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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Searching: Current e-mail for Sandra ELAZAR
#general
Peter Lowe <Peter.Lowe@...>
Does anyone know how to contact Sandra ELAZAR? In 1999, she wrote to
the Jewishgen Newsgroup about a set of Jewish records and name lists >from Lower Saxony. At that time her Email address was: elazar@poconos.com, but this is now returned "user unknown" Thank you Peter Lowe Hertford, England Email: Peter.Lowe@Bigfoot.Com MODERATOR NOTE: Please reply privately.
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Death certificate in New York
#general
יונתן בן ארי <yonatan@...>
Dear friends
In the name of our "acquaintance" I want to thank all of you who replied regarding her request . May G-d grant all of you and all the world a healthy and peacefull new year. Yoni Ben-Ari, Jerusalem/Efrat
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Rhode Island as a landing site
#general
A. Shefman <ashefman@...>
Hi:
I have been told that my granfather Morris SIGAL (or Segal) landed in Rhode Island in 1908 when he left Grigoriopal, Ukrain and came to the United States. Where are there sources of information either for ship's lists or immigration lists similar to the Ellis Island material? Thanks Alan Shefman ashefman@theedgequality.com SHEFMAN, Teplik SIGAL, Grigoriopal WLADOFSKY, Giessen AISENSTAT, Shchedrin
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Searching: Current e-mail for Sandra ELAZAR
#general
Peter Lowe <Peter.Lowe@...>
Does anyone know how to contact Sandra ELAZAR? In 1999, she wrote to
the Jewishgen Newsgroup about a set of Jewish records and name lists >from Lower Saxony. At that time her Email address was: elazar@poconos.com, but this is now returned "user unknown" Thank you Peter Lowe Hertford, England Email: Peter.Lowe@Bigfoot.Com MODERATOR NOTE: Please reply privately.
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Death certificate in New York
#general
יונתן בן ארי <yonatan@...>
Dear friends
In the name of our "acquaintance" I want to thank all of you who replied regarding her request . May G-d grant all of you and all the world a healthy and peacefull new year. Yoni Ben-Ari, Jerusalem/Efrat
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Rhode Island as a landing site
#general
A. Shefman <ashefman@...>
Hi:
I have been told that my granfather Morris SIGAL (or Segal) landed in Rhode Island in 1908 when he left Grigoriopal, Ukrain and came to the United States. Where are there sources of information either for ship's lists or immigration lists similar to the Ellis Island material? Thanks Alan Shefman ashefman@theedgequality.com SHEFMAN, Teplik SIGAL, Grigoriopal WLADOFSKY, Giessen AISENSTAT, Shchedrin
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Toronto Feedback and Availability to All
#belarus
Allen & Dinah Katz <aldikat@...>
Firstly, let me thank Linda Morzila for caring to give some thoughts and
feedback on the conference. How do those, who were unable to attend ,get to read about the material presented and discussed at the Toronto Conference? We'd love to read a copy of 'Birds-of-Feather' meetings and talks, and other lectures. Perhaps these could be made available on JewishGen web site. What is the policy regarding recordings and 'archiving' the activities of the conference? Does this remain an exclusive 'club' or is it for the benefit of all, including those unable to attend? We have so far seen no summaries of events. Perhaps this would help to promote participation in future conferences. I would also like to know how the venue for the conference is determined? Perhaps there could be a way of linking up to the conference on an on-line basis, 'distance participation' or teleconferencing as others have suggested? Thank you to David Fox, Joanne Saltman and Paula Zieselman and keep up the excellent work Shana Tova Allen Katz Raanana Israel aldikat@netvision.net.il
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Belarus SIG #Belarus Toronto Feedback and Availability to All
#belarus
Allen & Dinah Katz <aldikat@...>
Firstly, let me thank Linda Morzila for caring to give some thoughts and
feedback on the conference. How do those, who were unable to attend ,get to read about the material presented and discussed at the Toronto Conference? We'd love to read a copy of 'Birds-of-Feather' meetings and talks, and other lectures. Perhaps these could be made available on JewishGen web site. What is the policy regarding recordings and 'archiving' the activities of the conference? Does this remain an exclusive 'club' or is it for the benefit of all, including those unable to attend? We have so far seen no summaries of events. Perhaps this would help to promote participation in future conferences. I would also like to know how the venue for the conference is determined? Perhaps there could be a way of linking up to the conference on an on-line basis, 'distance participation' or teleconferencing as others have suggested? Thank you to David Fox, Joanne Saltman and Paula Zieselman and keep up the excellent work Shana Tova Allen Katz Raanana Israel aldikat@netvision.net.il
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1858 Svir Revision List
#belarus
David M. Fox <davefox73@...>
This work was commissioned 1996 by Arnold Wolff.
