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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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!
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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
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Sincerely,
The JewishGen.org Team
Renee Steinig
Responding to Tamara Hallos's request for photos from Mount Zion and Mount Hebron Cemeteries in Queens, Susan Beecher <s_beecher@...> wrote: <<The staff there are very willing to do this for you. My friend had them do this for her family members. I think they ask for a donation....>> Please be aware that this is not a good time to direct inquiries or requests to New York metropolitan area cemeteries, which are currently dealing with burials of Covid victims. Some have shortened their hours or close after the last scheduled burial of the day. Also, all cemetery offices are closed to visitors; only funeral directors are admitted. So should you plan to visit a cemetery, be sure to have grave locations and print out a map before leaving home.
A good source for maps is Steve Lasky's website:
http://www.museumoffamilyhistory.com/cp-maps-ny-nj.htm Grave locations are available on the websites of a number of NY area cemeteries: Beth Moses, Montefiore, Mount Ararat, Mount Carmel, Mount Hebron, Mount Judah, Mount Lebanon, Mount Zion, New Montefiore, Wellwood. Renee
Renee Steinig
Dix Hills NY
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Beth Long
Which Teszler is this? I see a Heinrich and a Zisman living in Cluj in 1924 (they were born in Visó)
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ViewMate translation request - One Yiddish and One Hebrew
#yiddish
#lithuania
#translation
Michael Herzlich
I've posted two handwritten notes for which I need translations.
One in Hebrew is on ViewMate at the following address - A second in Yiddish is on ViewMate at the following address - Please respond via the form provided on the ViewMate image page. The notes, on the back of photo cards are from the album of a person related to the following families from the area near Merkine Lithuania: SAPOKAITE, SAPOCKY, MERIKANSKY, MERIKANSKAS, BLOKH Thank you, -- Michael Herzlich Delray Beach, Florida USA Belarus - EPSTEIN, HELFAND, POLLACK Galicia (Poland, Ukraine) - HERZLICH, TREIBER
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Re: TRYING TO FIND FAMILY AND FIGURE OUT A PUZZLE
#general
malkikatz9361@...
Try FreeBMD.org,
There is an Emanuel Bernstein born 1900 coming up in Mile End which is that area. Also British Seaman would be registered and may have records in the UK national archives or contact the Naval archives at Greenwich London. Good luck, Malcolm Katz London
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shirantesler@...
Thank you so much, Peninah! I'll check the Baia Mare archives (can't remember if I have already) and the Facebook page.
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Re: Fisher Headstone Translation
#translation
Alexander was his secular name. There is no connection between the names. He could have been Eliyahu or he could have been Sender or some other variant of Alexander.
Chuck Weinstein chuck1@...
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Re: Fisher Headstone Translation
#translation
malkikatz9361@...
Hello David,
I agree with the Hebrew translation, but not the Alexander name adoption theory, my grandmother was surname Alexander and in Poland the surname Alexanderowicz going back to around 1800, Alexanderowicz simply means 'of Alexander', my understanding is yes it is a very Western name, but Alexander the Great was much admired by old time Jews as he was considered a friend and protector and many Jews in the 18th and 19th Century were name Alexander long before they came to Western countries. So would disagree Alexander is a Jewish name for some time. Regards, Malcolm Katz London
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Hello. I hope to find any records or information about my grandmother Matilda Torma (born 1886). The last information that I have is that she had a tailor shop in Sovata(Szováta) around 1936. She lived before in Cluj(Koloszvár).
I know that my grandmother Matilda was born in 1886 in Sântimbru/Csíkszentimre/Szentimre that belong at that time to the Csík County in the Kingdom of Hungary. Melinda Torma melinda_torma@...
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Re: Family Tree of the Jewish People
#general
rv Kaplan
Like Max Heffler, I have used Brother's Keeper for many many years. It's dependable, not gimmicky and does the job. Not great on the graphics or producing reports/trees for sharing with family. Often think of moving, but never got round to it. I use BK as the master copy of my tree, where I'm in full control. I also have versions of my trees on My Heritage - though never really update it - JewishGen FTJP (haven't updated that in a long long time) - and Geni. I have my trees on Geni in case someone contacts me, but if I turn my back, my trees get messed up by people adding duplicate siblings, and moving family members about, grafting them on to wrong parents or wrong partners. People seem to do this without any reference to me in advance, assuming their research is more accurate than mine. As a result, I am very hesitant about trusting Geni's information, without checking back on the sources if I can. I think the problem in sites such as MH and Geni is that people seems to love hoovering up tangential families. Doesn't interest me when MH keeps telling me it has a whole tribe relating to someone who married my 5th cousin. I could understand if it was generations ago and was in the same ancestral shtetl - when there may well have been common blood links - but nowadays, doesn't grab me. To each his own. Harvey Kaplan Glasgow, Scotland KAPLAN, FAYN, FEIN, FINE, BARSD, GRADMAN - Ariogala, Josvainiai, Kedainiai, Krakes, Seta, Veliuona, Grinkiskis, Lithuania FELMAN, MIL(L)ER, ROSENBLOOM - Kamenets-Podolsk, Shatava, Balyn, Ukraine TROPP, STORCH - Kolbuszowa, Cmolas,Galicia LINDERMAN, LINDEMAN, LOPATKA, SCHLACKMAN – Kutno and Plock, Poland
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Viewmate: Interpretation Wanted (English Medical Terms)
#translation
Rusty Wilson
I've posted a vital record in Polish for which I need a translation. It is on ViewMate at the following address ...
