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
|
Help Identifying a Location from an Ellis Island Passenger Manifest
#translation
#ukraine
#russia
#records
Hi
My ancestors came from Kyiv as well as from a number of towns south and southeast: Obukhiv, Trypillya, and Kaniv This family listed their place of birth as Kaniv however the clerk wrote on the Ellis Island Passenger Manifest wrote the below town for where they said they last lived (1908 manifest version). They had sailed from Rotterdam: I do not yet know what this says Could it be Zbermanow? However, I cannot find such a place online. Does anyone have any thoughts? Link on Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7488/images/NYT715_1136-0482?ssrc=pt&treeid=156469813&personid=212058743466&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.238662016.1439456344.1612624116-2043136628.1603646939&pId=4005920867 Ellis Island Link https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-details/czoxMjoiMTAxODIwMDUwMzE5Ijs=/czo5OiJwYXNzZW5nZXIiOw==#passengerListAnchor 
|
|
|
|
saraaadelson@...
I am looking for Reb Chaim Ozer's family tree. A cousin told me we are related and I would be interested to confirm this. If anyone has any information about this, I would love to hear from them
|
|
|
|
Researching about Rogovins immigrated to the USA from Minsk region, beginning of the 20th century.
#usa
#poland
#names
#photographs
#russia
elena-boldyreva@...
Good afternoon,
|
|
|
|
Ushitsa Voters List 1906
#ukraine
David Bickman
I have just recently read the 1906 Jewish Voters List for Ushitsa Raion, Podolia Gubernia, Russian Ukraine. I found several potential relatives on the list, but the list only lists names and occupations. There is no other information provided for any of the names on the list. Is there any other source that can be accessed to gain additional information about the persons whose names appear on this list, such as the actual town or village in which they reside, their age, names of other members of their families, etc.
|
|
|
|
mandy.molava@...
Hello
Would anyone know why brackets with another version the surname would be put on a gravestone before the surname, please? England - (Melover) Molava, Thanks in Advance Mandy Molava Researching Brest Belarus Russia Galacia
|
|
|
|
Family Search Riga & Uruguay
#latvia
Hannah
Researching the fate of my maternal grandparents surname Heyman from Riga. They had a son and three daughters. I do not have their first names or dates of birth. One of their daughters Dora Heyman Felsman was my grandmother. She lived in Ungar, Hungary and was murdered in Auschwitz in the summer of 1944. The other two daughters emigrated to Montevideo, Uruguay just before or during World War II. One daughter was named Ruth Heyman and she died in 1963 and is buried in Cementerio Israelita de La Paz in Montevideo. The other daughter married in Uruguay and I do not know her married name. She had three daughters. I also am seeking to connect with her daughters. Hannah Berkowitz Email briar33@... New York, USA
|
|
|
|
Re: Unusual name
#poland
#unitedkingdom
#names
Michael Sharp
מתת means gift or reward, from which the name Mattiyahu/Matthew is derived (= gift of the Lord)-- Michael Sharp Manchester UK michael.sharp@...
|
|
|
|
Re: Brooklyn Street name
#usa
Kenneth Ryesky
There is a Bond Street in Lower Manhattan, and a Boyd Avenue in the Bronx.
Possible suspect: Conflation of Brooklyn with Bronx -- Ken Ryesky, Petach Tikva, Israel kenneth.ryesky@... Researching: RAISKY/REISKY, ARONOV, SHKOLNIK(OV), AEROV; Gomel, Belarus GERTZIG, BRODSKY; Yelizavetgrad, Ukraine BRODSKY, VASILESKY; Odessa, Ukraine IZRAELSON, ARSHENOV; Yevpatoriya, Ukraine (Crimea)
|
|
|
|
FW: Translation of Marriage certificate for Pinkus and Bluma Lichtenstein
#translation
Mark Stone
Would anyone be able to give me a translation of the certificate attached.
It is the left hand page required.
Thanking one of you in anticipation,
With very kind regards
Mark Paul Stone
|
|
|
|
Viewmate Translation: Russian
#poland
#warsaw
#translation
kesspark@...
