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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JGS of Maryland April 29 program
#general
Speaker: Brooke Schreier Ganz
Title: "Reclaim The Records: Using Freedom of Information Laws for Genealogy" Date and Time: Sunday, April 29, 2018, 1:30 p.m. Location: Pikesville Library'?s meeting room, 1301 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD Please join us on Sunday, April 29, 2018, to hear Brooke Schreier Ganz present "?Reclaim The Records: Using Freedom of Information Laws for Genealogy." Tired of being told by archives, libraries, and government agencies that the genealogical records you want are "unavailable"? We were, too, so we figured out how to do something about it. We're Reclaim The Records, a new not-for-profit activist group of more than 5000 genealogists, researchers, historians, and journalists. We use Freedom of Information laws - and sometimes even lawsuits - to obtain copies of previously inaccessible archival record sets, which we then put online for free public use. We've won the first-ever public and online access to more than twenty million archival records, including the New York City marriage license index (1909-1995), the New York State death index (1880-1956), and the New Jersey marriage index (1901-2016), and we have an ongoing lawsuit for the Missouri birth and death index (1910-present), and more. This presentation will explain how we accomplished this, as well as the history and legal basics of Freedom of Information laws, and will teach researchers how to file requests for any records that may help their own family tree research. The program is free for paid members and $5 for non-members (applied to membership fee when a visitor joins JGSMD) after their first meeting. Refreshments will be available. Please check our web site at www.jgsmd.org for late updates and for the time, location, and program of future meetings. Susan Steeble Baltimore, MD JGSMD Public Relations
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen JGS of Maryland April 29 program
#general
Speaker: Brooke Schreier Ganz
Title: "Reclaim The Records: Using Freedom of Information Laws for Genealogy" Date and Time: Sunday, April 29, 2018, 1:30 p.m. Location: Pikesville Library'?s meeting room, 1301 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD Please join us on Sunday, April 29, 2018, to hear Brooke Schreier Ganz present "?Reclaim The Records: Using Freedom of Information Laws for Genealogy." Tired of being told by archives, libraries, and government agencies that the genealogical records you want are "unavailable"? We were, too, so we figured out how to do something about it. We're Reclaim The Records, a new not-for-profit activist group of more than 5000 genealogists, researchers, historians, and journalists. We use Freedom of Information laws - and sometimes even lawsuits - to obtain copies of previously inaccessible archival record sets, which we then put online for free public use. We've won the first-ever public and online access to more than twenty million archival records, including the New York City marriage license index (1909-1995), the New York State death index (1880-1956), and the New Jersey marriage index (1901-2016), and we have an ongoing lawsuit for the Missouri birth and death index (1910-present), and more. This presentation will explain how we accomplished this, as well as the history and legal basics of Freedom of Information laws, and will teach researchers how to file requests for any records that may help their own family tree research. The program is free for paid members and $5 for non-members (applied to membership fee when a visitor joins JGSMD) after their first meeting. Refreshments will be available. Please check our web site at www.jgsmd.org for late updates and for the time, location, and program of future meetings. Susan Steeble Baltimore, MD JGSMD Public Relations
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Kavarskas
#lithuania
Judith Singer
I would like to announce the formation of a Facebook group, "Jewish
History of Kavarskas, Lithuania and Surrounding Communities". If you have questions about an ancestor >from Kavarskas, Kurkliai or other nearby communities, or if you have relevant information or photographs you would like to share, I hope you will join us. Judith Singer CHARNEY / CHERNOFF / CHARNO >from Kavarskas
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Lithuania SIG #Lithuania Kavarskas
#lithuania
Judith Singer
I would like to announce the formation of a Facebook group, "Jewish
History of Kavarskas, Lithuania and Surrounding Communities". If you have questions about an ancestor >from Kavarskas, Kurkliai or other nearby communities, or if you have relevant information or photographs you would like to share, I hope you will join us. Judith Singer CHARNEY / CHERNOFF / CHARNO >from Kavarskas
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The Global Partisans' Song Project on South African National TV
#lithuania
This impressive 12 minute segment on the Global Partisans' Song
