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.
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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.”
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Yes.
Can I still search though old messages?
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Send your questions to: support@JewishGen.org
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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: How to learn if an immigrant received US citizenship?
#usa
Stephanie LaRose Lewison
Does one need to be a citizen in order to have a social security number?
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Re: How to learn if an immigrant received US citizenship?
#usa
Someone who immigrated to the US in 1958 (assuming they were admitted on an immigrant visa) would be eligible to naturalize 5 years later (sooner if they were married to a US citizen). As long as they applied (filed their Petition for Naturalization) prior to 1990/1992 that petition would be filed in a court with jurisdiction over their residence.* This research for this time period is fairly straightforward.
First, you can start looking for the court record. By 1960 most naturalizations took place in Federal courts. Many Federal court records are at least indexed online (Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, etc.), though not all of them for the late 20th century. If not online, the records should be at the National Archives. If the immigrant lived in a rural area they still might have naturalized in a state or local court. In that case one should look to that locality for naturalization research guidance. Second, there is always the backup of a USCIS A-file. Any immigrant who arrived 1958 has an A-file which holds all their records, including the immigration visa records and copies of all the court naturalization records.
Marian Smith *If they were a member of the US military when they naturalized their records might be in a court with no relation to their residence. Also, if anyone applied for naturalization after 1990/92 all records are in the USCIS A-file.
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New Jersey Jewish Cemetaries
#usa
Dahn Cukier
Hi,
I am searching for my grandmother's grave I only know she died in October 1974, probably in the Bronx. I have been told she is buried in Southern NJ, but that may be a reference to south of NYC. QUESTION: Is there a complete list of Jewish cemeteries located in New Jersey? Dani Cukier When you start to read readin, how do you know the fellow that wrote the readin, wrote the readin right? Festus Hagen Long Branch Saloon Dodge City, Kansas (Gunsmoke)
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60 Minutes Program on Artificial Intelligence Preserves Ability to Converse with Holocaust Survivors
#holocaust
#events
Jan Meisels Allen
This evening, April 5, 60 Minutes, a -US based, CBS broadcasting system program did a segment on artificial intelligence having a conversation with Holocaust survivors who are no longer living. Based on the USC Shoah Foundation recorded testimonies, Heather Maio-Smith crafted the program with in the Shoah Foundation. She is now married to the Foundation’s director, Stephen Smith.
Both said in the interview there was “pushback” on the project except for the survivors themselves. The interviews take 5 full days each answering questions which are then put into the database so regardless of how the question is posed the correct answer returns.
So far there are 20 interviews including one US Army liberator.
If you did not see the program you can access it on CBS—at least in North America. Go to: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/holocaust-stories-artificial-intelligence-60-minutes-2020-04-05/
Jan Meisels Allen Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee
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New Issue of JewishGen News
#JewishGenUpdates
Nancy Siegel
Don’t miss the latest issue of JewishGen News. We hope you will find it to be informative and helpful to your research. This issue includes articles about:
We invite you to access JewishGen News by following this link: https://mailchi.mp/jewishgen.org/jewishgen-newsletter-april-2020 Nancy Siegel (San Francisco, CA, USA) Director of Communications JewishGen.org
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Thank you-Translation of documents in Russian
#translation
A big ‘thank you’ for your assistance re the translation of my family documents written in Russian. It was very much appreciated. Regards Ms Terry Ashton Melbourne, Australia
SEARCHING: PRASHKER: Kalisz, Poland/SZUMOWSKI: Gorki, Zdunska Wola, Lomza, Poland/WAJNGOT: Poland/WIERZBOWICZ: Gorki, Lomza/GOLDMAN: Blaszki, Poland/SEGAL/SEGALOVITCH: Vilnius, Lithuania/HOLTZ: Dvinsk
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How to learn if an immigrant received US citizenship?
#usa
fredelfruhman
I am trying to discover whether a great-uncle of mine, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1958, ever received US citizenship.
