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
Re: "His name was changed at Ellis Island"
#names
Barbara Mannlein <bsmannlein@...>
They wed AFTER going thru immigration, not before.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
|
|
Re: "His name was changed at Ellis Island"
#names
Barbara Mannlein <bsmannlein@...>
The grain of truth? It was easier to say “It was changed at Ellis Isand” than to tell how, when and where it was changed.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
|
|
Re: "His name was changed at Ellis Island"
#names
Sarah L Meyer
Yes I have a similar story, My paternal great-grandfather bought papers to escape the Czarist conscription from a man with the surname Meyer. He came here with the name Fishel Meyer (that is the name on the Hamburg manifest)-in 1884. His father's name was Josef Perchik. Now I know that Fishel came from Odessa, but it appears that he stopped in Kovno on the way to Hamburg. And many years ago, when we moved to Seattle, my mother(z"l) was introduced to a Mrs. Wexler - who said that her maiden name was Meyer, could they be related. My mother told Mrs. Wexler this story - and Mrs Wexler responded that she had forgotten - they had the same story. So I would conclude that who ever sold my great grandfather these papers - was making a bundle selling papers. I would not be concerned about the paperless Goldbergs - they may not have had the same first name- or the names may have been taken from those of the same age, who had died, the same way that identity theft used to be done here, before all the electronic technology.
-- Sarah L Meyer Georgetown TX ANK(I)ER, BIGOS, KARMELEK, PERLSTADT, STOKFISZ, SZPIL(T)BAUM, Poland BIRGARDOVSKY, EDELBERG, HITE (CHAIT), PERCHIK Russia (southern Ukraine) and some Latvia or Lithuania https://www.sarahsgenies.com
|
|
Re: "His name was changed at Ellis Island"
#names
Bob Bloomberg
But according to a large number of people, immigration officials did not write down anyone's name--they simply checked their name off on the ship's manifest. But it seems to me that the multitudinous family stories of name changes at Ellis Island must contain some grain of truth in them.
|
|
Re: "His name was changed at Ellis Island"
#names
Jules Levin
I assume these were not shotgun marriages with the officials holding the shotgun. Absolutely no one is claiming that people could not resolve to use, and begin using, a different name voluntarily, while still standing on Ellis Island. The popular argument was always understood to mean that officials gave people new names. Perhaps you have had some legal training. Legal language is not the same as ordinary speech, as it is normally understood. Jules Levin
-----Original Message-----
|
|
Re: "His name was changed at Ellis Island"
#names
Susan&David
I have a record of one of those marriages. The story of the arrival
and the marriage was written up in the June 2012 issue of :
"MassPocha" the Newsletter of The Jewish Genealogical Society of
Greater Boston. The marriage cert says:
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
I _____ do hereby certify That on the 22nd of May 1912 At the City Hall in the City of New York I duly performed the MARRIAGE CEREMONY between Mr. Jacob F.... of Ellis Island and Miss Eva W.... of Ellis Island etc. Signed and Sealed. David Rosen Boston, MA
On 6/28/2020 10:36 PM, Stephen
Weinstein via groups.jewishgen.org wrote:
To be a smart ass, I would like to respond as follows to everyone claiming that absolutely no names whatsoever were ever changed at Ellis Island:
|
|
Re: "His name was changed at Ellis Island"
#names
Jules Levin
Most European immigrants came from places where more than one language was spoken; most people, even average people, knew more than one. This was not unusual even in the US in the 18th and 19th Century. A German newspaper published in the US had the largest circulation in America. The Irish immigrants who arrived from the 1840s spoke English as a second language. My grandfather from Shaky in Lithuania certainly spoke Lithuanian as well as Yiddish. Since his wife only knew Russian and English, I assume he also knew one or both. Typical American monolingualism is the exception in human societies, not the norm. Of course, no one official spoke 40 languages, although I personally know a polyglot who claims that many. Jules Levin
-----Original Message-----
|
|
Leslie J. Eisenberg
Hello,
I've seen Adel for Ida in my family tree.
