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: Update to the Family Tree of the Jewish People
#JewishGenUpdates
ifolkson@...
You still must submit a new file
Iris Folkson
|
|
|
|
Re: Update to the Family Tree of the Jewish People
#JewishGenUpdates
ifolkson@...
To prevent any errors in the 100 year rule I would suggest you privatize your file before submitting
Iris Folkson
|
|
|
|
Re: Al Lederer
#announcements
#germany
John Anderson
I am saddened to hear of Al’s passing. He was a 4th cousin of mine, but I felt a closer kinship to him due to the many years we collaborated on the MILIUS line, our common ancestral connection.
John Anderson, Orlando, Fl
|
|
|
|
Re: Update to the Family Tree of the Jewish People
#JewishGenUpdates
Beth Erez
Hi Avraham I think that you are doing a wonderful job and I am sure you know it is greatly appreciated but it is always nice to hear it again. I am writing because I have found a major error in a family tree and did not quite know how to deal with it. The tree I am referring to is at https://www.jewishgen.org/webtrees/individual.php?pid=P67&ged=1_602079_u.ged and I have highlighted in the pdf attached the entire incorrect branch of the tree. Someone must have attached a different Joseph Mendelsohn to our Mendelsohn tree. The rest of the tree is correct but the Joseph branch is incorrect - our Joseph Mendelsohn looks as follows: and is confirmed in many ways but here is the 1880 census information and attached is a pdf of the accurate descendants of Moses (Morris) and Leah Ellen (nee Goldberg) Mendelsohn. I would appreciate assistance from someone at JewishGen to have the tree on your site corrected. thanks Beth Erez Hod Hasharon, Israel
On Sat, Oct 10, 2020 at 12:16 AM Avraham Groll <agroll@...> wrote:
|
|
|
|
Re: Looking for the origins of my family
#general
mvayser@...
Hello Davya,
The name of the city was Elisavetgrad, not Elizabetgrad. It was a regional center of the Elisavetgrad uezd (county) in the Kherson province. The city was recently renamed from Kirovograd to Kropyvnytskyi. JewishGen hasn't changed the name on the website, so be sure to use "Kirovograd" as the search term.
Archangelskaya/Arkhangelskaya (feminine version of Archangelskiy/Arkhangelskiy) is a based on Arkhangelsk, a town in the western part of the Elisavetgrad uezd, which is now known as Novoarkhanhelsk (New Arch Angel) Kirovohrad, Ukraine: https://www.jewishgen.org/Communities/community.php?usbgn=-1041993
Novoarkhanhelsk, Ukraine: https://www.jewishgen.org/Communities/community.php?usbgn=-1048149
Ukraine SIG - Yelisavetgrad (Kirovograd): https://www.jewishgen.org/Ukraine/GEO_town.asp?id=26
Ukraine SIG - Novoarkhangelsk: https://www.jewishgen.org/Ukraine/GEO_town.asp?id=39
Mike Vayser
|
|
|
|
Re: Looking for the origins of my family
#general
mvayser@...
Mary Ann,
There are definitely Russian words with double O, but in this case the spelling of the last name is to convey Russian pronunciation - S-loot-ski. Slutski is an alternate transcription, but has a negative connotation in US and incorrect pronunciation. If pronounced following the English language closed syllable rules, "lut", rhymes with "but", however that is not the correct sound for this name. Slutsky is one of many Ashkenazi last names that are based on geography. Slutsk was a regional city in Slutsk uezd (county) of the Minsk province, in what is now Belarus. In 1897 71% of the population was Jewish. Mike Vayser
|
|
|
|
Viewmate translation request from Yiddish
#yiddish
#translation
#belarus
Beth Erez
I've posted a brief letter written to my grandmother's brother Avrum from their brother Yudel for which I need a translation. It is on ViewMate at the following two addresses ...
https://www.jewishgen.org/view https://www.jewishgen.org/view Please respond via the form provided on the ViewMate image page. Thank you very much. This would be quite helpful. In addition, please let me know if you have any idea as to the year this might have been written. Beth Erez Hod Hasharon, Israel
|
|
|
|
Re Translation Request (Russian) - Pages of Testimony from Yad Vashem
#translation
Beth Erez
Have you noticed that the key elements of the Russian document are translated by Yad VeShem? It is often overlooked.
I looked up Ita Ainbund as an example and this is what it has written (yellow highlight is mine): Good luck Beth Erez Hod Hasharon, Israel
|
|
|
|
Al Lederer
#announcements
#germany
Ralph Baer
I was informed by his son, Philip, that genealogist Al Lederer, a retired professor at the University of Kentucky, passed away on October 4.
Al and I shared an interest in the former Jewish community of Forchheim (Landkreis Forchheim, Bavaria) as well as the cemetery in Baiersdorf (Landkreis Erlangen-Höchstadt, Bavaria) which served Forchheim, Baiersdorf and other nearby communities. He was instrumental in seeing that the cemetery documentation was completed. He also led the effort which resulted in Rolf Kießling of Forchheim receiving an Obermayer German-Jewish History Award in 2013.
|
|
|
|
(Netherlands) Secret Register of Released Prisoners
#records
#photographs
#announcements
Jan Meisels Allen
Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (BHIC) digitized and indexed the Secret Register of Released Prisoners, Geheim Register van Ontslagen Gevangen, which was kept from 1882 to 1896. There are 1,700 prisoners in the registers. The register included photographs, personal details, and overview of crimes of the prisoners who would be released in the upcoming month even though they were still considered dangerous. The register was sent in the form of a monthly journal to the procurators-generals of the courts and the district attorneys. In later years, it was also sent to the military police and police commissioners in larger municipalities. The contents were kept confidential so that the released prisoners could try to find a decent place in society again.