Project featured on SABC TV, South Africa's national television network, last Sunday: https://youtu.be/tnaCtuqVBgg There are many Jewish educators around the world with connections to either United Herzlia Schools in Cape Town or King David Schools in Johannesburg. Add to that the large percentage of Jewish South African migrants who attended these two schools. They must feel particularly proud of their Alma Maters that are engaging Jewish students to stand up and be proud and knowledgeable of their Jewish cultural heritage. We must not forget the significant contribution of the teachers and many students of the ORT schools in the FSU - the Former Soviet Union, who have participated. ORT schools in the FSU which have supported the program are in Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Lithuania and Estonia. The most prominent Jewish person who attended Herzlia School in Cape = Town is none other than the Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth, = Ephraim Mirvis. The Partisans' Song Project: http://elirab.me/zog-nit-keynmol/ Shabbat Shalom Eli Rabinowitz Perth Australia http://elirab.me
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Lithuania SIG #Lithuania The Global Partisans' Song Project on South African National TV
#lithuania
This impressive 12 minute segment on the Global Partisans' Song
Project featured on SABC TV, South Africa's national television network, last Sunday: https://youtu.be/tnaCtuqVBgg There are many Jewish educators around the world with connections to either United Herzlia Schools in Cape Town or King David Schools in Johannesburg. Add to that the large percentage of Jewish South African migrants who attended these two schools. They must feel particularly proud of their Alma Maters that are engaging Jewish students to stand up and be proud and knowledgeable of their Jewish cultural heritage. We must not forget the significant contribution of the teachers and many students of the ORT schools in the FSU - the Former Soviet Union, who have participated. ORT schools in the FSU which have supported the program are in Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Lithuania and Estonia. The most prominent Jewish person who attended Herzlia School in Cape = Town is none other than the Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth, = Ephraim Mirvis. The Partisans' Song Project: http://elirab.me/zog-nit-keynmol/ Shabbat Shalom Eli Rabinowitz Perth Australia http://elirab.me
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New Kaunas 1922 Household Census
#lithuania
Salinger Ralph
Perhaps the most exciting event of my period as Kaunas District Coordinator
is the great pleasure in announcing that the 1922 Kaunas Household Census has been posted to our Kaunas District Research Group site. It is a file with over 16,000 names detailing who lived where in Kaunas in 1922 ! If you are not a part of the Kaunas District Research Group and are interested in joining to see this incredible document. Please contact me and I will send you details of how to join our group. Ralph Salinger salinger@...
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Lithuania SIG #Lithuania New Kaunas 1922 Household Census
#lithuania
Salinger Ralph
Perhaps the most exciting event of my period as Kaunas District Coordinator
is the great pleasure in announcing that the 1922 Kaunas Household Census has been posted to our Kaunas District Research Group site. It is a file with over 16,000 names detailing who lived where in Kaunas in 1922 ! If you are not a part of the Kaunas District Research Group and are interested in joining to see this incredible document. Please contact me and I will send you details of how to join our group. Ralph Salinger salinger@...
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Re: Book on Jewish Belarus Genealogy
#belarus
Andrei Burdenkov <andrei.burdenkov@...>
For Belarus genealogy basics:
an interview with a guy >from Minsk archives who tells about sources, ways and terms of independent search. On my non-profit graves.by website there are links to archives and online resources though in Belarus many handy sources are offline. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lufCz3O_FF8&list=PLk8V5rzyfY17TCs-KtQBDhqBtBq699qfJ Andrei graves.by
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Belarus SIG #Belarus Re: Book on Jewish Belarus Genealogy
#belarus
Andrei Burdenkov <andrei.burdenkov@...>
For Belarus genealogy basics:
an interview with a guy >from Minsk archives who tells about sources, ways and terms of independent search. On my non-profit graves.by website there are links to archives and online resources though in Belarus many handy sources are offline. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lufCz3O_FF8&list=PLk8V5rzyfY17TCs-KtQBDhqBtBq699qfJ Andrei graves.by
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Book on Jewish Belarus Genalogy
#belarus
Marion Werle <werleme@...>
Yesterday there was a posting that erroneously suggested that Arlene
Beare's "A Guide to Jewish Genealogy in Latvia and Estonia" includes Belarus. It does not. The book focuses on exactly what its title states, namely Latvia and Estonia. Hope that helps. -- Marion Werle <werleme@...>
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Belarus SIG #Belarus Book on Jewish Belarus Genalogy
#belarus
Marion Werle <werleme@...>
Yesterday there was a posting that erroneously suggested that Arlene
Beare's "A Guide to Jewish Genealogy in Latvia and Estonia" includes Belarus. It does not. The book focuses on exactly what its title states, namely Latvia and Estonia. Hope that helps. -- Marion Werle <werleme@...>
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Re: Where is Kruk or Crook in Latvia?