http://www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/viewmateview.asp?key=VM80755 Rusty Wilson
Rusty.Wilson1@...
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Re: Fisher Headstone Translation
#translation
Ury Link
Dear Genners
The only connection between the name Eliahu and the name Alexander are the leters Alef-Lamed
or in Hebrew אליהו and אלכסנדר
But ,what I don’t understand is that the name Elijahu and the name Alexander are Holly names,
“Shem Kodesh” שם קודש. It was usual to change a Holly name to a secular name that use the same first later
a sample: Abraham was changed to Albert, Moshe to Moris, Gershon to Gerhard and more.
Alexander sometimes was change to Sander,Sender, Axelrod,Zand, Zender and more names.
but this names are nor realy a chang of the name, the only shorted the origin name Alexander.
Best regards
Ury Link
Amsterdam
Holland
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Re: Mount Zion and Mount Hebron Cemetery, NY
#usa
Susan Beecher <s_beecher@...>
The staff there are very willing to do this for you. My friend had them do this for her family members. I think they ask for a donation. If you can't find someone to do it for you.
Susan
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
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Re: Family Tree of the Jewish People
#general
Peter Straus
I also want to put in a plug for Family Tree Maker in conjunction with Ancestry. One feature I like about both is, while in different ways, they allow one to be fairly rigorous in documenting sources, a key ingredient in genealogical research that many are careless about, but that becomes essential in reconciling the conflicting connections we have all seen. (That is also my most severe criticism of FTJP, which contains much undocumented—and inaccurate—information.) One severe shortcoming though of Ancestry alone is the inability to copy more than a single record at a time, while FTM allows copying trees in whole or in part in FTM or GED formats to make data available to other researchers—including source documentation. --peter straus San Francisco
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Re: Fisher Headstone Translation
#translation
tsvikaroz@...
Dear David,
The Hebrew inscription on this headstone is of the given name (Eliyahu) and name of father (Tsvi), without the surname. In many cases Jews in the diaspora adopt or given a non-Jewish first name, while keeping their Jewish first name (sometimes even in a non-formal way). My guess is that the name ALEXANDER is the non-Jewish name chosen due to some phonetic resemblance to Eli (which is the short form of Eliyahu). Q: "What name would Alexander use in any records found in the Pale of Settlement"? A: In case that ALEXANDER is a name added upon immigration, I would look for Eliyahu אליהו - Most likely = ILLIYA /ELLIYA or ELI (His father: Tsvi צבי = TSVI/ ZVI/ HIRSH/ HERSH/ GERSH/ /GERSHON/ GRISHA/ GREGORI) Good luck with your search. Tsvi ROZENBLAT Herzliya, ISRAEL
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Re: Family Tree of the Jewish People
#general
Max Heffler
I have used Brother’s Keeper shareware since DOS before Windows and later registered it. I get rapid bug fixes directly from the author. I use geni since there is one definitive profile for everyone, and I became a curator. I also subscribe to Ancestry and MyHeritage but there are too many trees with so many duplicates that it is hard to keep everything up-to-date. So I keep my local database and geni up-to-date and use Family Tree Maker with Ancestry and MyHeritage Family Tree Builder to download the those trees to my PC from time-to-time to resolve duplicates and remove people not directly connected, and then sync back up. They don’t have useful tools for doing this online, unlike geni. I stay essentially caught up with geni and MyHeritage matches. Ancestry seems to keep growing. I have more than 21500 hints as of last night…
From: main@... [mailto:main@...]