The revision list was translated by Anton S. Valdine, a researcher in Moscow. Arnold sent me the translated revision list and I sent it to a volunteer who had agreed to enter it into an Excel spreadsheet so that it could be uploaded to the All Belarus Database. Will the person who did that work, please contact me ASAP via private email. Dave -- David Fox Mail to: davefox@jewishgen.org Belarus SIG Coordinator Arnold, MD USA http://www.jewishgen.org/belarus
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Belarus SIG #Belarus 1858 Svir Revision List
#belarus
David M. Fox <davefox73@...>
This work was commissioned 1996 by Arnold Wolff.
The revision list was translated by Anton S. Valdine, a researcher in Moscow. Arnold sent me the translated revision list and I sent it to a volunteer who had agreed to enter it into an Excel spreadsheet so that it could be uploaded to the All Belarus Database. Will the person who did that work, please contact me ASAP via private email. Dave -- David Fox Mail to: davefox@jewishgen.org Belarus SIG Coordinator Arnold, MD USA http://www.jewishgen.org/belarus
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Getting Family Records from the KGB Files
#belarus
David M. Fox <davefox73@...>
I received a few inquiries asking about how to get records >from the KGB
archives. Since I did not know the answer, I wrote to Oleg Perzashkevich, the Director of the Minsk Historical Genealogy Group. Those of you you attended the Conference in Toronto probably met Oleg, as we was one of the speakers. Here is the how Oleg responded: I spoke about KGB files access in Toronto, and I can tell you the following: 1. Almost all the files on that institution activity in Belarus are in Belarus (Moscow may has something else or the same, but hardly. Usually, they have the files only on the high officials). 2. There is an archive of KGB in Minsk, that should store all the files for the mid-war period. However, it is not important, where the documents are located in Belarus -- all the answers must be given by the KGB office in Minsk. 3. To get the info >from KGB or MVD (NKVD) archives, you must do the following things: a) Prove your relationship with the person, you ask about, with the original documents or notarized copies. b) Ask the clear questions, you want to be replied by the archives. c) Contact Belarusian Embassy and ask them, what is the best way to make an inquiry to the KGB/MVD archives. I recommend to make any such inquiry via the Embassy, but I know, that it is not easy. But according to what I know, this is the only way to get the answer for sure. I can not guarantee the results, but I do think, that it is the best way to get anything >from there. I do not think, you can get anything >from the archive directly, but you can try at your own fortune. The addresses and phone numbers of Belarus embassies around the world can be found at http://www.mfa.gov.by/eng/publications/800/16.htm. Dave -- David Fox Mail to: davefox@jewishgen.org Belarus SIG Coordinator Arnold, MD USA http://www.jewishgen.org/belarus
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Belarus SIG #Belarus Getting Family Records from the KGB Files
#belarus
David M. Fox <davefox73@...>
I received a few inquiries asking about how to get records >from the KGB
archives. Since I did not know the answer, I wrote to Oleg Perzashkevich, the Director of the Minsk Historical Genealogy Group. Those of you you attended the Conference in Toronto probably met Oleg, as we was one of the speakers. Here is the how Oleg responded: I spoke about KGB files access in Toronto, and I can tell you the following: 1. Almost all the files on that institution activity in Belarus are in Belarus (Moscow may has something else or the same, but hardly. Usually, they have the files only on the high officials). 2. There is an archive of KGB in Minsk, that should store all the files for the mid-war period. However, it is not important, where the documents are located in Belarus -- all the answers must be given by the KGB office in Minsk. 3. To get the info >from KGB or MVD (NKVD) archives, you must do the following things: a) Prove your relationship with the person, you ask about, with the original documents or notarized copies. b) Ask the clear questions, you want to be replied by the archives. c) Contact Belarusian Embassy and ask them, what is the best way to make an inquiry to the KGB/MVD archives. I recommend to make any such inquiry via the Embassy, but I know, that it is not easy. But according to what I know, this is the only way to get the answer for sure. I can not guarantee the results, but I do think, that it is the best way to get anything >from there. I do not think, you can get anything >from the archive directly, but you can try at your own fortune. The addresses and phone numbers of Belarus embassies around the world can be found at http://www.mfa.gov.by/eng/publications/800/16.htm. Dave -- David Fox Mail to: davefox@jewishgen.org Belarus SIG Coordinator Arnold, MD USA http://www.jewishgen.org/belarus
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Belarus SIG at Toronto Conference
#belarus
inkwell177@...