Any leads to how to research this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Wishing everyone a happy and HEALTHY Passover! Fredel Fruhman, Brooklyn, New York, USA
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Viewmate Translation Request
#translation
#russia
#poland
Greg Tuckman
Hello everyone,
I've posted 5 vital records in Russian for which I need a translation. All are from the city of Lublin, Poland. They are on ViewMate at the following addresses... 1. Birth Record of Hersz Josef TAUBENFEDER https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jewishgen.org%2Fviewmate%2Fviewmateview.asp%3Fkey%3DVM79209&data=02%7C01%7C%7C73bf2823317b46f0bd4108d7d9a5c171%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637217178241938161&sdata=FB2nh03Mj%2BxBBh%2B2GxoAfo4ivYEzg8dx4uzdTYcYeYE%3D&reserved=0 2. Birth Record of Mates Lejb ROSSET https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jewishgen.org%2Fviewmate%2Fviewmateview.asp%3Fkey%3DVM79210&data=02%7C01%7C%7C275edf4ce69f493ef8c508d7d9a5c7a1%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637217178345600915&sdata=jGQFpYWVAy%2FL%2FI7rDOeAg6B88OQ0XHzVyzsBNL60mC0%3D&reserved=0 3. Birth Record of Towja ROSSET https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jewishgen.org%2Fviewmate%2Fviewmateview.asp%3Fkey%3DVM79211&data=02%7C01%7C%7C6f9bf91b8ca84ebaed7f08d7d9a5cc9a%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637217178428739212&sdata=j2XJkdkE03DKtuaneEPCjI2PDZyGDyCfhSbiqoMdF5M%3D&reserved=0 4. Death Record of Unnamed GOLDMAN https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jewishgen.org%2Fviewmate%2Fviewmateview.asp%3Fkey%3DVM79212&data=02%7C01%7C%7C879675ba4bb3430d400708d7d9a5d1b7%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637217178514786590&sdata=1x%2BkLkAqYFNUCRc7hx%2FRLTlDPc9u7vhhvIGlzJw535A%3D&reserved=0 5. Marriage Record or Bannes: ZYLBERWAJS - GLIKMAN https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jewishgen.org%2Fviewmate%2Fviewmateview.asp%3Fkey%3DVM79213&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbb536ef199f74714157d08d7d9a5d6da%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637217178601016431&sdata=c9Xa%2BxQY2EBF8QsReHrAgcOL2k9QlSPCrxE58D9oaKg%3D&reserved=0 Please respond via the form provided on the ViewMate image page. Thank you very much. Greg Tuckman Phoenix, AZ
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EXTENDED: MyHeritage Offering Free Access to All US Census Records on MyHeritage Through April 12
#announcements
#events
Jan Meisels Allen
MyHeritage has extended its free access to US census records through April 12. https://www.myheritage.com/research/category-1100/us-census Follow the directions below from the first announcement.
Jan Meisels Allen Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee
Marking the decennial US census, MyHeritage is offering free access to searching and viewing all their U.S. Census collection March 29th until April 5th, 2020. They did not place a time zone cut off time so I would guestimate Central time. To access the records go to: https://www.myheritage.com/research/category-1100/us-census
Fill out the name, birth residence information and search. Be aware that due to those who keyed in the names into the database not being familiar with some of the names there will be misspellings. Once you find the record you want there is a transcribed record of the information. Scroll down to the image of the census. If you click on the orange “save record” above the image it takes you to save it on MyHeritage. However, if you prefer to save it to your own computer, right click on your mouse and then when the list of options appears you can click save image as to your computer and save it to the file you prefer.
To read more see: https://blog.myheritage.com/2020/03/free-access-to-all-u-s-census-records-on-myheritage/
Remember to fill out your census form on line by April 1st! Go to https://my2020census.gov/ and use the key code you received in the mail.
I have no affiliation with MyHeritage and am posting this solely for the information of the reader.
Jan Meisels Allen Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee
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Re: Auschwitz Survivors
#germany
#holocaust
#announcements
Erica Fox Zabusky
Peter - I may be able to help, but I would need info on how to access the database and how to enter the information. I'm a bit swamped right now til the end of April, but I would have time in May, if that's helpful. I lived in Hamburg for 11 years, never made it to Schwerin, so can also read/write German, if that's helpful.
In the meantime, Chag Pesach Sameach to you and your family, Erica in Pittsburgh, PA -- Erica Fox Zabusky ZABUSKI - Czestochowa, Sochaczew FRYDMANN - Sochaczew BRAUN, PANKOWSKI - Czestochowa FIKSEL, RUDMAN - Izaslav, Slavuta, Odessa, Kharkov POLISZUK, GOLDMAN - Izaslav, Slavuta
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Re: Hebrew Book - (Rodelheim Press was Dyhernfurth, Silesia)
#germany
sylvia@...