On Behalf Of peter.cohen via groups.jewishgen.org
Sent: Wednesday, May 6, 2020 1:58 PM To: main@... Subject: Re: [JewishGen.org] Family Tree of the Jewish People #general
In addition, the current version of Family Tree Maker includes the capability to convert you old format FTM data files to their current format. FTM includes the ability to synch to ancestry.com. My personal preference is to do my updates online on my ancestry.com tree and then periodically synch it to Family Tree Maker on my computer. This ensures that my data will always be current and available on ancestry, so if my computer hard drive crashed, all of my data is still out on ancestry. Having it local on my hard drive via Family Tree Maker, ensures that my data will not disappear if ancestry were to go bankrupt and shut down or if something happened to me and my family did not continue paying the ancestry subscription fees. There are free online family trees, such as GENI or familysearch.org. Personally, I find ancestry's hints and search capabilities set it above their free competition. They are by no means perfect and do not necessarily transcribe all of the records that they claim to have transcribed, but ancestry remains my go-to source. -- Web sites I manage - Personal home page, Greater Houston Jewish Genealogical Society, Woodside Civic Club, Skala, Ukraine KehilalLink, Joniskelis, Lithuania KehilaLink, and pet volunteer project - Yizkor book project: www.texsys.com/websites.html
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Re: Headstone Translation
#translation
Neil Kominsky
Naftali matches with Tzvi and Hirsch/Hertz because the symbol of the Biblical tribe of Naftali is a deer.
Neil Kominsky
Brookline, MA
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Translation of Polish marriage record
#translation
Kenneth Berger
I've posted a vital record in Polish for which I need a translation. It is on ViewMate at the following address ...
http://www.jewishgen.org/viewm Please respond via the form provided on the ViewMate image page. Thank you so much. Ken Berger
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Understanding Yizkor Book Master Name Index search
#yizkorbooks
krausj2@...
When I search the Yizkor Book Master Name Index for the name Fishler in the town of Gura, I get a single result:
FISCHLER, Moshe, Town of Gura Humorului, with the unexplained comment "soda water." This squares with what little I know of my g-g-grandfather, so I'd like to find more information. From what I understand, this suggests there is a record in one of the yizkor books, but I cannot locate anything more than this indexed mention. Might someone be able to point me in the right direction?
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Jewish Genealogy Society of Cleveland virtual meeting on May 13, 2020
#jgs-iajgs
#events
Join the Jewish Genealogy Society of Cleveland for a virtual program on
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
at 7:00 pm Getting Started as a Search Angel: Solving Mysteries to Reunite Families Presented by Robin Selinger Kent State physics professor and cantorial soloist Robin Selinger will discuss her volunteer work as a “search angel”. A member of the JGSC, Robin got started in family tree research as a hobby in 2007. As a search angel, she helps others locate long-lost parents, children and other family members. In just one year, she took on and solved three such cases including a woman whose father used a false name and disappeared when she was only four-years old. Robin discovered the father’s true identity and found two half-siblings who welcomed their long-lost sister into the family. Robin holds bachelor’s and Ph.D. degrees in physics from Harvard University and joined Kent State’s faculty in 2005. She serves on the Board of Directors of the American Physical Society. She also displays her musical talent as a cantorial soloist for Temple Beth Sholom in Hudson where aside from song leading at sabbath and holiday services, she teaches music on Sunday mornings at the religious school. This program is free and open to the public, but space is limited and preregistration is required.
To preregister, send an email message with your Name, Email address, and Zip Code, by clicking here: rsvp@...
After you register, you will receive an email reply with a link and password to allow you to join the meeting.
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Oster 1882 censuses now translated
#ukraine
#translation
Beth Galleto
Dear fellow researchers, Tax censuses (family lists) from Oster uezd (district) in 1882 have now been translated and transcribed as part of the Chernigov Gubernia Document Translation Project. The lists include 371 families with 289 surnames. I have extracted the surnames that appear in the translations and have attached the list to this email. The original pages can be seen online on the FamilySearch website in FHL film 1222346. These translations from Oster join previous translations from the Glukhov, Starodub, Konotop and Mglin uezds in 1882, from the same film. This work is possible because of generous donations from so many who are interested in records from the former Chernigov gubernia. Those who donate $100 or more to the Chernigov Gubernia Document Translation Project on the JewishGen website are eligible to view the completed spreadsheets before they are uploaded to the website. Please contact me privately with proof of your donation if you want to see any of the spreadsheets. All donations of any size are appreciated and will continue to advance the project. You can donate through the following link: https://www.jewishgen.org/jewishgen-erosity/v_projectslist.asp?project_cat=22 Our wonderful translator is continuing her work at an impressive pace. I am currently proofreading translations for the Borzna uezd in 1882 and will soon be able to announce that spreadsheet as well. After 1222346 is completed, there are five other films that will also be included in this project. The information from the translation spreadsheets will be uploaded to the JewishGen website at some point in the future. I hope you are getting a lot of online genealogy research done while we all are sheltering in place. Best wishes, Beth Galleto
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