him. So, sometimes it's hit or miss. Don't get discouraged. When it's a hit, its grand. Keep on searching. Jean Holz jholz@...
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Where are Affidavit and Visa Records?
#general
Jean A. Holz <jholz@...>
I recently sent a Freedom of Information form to:
Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service 425 I Street NW 2nd Floor ULLICO Building Washington, DC 20536 Within one week, I had a return letter with a request for more information. I had neglected to attach an obituary or death certificate. The form itself is simple to complete. The more information you have, the more information they have to work with. I received copies of every paper I requested >from the immigration/ship arrival card, affidavit of intent to become a citizen, application for citizenship, affidavits of witnesses, citizenship papers. I was thrilled to receive them. On another note, the information I had about my other grandfather yielded a letter saying the based on the information supplied, there were no records to be found. It seems that my grandfather arrived prior to 1892 when he was naturalized. Records would be in the county/state/district court, but no court I've checked has anything on him. So, sometimes it's hit or miss. Don't get discouraged. When it's a hit, its grand. Keep on searching. Jean Holz jholz@...
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Searching ZUBOWITZ (ZUBOWICZ) and TSORFAT from Breslau and Kasian
#general
Tworetzky <jackt@...>
My grandmother Sara, daughter of Israel Gershon TSORFAT married
my grandfather Eliezer the son of Abraham ZUBOWITZ. My grandfather Eliezer had a sister Sara who married Joshua RAICHMAN and another sister Rachel who married Jacob LIFSCHITZ. The Lifschitz family apparently all settled in the U.S.A. Eliezer and Sara had a daughter Basia who married my father Isroel TWORETZKY who came >from Vidzy (Widze). i would be interested to hear from anybody connected with these families. Jack Tworetzky
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Searching ZUBOWITZ (ZUBOWICZ) and TSORFAT from Breslau and Kasian
#general
Tworetzky <jackt@...>
My grandmother Sara, daughter of Israel Gershon TSORFAT married
my grandfather Eliezer the son of Abraham ZUBOWITZ. My grandfather Eliezer had a sister Sara who married Joshua RAICHMAN and another sister Rachel who married Jacob LIFSCHITZ. The Lifschitz family apparently all settled in the U.S.A. Eliezer and Sara had a daughter Basia who married my father Isroel TWORETZKY who came >from Vidzy (Widze). i would be interested to hear from anybody connected with these families. Jack Tworetzky
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[Fwd: Searching for Family: Male Descendants-Nechamkin (AKA) Newman]
#general
Gail Dechter <marvgailsarah@...>
Seeking NECHAMKIN family...... Changed name to NEWMAN upon
arrival in US... Israel & Feige, (Fannie) parents... . Descendants of Hirsch, Gershon, & ? male.... Family of ten children- one died as an infant. Six sisters immigrated >from Riga, Latvia (Shtetl-Smiltene) -1922 to Chicago, via Ellis Island. Family lost contact with brothers. Eldest sister Ethel arrived first to visit Aunt, Rachel Goldstein.... . Nephew-Gershon >from Krustpils, Latvia. Possible descendants of males of Nechamkin family please e-mail me at marvgailsarah@... Thanks so much in advance for your help! Gail Dechter
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen [Fwd: Searching for Family: Male Descendants-Nechamkin (AKA) Newman]
#general
Gail Dechter <marvgailsarah@...>
Seeking NECHAMKIN family...... Changed name to NEWMAN upon
arrival in US... Israel & Feige, (Fannie) parents... . Descendants of Hirsch, Gershon, & ? male.... Family of ten children- one died as an infant. Six sisters immigrated >from Riga, Latvia (Shtetl-Smiltene) -1922 to Chicago, via Ellis Island. Family lost contact with brothers. Eldest sister Ethel arrived first to visit Aunt, Rachel Goldstein.... . Nephew-Gershon >from Krustpils, Latvia. Possible descendants of males of Nechamkin family please e-mail me at marvgailsarah@... Thanks so much in advance for your help! Gail Dechter