Many of the siddurim of GermanJews were printed in Roedelheim,
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The Cholera Pandemic in Galicia
#austria-czech
#poland
#galicia
Stephen Denker
Several years ago, I searched 19th Century Jagielnica vital records for my Denker and Geller families. There were usually less than 100 deaths per year. Then I noticed a disturbing change. By 1865 the total number was about 300 - most caused by Cholera.
Why?
During the 19th Century, Cholera had spread across the World from its original source - the Ganges River delta in India. Six subsequent pandemics killed millions of people across all continents. Deaths in India, in three pandemics between 1817 and 1860, were estimated to have exceeded 15 million people. During the next three Indian pandemics between 1865 and 1917, another 23 million died.
The fourth Cholera pandemic (1863-1875) spread to Europe. During the Austro-Prussian War (1866), Cholera is estimated to have taken 165,000 lives in the Austrian Empire. The same year 1866, Cholera claimed 90,000 lives in the Russian Empire.
Cholera deaths in the Russian Empire during this entire period exceeded 2 million.
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Re: Auschwitz Survivors
#germany
#holocaust
#announcements
Sovtah
Peter,
I'm not clear on what needs to be done. Please explain. My grandmother, for whom I am named, was killed in Auschwitz as were many other members of our family. I would like to help but I need to understand the scope of the work. (Ms.) Siddy Rosenberg
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Brickwall for my Great Grandfather Simon David
#galicia
wdsalumni86@...
Good day to my fellow Jewishgenners (in isolation). I am a longtime JewishGen member, but a first time poster. I have hit this brickwall many times and my expectations are set fairly low on results. The help I seek is for my, Great Grandfather, Simon David. I have his death certificate. The certificate identifies his parents as Joshua (Osias) David and his mother as Brana Bernice David (born Rigger Riegra). From his manifest, I am confident Simon and my great grandmother were Galician. The only confusing part was a man who entered the US before Simon who gave his name in reverse, a David Simon (DS). This wrong person has created confusion for Ancestry Hints. My Heritage seems to not regard DS as does FindMyPast. The manifests I use for Simon David line up with all of his Censuses in the US. They are his Border Crossing from Canada into the US in St. Albans. Arrival Jan 4, 1900. Shipname, Lake Superior. Residency, Austria and overwritten Galicia, not Gworin. The prior page confirms line 17 as his Galicia. Also the relative meeting him there is his brother in law. Herman Goldstein who married Etel (Ettie David). His wife, my great grandmother is identified from Wiznitz. Miriam (Marjein) Yetta David. His cousins and other relatives all come from Solotwina, Bursztyn, Wiznitz and possibly Bohorodchany. Thank you for any help you can offer. I am mainly looking for where in Galicia, what Town and to go further back. Stay safe, stay healthy and stay inside. Researching: David (Dawid), Feuer, Yasner, Polsky, Sheinhorn and Glasser Also researching on mothers side: Bender, Burstein and Wolf
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Re: Overdose of quinine
#general
#holocaust
hlevinemd@...
Quinine has been used as an anti-malarial drug since ancient times. It was so used throughout Western medicine after the 1850s. However, it was also sometimes used to treat diarrheal conditions, and Bromo-Quinine was marketed as a cold remedy that was available through the 1950s.
It has, as we say in medicine, a "narrow therapeutic window," meaning that it is easy both to under-dose it and to therefore make it ineffective, and also to overdose and create severe and sometimes fatal side effects, mainly on heart rhythm. Because it was available without prescription by a doctor, it was unfortunately easy for a lay person to take too much. Sorry for your grandfather's fate. Henry S. Levine, MD
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IGRA “Show & Tell” Free Zoom Session April 13 Billion Graves
#jgs-iajgs
#events
Elena Bazes
The Israel Genealogy Research Association (IGRA) continues its free “Show & Tell with IGRA” ZOOM series. The next session will take place on April 13th. The topic will be “How to Use the Billion Graves Website”. Each session of “Show & Tell with IGRA” demonstrates a different topic. Some will be connected specifically to IGRA, while others will demonstrate how to use other websites or applications – hands on topics you can immediately make use of on your own. The session will take place on April 13th at 9 pm Israel time (2 pm EDT, 11 am PDT) and will be approximately 30-40 minutes. There is no need to register in advance. “Show & Tell with IGRA” will be open to those who connect to ZOOM with the following meeting code. https://us04web.zoom.us/j/441922416 We will do our best to record these sessions and make them available on our website. Sessions in English will continue to take place weekly on Mondays. The same topic will take place in Hebrew on Wednesday evenings 21:00 Israel time. IGRA wishes you a Happy and Healthy Passover. Elena Biegel Bazes IGRA Publicity Chair
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GINN-SEREFSKY
#lithuania
raf3838@...