|
|
Re: Looking for Polish woman who jumped off train to Auschwitz
#holocaust
#poland
Phil Goldfarb
There is a tailor named Sherman Ray (original name Sasha Rajko) in Tulsa, OK who along with several of his friends escaped the train in Poland and hid in the woods for a year. One of the friends had frostbite so they brought him into the ghetto for treatment where they were captured again. His parents and siblings were in the same boxcar with him and would not leave or jump out . They later died at Auschwitz as I found their records for them at Bad Arolson. When he was captured, they sent him to Auschwitz and the only reason why he survived is because he tailored all of the Nazi's clothing. He is 99 years old, still exercises every day (when the gym is open), a good friend of mine, and JUST RETIRED by closing up his shop due to Covid 19 virus. He is sharp as a tack and has spoken to our JGS several times in the past. If you want to hear his story, he was recorded on Voices of Oklahoma: https://www.voicesofoklahoma.com/interview/ray-sherman/
Regards Phil Goldfarb President, JGS of Tulsa
|
|
dm11204@...
My grandmother from Kobryn's name on her ship manifest was "Chaje" - she was known as Ida.
My mother-in-law who was a survivor from Hungary/Czech's Hebrew name was "Aidel" - she was also known as Ida.
|
|
Jewish Genealogy Society of Cleveland virtual meeting on July 8, 2020
#jgs-iajgs
#announcements
The Jewish Genealogy Society of Cleveland's
|
|
Re: Robinn Magid appointed Assistant Director of JRI-Poland
#announcements
Mazel Tov on the appointment of Robinn as JRI Assistant Director. I cannot imagine anyone with greater expertise and compassion to serve in this position, and know we will all benefit by her work.
|
|
Viewmate Translation Request - Russian
#translation
Greg Tuckman
I've posted a vital record in Russian for which I need a translation. It is on ViewMate at the following address ...
Marriage Record of Boruch Mordko WEJSBLECH and Chaia FRYM: https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jewishgen.org%2Fviewmate%2Fviewmateview.asp%3Fkey%3DVM82708&data=02%7C01%7C%7C41c63209707d4da0c53f08d81bb08771%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637289792276520986&sdata=m6UXFKPelcr9gAMQO%2Bkr8lVAK9QHVrz3LudMLzRaw7Q%3D&reserved=0 Please respond via the form provided on the ViewMate image page. Thank you very much. Greg Tuckman Phoenix, Arizona USA
|
|
Re: Looking for Polish woman who jumped off train to Auschwitz
#holocaust
#poland
dszeidman@...
Hello Marilyn,
Thanks for writing. I don't know if she was the only one to escape in that car. If you know this woman, or for that matter, anyone else who escaped on the way to a concentration camp in Nazi Germany, please let me know. I woud like to add to the information I have gleaned about a few of the 700 or so survivors, many of whom are nameless. Best regards, Dale Zeidman
|
|
wenglenski virginie
Hello,
I am looking for my great grandfather who immigrated (with wife and child) from Poland (Lodz) to France (Paris) in 1913. I suppose you needed a passport to cross the borders. Do you know if there are records of passport applications and where they can be found?
I also want to know how my family made the trip between Lodz and Paris. They had no money. Do you know the route usually taken and the means of transport used?
Thank you and have good day.
Virginie Wenglenski
|
|
Re: Looking for Polish woman who jumped off train to Auschwitz
#holocaust
#poland
dszeidman@...
Hello Rich,
Thanks for writing about your cousin through marriage. I admire her determination and courage in surviving for two years by the "skin of her teeth" in Nazi Germany, and it is wonderful that she went on to live a "long and satisfying life." I am adding the information to the stories I've learned about a few of the 700 or so survivors who were able to jump from concentration camp-bound trains. It is sad that so many of the people who jumped remain nameless. It is good to know that she is a witness to what happened so many years ago -- so the world will never forget. Sincerely, Dale Zeidman
|
|
Re: Looking for Polish woman who jumped off train to Auschwitz
#holocaust
#poland
dszeidman@...