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Re: TANCHAN
#general
Aubrey Jacobus <aubrey@...>
TO whom it may concern
Someone posted for this name ? When browsing London Jewish Chron found Death Phillip TANCHAN 21.03.1942 youngest son of TAN (sic) TANCHIN 2 Sir Harry Rd Brmingham 5. BTW I knew/know a TONCHIN family
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen re: TANCHAN
#general
Aubrey Jacobus <aubrey@...>
TO whom it may concern
Someone posted for this name ? When browsing London Jewish Chron found Death Phillip TANCHAN 21.03.1942 youngest son of TAN (sic) TANCHIN 2 Sir Harry Rd Brmingham 5. BTW I knew/know a TONCHIN family
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Re: three questions
#general
Mike Lipsie <Mike_Lipsie@...>
Corin Goodwin wrote:
2. A cousin is sending me studio photos of my gggf and gggf >from Russia.I would volunteer my services however my one year of college Russianis embarrassingly far in my past. I will point out that there are many recent emigrants >from "the former Soviet Union" in the Bay Area. Try the Jewish Family Services, a JCC, or maybe even the Russian Center in San Francisco. One of them might be able to direct you to someone who could help. As a last resort, we could see if any of that coursework >from over 30 years ago managed to stick in my poor brain. I do have a couple of elementary Russian-English dictionaries that you could use once the words are figured out. Good luck. //Corin Barsily GoodwinMike Lipsie / mikel@... (home)
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Re: three questions
#general
Mike Lipsie <Mike_Lipsie@...>
Corin Goodwin wrote:
2. A cousin is sending me studio photos of my gggf and gggf >from Russia.I would volunteer my services however my one year of college Russianis embarrassingly far in my past. I will point out that there are many recent emigrants >from "the former Soviet Union" in the Bay Area. Try the Jewish Family Services, a JCC, or maybe even the Russian Center in San Francisco. One of them might be able to direct you to someone who could help. As a last resort, we could see if any of that coursework >from over 30 years ago managed to stick in my poor brain. I do have a couple of elementary Russian-English dictionaries that you could use once the words are figured out. Good luck. //Corin Barsily GoodwinMike Lipsie / mikel@... (home)
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Genealogy softwear
#general
Danita Simon <dhsimon@...>
Has anyone used any of the software available on the market to do their
research? My gut tells me it isn't useful for tracing Jewish immigrants or family members lost in the holocaust but I'd like to know if anyone has any experience.
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Genealogy softwear
#general
Danita Simon <dhsimon@...>
Has anyone used any of the software available on the market to do their
research? My gut tells me it isn't useful for tracing Jewish immigrants or family members lost in the holocaust but I'd like to know if anyone has any experience.
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National Archives Northeast Branch`- Public Meeting Aug 6
#general
EGuzik1@...
If you care about the future of the Northeast Branch of the National Archives,
plan to attend the public meeting on "Space Planning at NARA" to be held this week -- August 6, 7pm-9pm-- at 201 Varick Street, New York, NY on the 12th Floor. We expect John Carlin, US Archivist to be present. Even if you do not plan to speak, please attend! Numbers do count! The Space Planning Team is analyzing "NARA's current configuration of regional facilities (to) determine what facilities NARA should have and where they should be located." If you plan to attend, you should notify Diane LeBlanc, Regional Administrator at diane.leblanc@.... Now is the time to act! Estelle Guzik JGS (NY)
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen National Archives Northeast Branch`- Public Meeting Aug 6
#general
EGuzik1@...