I am researching my maternal grandmother, Zelda Ginn, and her parents, Zalmon Ginn and Sara Serefsky. Her alien Registration file provides no information. other than her entry port (NYC). I can not find a vessel etc. I did locate her brother's family in Denver, Co. We discover a Zalmon Ginn on another family tree on Ancestry.com but the moderator claims that it is not the same Zalmon Ginn. I have tested at 23andme and ancestrydna.com with hits. I have a family tree at Ancestry.com. My maternal grandfather, Samuel Grass, also came from Kaunas, Kauno Miesto Savivaldybe, Lithuania. I have been able to trace his ancestors.
any suggestions. Robert A. Faneuil 62 Noanett RD Needham, MA 02494 raf3838@... 617.775.3838
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FAINER-ROTTMEN
#ukraine
raf3838@...
I am researching for my grandfather, LEIZER (ELIEZER DOV BAR) FAINER, and his parents, BARNET DOV BER FAINER AND FEIGA ROTTMEN (ROTTMAN). His declaration papers indicate that he came from either Wolyn(Volyn) & Sherbowitz(maybe Czernowitz). His naturalization papers say that he came from Hamburg Germany on the ship Pennsylvania. I can not locate the ship or the passenger lists. I have a family tree at Ancestry.com. I have tested at 23andme.com and ancestrydna.com. No information/no relatives/no contact. Any suggestions. Nee
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Re: Hebrew Book - (Rodelheim Press was Dyhernfurth, Silesia)
#germany
sfalkjd@...
I don't know what the original question was, but Rodelheim was (is) a town near Frankfurt a/Main with a prominent Hebrew printer. Dyhrenfurth (now Brzeg Dolny) was a town near Breslau (now Wroclaw) which also had a prominent Hebrew printer. They are not the same place, even if the same books were published in both places.
All the best, Stephen Falk
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Major update to the Russian WWII database
#ukraine
#russia
#announcements
boris
An article on the Russian-Ukrainian (non-Jewish) genealogy blog yesterday described the update and provided hints on its use by English speakers.
The URL is https://lostrussianfamily.wordpress.com/2020/04/04/major-update-to-wwii-database-honors-75th-victory-anniversary/
A couple of observations.
The 25 million records were added not yesterday, but most likely in previous several months. Most, if not all archives in Russia and Ukraine are closed now because of the Wuhan2019 virus pandemic.
It appears that the https://pamyat-naroda.ru/ web site combines data from several other databases, e.g. obd-memorial, which listed only those who were killed or MIA.
A very important addition to the database is the collection of 1985 award records of the surviving War veterans. There are no scanned images of the original documents, only the database records. In the early 1985, The Supreme Soviet passed the law to award all living war veterans with the Order of Patriotic War. For a number of people whose other records were misplaced or lost during the war this may be the only paper trail available to genealogists.
Thus, about two months ago we discovered a record of a man whose fate was unknown to his relatives in the West all these years after the war. (This was a 100% match: misspelled but recognizable name, correct birth date and birthplace). We suggested the genealogist to write to the archives asking for the man’s 1985 address so his family could be contacted, but the archives are closed now and we don’t know what has happed to that inquiry.
Upon reading the article, we reopened a “cold case” of a man, who was presumably executed by the KGB after the war and for whom no documents were ever found. His name showed up in the same 1985 record collection. (Partial match: same name, unknown patronymics, birth year is off by one, same birthplace). Again, the possibility to locate this man’s 1985 address, hence his family is real.
Stay well everyone! Happy Passover Boris Feldblyum boris@...
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