Dave Fox asked for feedback regarding the Toronto Conference:
Most importantly, it must be recognized that Edward Rosenbaum did an outstanding job as the sole representative of the SIG staff at SIG meetings. And thank you Dave Fox for your videotaped presentation. I must mention that as soon as I returned home I sent in money to the SIG via jewishgen. Edward and Dave got the point across that a little money >from everyone in the SIG can make a big difference in terms of completing projects/translations and making the information and data available for all of us. They also made the point that the SIG is staffed with volunteers only. These are very giving people. They give give give to our benefit. Edward reviewed all the available SIG positions. I don't think I've seen them posted to this list serve yet. If you can't volunteer, give money. Edward's presentation of the SIG website was very well presented and very useful. Oleg's presentations were hard to listen to, unfortunately. But, what he had to say was also in the notebook given to all attendees. The Birds of a Feather meeting provided us an opportunity to introduce ourselves and state the names and places we are researching. Personally, I would have enjoyed more attendance >from people looking for my Shetl (Pinsk). The Belarus Luncheon was combined with Latvia and Lithuania. It was too big and not focused on Belarus. I would have preferred a Birds of a Feather and Luncheon combination. I attended "breakfast with the experts" every morning and found that to be a highlight. These were not focused on Belarus (but could have and should have been). These breakfasts and luncheons we attended were a great way to talk with other attendees. The exchange of information is invaluable. It would be a personal plus for next year's conference in Washington to schedule the Belarus SIG meeting at a different time >from the Romanian SIG meeting or for that matter any other SIG. They are important meetings to attend and so many of us have family >from more than one country. Aside >from the conference, I should take this opportunity to say that I am personally grateful to all those unselfish people such as Dave Fox and Edward Rosenbaum who make researching my family easier and more exciting. Alvin Holtzman Wilmette, IL inkwell177@aol.com researching: in Pinsk, HOLTZMAN, PERLOW, POLLAK,GLOBERMAN,ZARITSKY MODERATOR NOTE: It is not just the SIG that needs your donations, but JewishGen itself!!! More about this later.
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Belarus SIG #Belarus Belarus SIG at Toronto Conference
#belarus
inkwell177@...
Dave Fox asked for feedback regarding the Toronto Conference:
Most importantly, it must be recognized that Edward Rosenbaum did an outstanding job as the sole representative of the SIG staff at SIG meetings. And thank you Dave Fox for your videotaped presentation. I must mention that as soon as I returned home I sent in money to the SIG via jewishgen. Edward and Dave got the point across that a little money >from everyone in the SIG can make a big difference in terms of completing projects/translations and making the information and data available for all of us. They also made the point that the SIG is staffed with volunteers only. These are very giving people. They give give give to our benefit. Edward reviewed all the available SIG positions. I don't think I've seen them posted to this list serve yet. If you can't volunteer, give money. Edward's presentation of the SIG website was very well presented and very useful. Oleg's presentations were hard to listen to, unfortunately. But, what he had to say was also in the notebook given to all attendees. The Birds of a Feather meeting provided us an opportunity to introduce ourselves and state the names and places we are researching. Personally, I would have enjoyed more attendance >from people looking for my Shetl (Pinsk). The Belarus Luncheon was combined with Latvia and Lithuania. It was too big and not focused on Belarus. I would have preferred a Birds of a Feather and Luncheon combination. I attended "breakfast with the experts" every morning and found that to be a highlight. These were not focused on Belarus (but could have and should have been). These breakfasts and luncheons we attended were a great way to talk with other attendees. The exchange of information is invaluable. It would be a personal plus for next year's conference in Washington to schedule the Belarus SIG meeting at a different time >from the Romanian SIG meeting or for that matter any other SIG. They are important meetings to attend and so many of us have family >from more than one country. Aside >from the conference, I should take this opportunity to say that I am personally grateful to all those unselfish people such as Dave Fox and Edward Rosenbaum who make researching my family easier and more exciting. Alvin Holtzman Wilmette, IL inkwell177@aol.com researching: in Pinsk, HOLTZMAN, PERLOW, POLLAK,GLOBERMAN,ZARITSKY MODERATOR NOTE: It is not just the SIG that needs your donations, but JewishGen itself!!! More about this later.