If you care about the future of the Northeast Branch of the National Archives,
plan to attend the public meeting on "Space Planning at NARA" to be held this week -- August 6, 7pm-9pm-- at 201 Varick Street, New York, NY on the 12th Floor. We expect John Carlin, US Archivist to be present. Even if you do not plan to speak, please attend! Numbers do count! The Space Planning Team is analyzing "NARA's current configuration of regional facilities (to) determine what facilities NARA should have and where they should be located." If you plan to attend, you should notify Diane LeBlanc, Regional Administrator at diane.leblanc@.... Now is the time to act! Estelle Guzik JGS (NY)
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Rabbi Shabse Cohen-the Shach
#general
Sarah Lasry <s.lasry@...>
A number of years ago, I was told by a relative in Israel that we (both he
& I ) are direct descendants of the Shach, Rabbi Shabse Cohen, z"l, through my maternal grandmother, who came >from Seta, Lithuania. (Shach being an acronym for his work "Siftei Kohen" on the Shulchan Aruch- Code of Jewish Law.) I asked him for pertinent details about the generations , but he couldn't provide any, except to say that my brother and great-grandfather, both named Menachem Bentzion, are named after the Shach's son-in-law, Rabbi Menachem Manis, z"l. Through interlibrary loan, I obtained a copy of Keter Kehuna, a book outlining the biograpies and family tree of Rabbi Shabse Kohen, z"l, and his family. His daughter, Esther, z"l, married to Menachem Manis, z"l, is the central character of the true story "The Adopted Princess", by Dr. Marcus Lehman, published in the 1970s. In neither book, Keter Kehuna, nor The Adopted Princess, is any mention given of Esther & Menachem Manis' z"l, children's, grandchildren's....etc. names. Can anyone give me an "etza", an idea, as to how to proceed? I want to know the names of the generations connecting my great-grandfather and the Shach, z"l. TIA. Sarah Lasry s.lasry@... Montreal, Canada
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Rabbi Shabse Cohen-the Shach
#general
Sarah Lasry <s.lasry@...>
A number of years ago, I was told by a relative in Israel that we (both he
& I ) are direct descendants of the Shach, Rabbi Shabse Cohen, z"l, through my maternal grandmother, who came >from Seta, Lithuania. (Shach being an acronym for his work "Siftei Kohen" on the Shulchan Aruch- Code of Jewish Law.) I asked him for pertinent details about the generations , but he couldn't provide any, except to say that my brother and great-grandfather, both named Menachem Bentzion, are named after the Shach's son-in-law, Rabbi Menachem Manis, z"l. Through interlibrary loan, I obtained a copy of Keter Kehuna, a book outlining the biograpies and family tree of Rabbi Shabse Kohen, z"l, and his family. His daughter, Esther, z"l, married to Menachem Manis, z"l, is the central character of the true story "The Adopted Princess", by Dr. Marcus Lehman, published in the 1970s. In neither book, Keter Kehuna, nor The Adopted Princess, is any mention given of Esther & Menachem Manis' z"l, children's, grandchildren's....etc. names. Can anyone give me an "etza", an idea, as to how to proceed? I want to know the names of the generations connecting my great-grandfather and the Shach, z"l. TIA. Sarah Lasry s.lasry@... Montreal, Canada
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Gorodeya
#general
CBS Computer Business Systems LTD. <CBSRAP@...>
I am searching for information on Gorodeya, which is now in Belarus. This
town is located on the Minsk-Brest railway near Baranvichy, 58 KM. SW of Minsk. The current Belarus spelling is Garadzea. Other variations are Horodzie and Horodziej. My family name is FINE, which may have been spelled FAYN, FEYN, or FEJN. I believe that our name was changed >from POPAK. I would appreciate any clues to finding out about my family or general information about this shtetl. Issie Fine cbsrap@...
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Gorodeya
#general
CBS Computer Business Systems LTD. <CBSRAP@...>
I am searching for information on Gorodeya, which is now in Belarus. This
town is located on the Minsk-Brest railway near Baranvichy, 58 KM. SW of Minsk. The current Belarus spelling is Garadzea. Other variations are Horodzie and Horodziej. My family name is FINE, which may have been spelled FAYN, FEYN, or FEJN. I believe that our name was changed >from POPAK. I would appreciate any clues to finding out about my family or general information about this shtetl. Issie Fine cbsrap@...
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