Hello,
Thanks for sharing your story. I will add it to my knowledge of how more than 700 people survived the trains to concentration camps. I regret that so many will forever remain nameless. Has this information been shared with Yad Vashem? I know they would appreciate receiving it. I would like to hold onto your information. It is too important to forget. Sincerely, Dale Zeidman
|
|
Re: "His name was changed at Ellis Island"
#names
Diane Jacobs
This would be most likely after going through the formal inspection and those marriages should be recorded in the NYC marriage indexes. Diane Jacobs Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message -------- From: "Stephen Weinstein via groups.jewishgen.org" <stephenweinstein=yahoo.com@...> Date: 6/28/20 10:36 PM (GMT-05:00) To: main@... Subject: Re: [JewishGen.org] "His name was changed at Ellis Island" #general #usa There were "hundreds of immigrants were married on Ellis Island" (https://blog.eogn.com/2018/03/23/webinar-married-at-ellis-island-single-women-and-immigration-1892-1924/). Since married women didn't keep their maiden names in those days, unless the bride and groom already had the same surname before they married (which is possible, but not common), each woman who got married at Ellis Island would have changed her name there -- to her new husband's surname. This, I hope, will resolve the question conclusively and bring the argument to an end -- but I don't think it will. -- Diane Jacobs, Somerset, New Jersey
|
|
Re: German translator needed
#translation
janllb@...
On Sun, Jun 28, 2020 at 03:39 PM, <luau_2000@...> wrote:
I found the Grundbuck (land registery) for my great grand parents from Zemschen Bohemia, now Tremesne in Cz Republic. Looking for person to translate these German records. Thank you. FlorenceDo you have a source for finding old Grundbuchs that you can share? Especially interested in Berlin, Leipzig, Cottbus areas mid 1800’s through pre WWII. Many thanks, Janyce Jan Lastman, Toronto ON CANADA. Janllb@... ——————————————————————————————————————————- Researching: LASTMAN and LASTMANN w/origins in HOLLAND late 1600s then => Lublin early-mid 1700s. By early-mid 1800s there were LASTMAN/N branches => Łódź, Radom, Warsaw, Szydlowiec and Ostrowiec, POLAND and Leipzig and Breslau, GERMANY My LASTMAN branch relatives married in 1800s and early 1900’s to KLAJMAN, KAUFMAN, LEDERMAN, KAC, CUKIER, STROSBERG, WAJCHANDLER/WHITE, TYSZLER, ZYLBERSTEIN, KUTCHINSKY/KUTNER, DAVIDSON (was MANDELSBERG), DAVIS, BURACK, BORENSTEIN, HERSHENHORN etc... then => Toronto and Rio de Janeiro in early 1900s. Plus LASTMAN/Ns who remained in Europe but survived the Holocaust => France, Israel, Australia, Sweden, NYC and boroughs, LA, New Orleans etc. ——————————————————————————— Also researching: —MADELSBERG that somehow became DAVIDSON while still in Ostrowiec POLAND (!), immigrating as DAVIDSON => Toronto, Montreal, NYC and Detroit, most EARLY 1900s pre WW1 — SINGER / ZYNGIER from Janow Poldaski POLAND => Toronto and possibly Columbus OH all pre WW1 married to SCHAFER / SHAFIR from Linitz now Illinits UKRAINE (Russia) => Toronto and Detroit and possibly Columbus OH all pre WW1 All listed on Rapoport-Quint Family Tree on MyHeritage https://www.myheritage.com/site-family-tree-69044942/rapoport-quint or contact janllb@...
|
|
Re: New Translation of Memorial Book of the Sventzian Region in Lithuania just published
#lithuania
Can you please tell me if this book covers Adutaskis, a small city within the gubernia of Swencionys and some of my ancestors (KRAWATZ, KRAVITZ, KRAVETS...and many other variants of this name)? If so, I will gladly place an order.
|
|