The website is: http://www.bhic.nl/onderzoeken/geheim-register-van-ontslagen-gevangenen It is available in Dutch and English.
To search, enter a name and press “zoek” [search] or click on “ga naar uitgebreid zoeken” [go to advanced search] for more options:
Alle velden [all fields] Achternaam [last name] Voornaam [first name] Geboorteplaats [place of birth] Periode [period] t/m [to]
To read more about the archive see: https://www.dutchgenealogy.nl/source-secret-register-of-released-prisoners/
Thank you to Yvette Hoitink, CG who posted this information on her newsletter, Dutch Genealogy, https://www.dutchgenealogy.nl/
Jan Meisels Allen Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee
|
|
|
|
Re: Looking for the origins of my family
#general
Mary Ann Evan
Davya, the earlier suggestions to look for death certificates and passenger manifests are really excellent.
Regarding other spellings of the name, I had a few thoughts. 1) I'm assuming that your family came from Eastern Europe rather than Germany or Austria. I haven't seen any Slavic language that uses a double "o" in the middle of a word. I think the original spelling is more likely to have a "u" instead of the double "o". Another possibility is an "o" with an accent (ó), which would also have been pronounced like the English "ooh." 2) If they lived in Poland or in areas in Belarus or Ukraine that might have been part of Poland at the time, the ending "tsky" was almost certainly "cky" as the letter "c" in this word would have been pronounced like "ts" in English. 3) Also, and this is really a long shot, if at some point the name used the Polish spelling, the second letter could be different. The original may have started with "Sł" where the "ł" is pronounced like a "w" in English. More important, when indexing is done by people who don't speak the language of origin, this "ł" is often transcribed as the English "t," and so you might also keep an eye out for names starting in "Stu" in the indexes of passenger manifests or other documents indexed by Americans. Mary Ann Evan
|
|
|
|
Dolginovo research assistance
#belarus
arkadyka@...
Hi Everyone, Details:
|
|
|
|
Friends/Relatives of Ben Davis (Binyamin Devenishki) and Miryam Rabinovich, Dieveniskes. Lithuania and Houston, Texas
#lithuania
Adam Cherson
These are part of a series of high-definition photographs obtained from town residents, for identification.
Year: various: from 1900-35
|
|
|
|
Re: Update to the Family Tree of the Jewish People
#JewishGenUpdates
Max Heffler
Lorraine, One method is to use MyHeritage’s free Family Tree Builder to sync your tree to your PC and then export the GEDCOM that can be uploaded into FTJP
Max Heffler, Houston, TX
From: main@... [mailto:main@...]
On Behalf Of lorraine meehan via groups.jewishgen.org
Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2020 4:05 PM To: main@... Subject: Re: [JewishGen.org] Update to the Family Tree of the Jewish People #JewishGenUpdates
My family tree is on MyHeritage.com. How do I upload it to JewishGen?
-- 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
|
|
|
|
Re: Looking for the origins of my family
#general
The Becker's Email
Have you obtained Joseph's and Kate's death certificates? Hopefully the informant(s) were there children who may have supplied info on where, in Russia they were from.
Johanna Becker Newport, RI
|
|
|
|
Linda Higgins
Has anyone in Canada heard of a deceased Rabbi named Gerstein?
|
|
|
|
Re: Discovered possible (probable?) Jewish roots in Colonial USA
#unitedkingdom
#usa
#sephardic
Sherri Bobish
Albert, Found on GoogleBooks: The County Court Note-book - Volumes 1-5The court orders payments to the wives of certain recruits from Frederick County. March court 1779 (From the records of the county court) Mrs. Levy, wife of David Levy; six children. The records states that the above men were soldiers in Col. Weltner's regiment. You might try contacting NARA to check if there are surviving records of his Revolutionary War service. https://www.archives.gov/research/military/american-revolution Regards, Sherri Bobish
|
|
|
|
Sherri Bobish
Amy, Looks like Israel BACH submitted naturalization papers in Maryland in 1938. Ancestry.com has the papers, including a photo of Israel BACH. Israel gives a home address in Baltimore, but says that his wife and children live in St. Louis. Regards, Sherri Bobish
|
|
|
|
Re: Update to the Family Tree of the Jewish People
#JewishGenUpdates
lorraine meehan
My family tree is on MyHeritage.com. How do I upload it to JewishGen?
On Fri, Oct 9, 2020 at 5:17 PM Avraham Groll <agroll@...> wrote:
--
|
|
|
|
Re: ViewMate translation request - Hebrew
#slovakia
#translation
kassells@...
Hi Dave,
I'd like to relate to one aspect of the epitaph which, to my knowledge, belongs to Hungarian tradition only. The line which says :Sh[em] i[mo] Yudit i. e. the name of his mother was Yudit. Sephardic Jews often mention the name of the mother of the deceased in the same line as the name of the father. Most Ashkenazi Jews do not mention the mother at all. In Hungary (in that aspect Slovakia is a country of Hungarian culture for the Jews) there is this special formula: His/Her mother was.... I asked a number of persons about the origin of this formula and could not obtain a satisfactory answer. The only suggestion that I couldn't check that this custom started with Neolog jewry. I would appreciate comments from the group on this question Best regards, Laurent Kassel Moreshet Israel
|
|
|