#latvia
Carol Hoffman
If you look at the location of Kriukai on the map
https://www.litvaksig.org/research/map/, you can see that is very close to Latvia. In fact it is only 90 km >from Riga. Carol Hoffman President LitvakSIG
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Latvia SIG #Latvia Re: Where is Kruk or Crook in Latvia?
#latvia
Carol Hoffman
If you look at the location of Kriukai on the map
https://www.litvaksig.org/research/map/, you can see that is very close to Latvia. In fact it is only 90 km >from Riga. Carol Hoffman President LitvakSIG
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Re: Why is Susskind a kinnui for Alexander
#germany
Eva Lawrence
Realising that I knew very little about Alexander the Great, and rising
to the challenge, I consulted a few text books about his life. I found out that he married his second wife, a daughter of King Darius, at Susa, a town in Iran, north of present-day Alexandria (which my Atlas of Past times also calls Susiana) . So calling someone 'child of Susa' could have the implication 'child of Alexander', inheriting his success and nobility. Historically, I believe Susskinds were often prominent members of their communities; publishers and magistrates spring to mind. But I'm sorry to report, that I also suspect that the connection between Alexander the Great and and the word 'Sus' lies in his growing belief, also recorded in the Atlas, that he was a child of the Roman god Zeus. That this won't be acceptable to many members of the discussion group doesn't make it any less likely. Quite separately, picking up on a previous post, any doting mother can tell you that a happy child is a sweet child, though the etymology here is admittedly pretty dodgy. Eva Lawrence, St Albans, UK. eva.lawrence@...
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Thank you for post with links for Israel's Independence Day
#germany
Deb
Hi,
Thank you for sending the post with links in honor of Israel's Independence Day. I read Exodus in Jr. High on my own for free reading. I hope to look through the other links as well. I viewed video of the lighting ceremony but could only make out a few words- aliyah and olim, etc. My Hebrew is not quite toddler level. Shalom, Deb Albus, Fridley, MN, USA darnfloor42@...
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German SIG #Germany Re: Why is Susskind a kinnui for Alexander
#germany
Eva Lawrence
Realising that I knew very little about Alexander the Great, and rising
to the challenge, I consulted a few text books about his life. I found out that he married his second wife, a daughter of King Darius, at Susa, a town in Iran, north of present-day Alexandria (which my Atlas of Past times also calls Susiana) . So calling someone 'child of Susa' could have the implication 'child of Alexander', inheriting his success and nobility. Historically, I believe Susskinds were often prominent members of their communities; publishers and magistrates spring to mind. But I'm sorry to report, that I also suspect that the connection between Alexander the Great and and the word 'Sus' lies in his growing belief, also recorded in the Atlas, that he was a child of the Roman god Zeus. That this won't be acceptable to many members of the discussion group doesn't make it any less likely. Quite separately, picking up on a previous post, any doting mother can tell you that a happy child is a sweet child, though the etymology here is admittedly pretty dodgy. Eva Lawrence, St Albans, UK. eva.lawrence@...
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German SIG #Germany Thank you for post with links for Israel's Independence Day
#germany
Deb
Hi,
Thank you for sending the post with links in honor of Israel's Independence Day. I read Exodus in Jr. High on my own for free reading. I hope to look through the other links as well. I viewed video of the lighting ceremony but could only make out a few words- aliyah and olim, etc. My Hebrew is not quite toddler level. Shalom, Deb Albus, Fridley, MN, USA darnfloor42@...
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Need help locating a Birth certificate
#germany
robert.nathan@...
Hello German Jewish SIG,
I would like to have a copy of my fathers birth certificate and German passport. Robert Eugen Nathan was born in Frankfurt on Dec 11 1911. He immigrated >from Antwerp, Belgium on the ship Pennland, and arrived in New York City on June 7, 1937. Any suggestions? Thanks, Rob Nathan Seattle, WA robert.nathan@...
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German SIG #Germany Need help locating a Birth certificate
#germany
robert.nathan@...
Hello German Jewish SIG,
I would like to have a copy of my fathers birth certificate and German passport. Robert Eugen Nathan was born in Frankfurt on Dec 11 1911. He immigrated >from Antwerp, Belgium on the ship Pennland, and arrived in New York City on June 7, 1937. Any suggestions? Thanks, Rob Nathan Seattle, WA robert.nathan@...
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