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Re: latvia digest: August 16, 2002
#latvia
mike getz <mgetz@...>
My aunt was married into a family in South Africa with Blumenthal
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
affiliations in Libau. Mike Getz ---------- Moderator: Please reply privately -- mailto:mgetz@erols.com
----- Original Message -----
From: ourabey@juno.com----------------------------
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Latvia SIG #Latvia Re: latvia digest: August 16, 2002
#latvia
mike getz <mgetz@...>
My aunt was married into a family in South Africa with Blumenthal
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
affiliations in Libau. Mike Getz ---------- Moderator: Please reply privately -- mailto:mgetz@erols.com
----- Original Message -----
From: ourabey@juno.com----------------------------
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Re: Research Success Using www.google.com
#belarus
Andrew N Schwartz <anschwartz@...>
Several of you have written about using Google and other search engines to
find potential family members. I have done that, too, with much success. But let me tell you about another technique with search engines. I have my family trees on my personal web site in plain HTML format. (If you want to see one of them, click on http://home.earthlink.net/~anschwartz/personal/genealogy/freund/freund.htm ). This site has been picked up by Google and altavista (and possibly others.) About once a month, I get a family member writing me to either say hello and to express their pleasure at finding themselves via one of the search engines, or to provide additional information about new births or to offer corrections. I have also had family members contact me with information about HUGE gaps in my data; in one case, this led to an additional 50 names. So, remember that this powerful tool, the Internet, can be a two-way street. .... Andy Schwartz, researching ADASKIN (Belarus) and FREUND (Bohemia)
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Belarus SIG #Belarus RE: Research Success Using www.google.com
#belarus
Andrew N Schwartz <anschwartz@...>
Several of you have written about using Google and other search engines to
find potential family members. I have done that, too, with much success. But let me tell you about another technique with search engines. I have my family trees on my personal web site in plain HTML format. (If you want to see one of them, click on http://home.earthlink.net/~anschwartz/personal/genealogy/freund/freund.htm ). This site has been picked up by Google and altavista (and possibly others.) About once a month, I get a family member writing me to either say hello and to express their pleasure at finding themselves via one of the search engines, or to provide additional information about new births or to offer corrections. I have also had family members contact me with information about HUGE gaps in my data; in one case, this led to an additional 50 names. So, remember that this powerful tool, the Internet, can be a two-way street. .... Andy Schwartz, researching ADASKIN (Belarus) and FREUND (Bohemia)
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Need Help in NYC
#latvia
JeromeBe@...
Betsy Fleischman (JGFF #2318) is listed as looking for Lowenstein's in
Courland. When I wrote to her at the address listed, 33 Gold Street - Apt 503, the letter was returned to me unopened. Does anyone know Betsy Fleischman, or how to contact her? Any help would be most appreciated. Jerry Becker Bellevue Washington -------------------- Moderator: Please reply privately - mailto:JeromeBe@aol.com
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Latvia SIG #Latvia Need Help in NYC
#latvia
JeromeBe@...
Betsy Fleischman (JGFF #2318) is listed as looking for Lowenstein's in
Courland. When I wrote to her at the address listed, 33 Gold Street - Apt 503, the letter was returned to me unopened. Does anyone know Betsy Fleischman, or how to contact her? Any help would be most appreciated. Jerry Becker Bellevue Washington -------------------- Moderator: Please reply privately - mailto:JeromeBe@aol.com
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