Please translate this letter on Viewmate:
https://www.jewishgen.org/ViewMate/responselist.asp?key=88364 Much appreciated. Nearing the end of my grandfather's letter collection!!! Thank you in advance for your help. Regards, Rachel Keiles Kessler Park NYC KEILES - Vilnius, Lodz, TSIGAR, TOBIAS, ASZ, ELEFAND - Vilnius, KESSLER - Starokonstantinov, LURIE - Dvinsk DUBIN(sky), NAGIN(sky) - Poltava, ALPERT, SACHS
|
|
|
|
Re: Brooklyn Street name
#usa
Susan&David
If you go to the Steve Morse One-Step Pages:
https://stevemorse.org/
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Navigate down to US Census (1790-1950) Select Large City ED Finder (1870-1950) Enter Year = 1900, State = New York, County = Kings, City or Town = Brooklyn Then scroll through street list. You will find no Boyd St., but you may find something close in spelling. David Rosen Boston, MA
On 2/8/2021 9:42 AM, agenet@...
wrote:
Does anyone know if there were a street named Boyd St. in Brooklyn in 1898? My g-grandfather, Nathan Sokol or Sakal, states that their destination upon arriving in NYC is 17 Boyd St., Brooklyn. Not being from NYC, I have no idea if such a street existed. He was spot on with other details of their immigration. I've googled the street name with no success.
|
|
|
|
Re: First name of Tsalko ??
#names
billie.stein@...
Tsalko, along with Tzalel and Tzalek, is a diminutive of Betzalel. In "the old country", the Tz was pronounced as Ch, and the English version is often Charles.
Billie Stein Givatayim, Israel
|
|
|
|
Re: Holocaust Database Announcement - Rovno, Poland Community Fee Contributions (February 1939)
#JewishGenUpdates
#announcements
#holocaust
Accessing any of JewishGen's databases is free. You need to register but there is no charge for a 1 field search in this or any of the databases. (A single field search includes surname, given name, town, etc.) You can start a search for this database within the Holocaust Database at https://www.jewishgen.org/databases/Holocaust/
The $100 contribution for "enhanced search capabilities" will permit you to do multiple field searches. (Multiple field searches permit you to search a surname and a given name, or a surname, town and a given name, etc.) Nolan Altman
|
|
|
|
Karen Heller Key
I had a great uncle called Alter, and I was told in my family that a child was called Alter when he was sick or premature as a baby, as a wish that he would survive, or grow older (alter). My great uncle had a given name but was always called Alter.
Karen Heller Key
|
|
|
|
Re: searching for family
#dna
Sarah L Meyer
Deanna, you need to do some genealogy on the names on your birth certificate. Also if you are on Facebook, there are a number of excellent Jewish and general genealogy groups that you can ask to join, including DNA detectives, Tracing the Tribe, DNA your Jewish journey, Genealogy with Jan and Nora, etc. It does sound like one of your two parents is genetically Jewish and probably either did not know it or chose to ignore it. Then you can work with your match list to see if you see matches that fit with George White or Irene Arrow. Right now you are concerned with your birth parents.
-- 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
|
|
|
|
The name Alter is a boy's name meaning "old". Alter was originally used as an epithet for the eldest when in the company of one with the same name. Jewish parents also used it for their sons who were born sickly or after the death of an older sibling in an effort to ward off death. Men who were called Alter or Zeidel from childhood, were carrying warding names designed to protect them. "This is not the infant you are looking for Angel, this is an old man."
Lisa Steinberg
Riverdale, The Bronx, New York
Researching:
Shatz/Shatzman and Toubis from Medzhybizh, Kamieniets Podolsk, Ukraine
Segal from Porchamowycz, Poland
Ackerman from Brichany, Khotin, Bessarabia
Kuperman from Yedinitz, Khotin, Bessarabia
|
|
|
|
Joseph Hirschfield
This is from Jewish Personal Names by Rabbi Shmuel Gorr:
"Alter is one of the amuletic names. If a male child died soon after birth or very young, the next born male child was sometimes given the name Alter alone, or in combination with another name. The parents, in giving the name, expressed their prayer that the newborn child should live to be an old man."
Joe Hirschfield
Portage, MI USA
Minoff, Minowitzki, Minowicki--Brest Livovsk, Wysoka_-Litovsk BELARUS
Hirschfeld, Herzfeld, Hirszfeld, Toppermann,Buxbaum, Buchsbaum--Skwarzawa, Gliniany, Sielec Bienkow-GALICIA
|
|
|
|
Brooklyn Street name
#usa
agenet@...
Does anyone know if there were a street named Boyd St. in Brooklyn in 1898? My g-grandfather, Nathan Sokol or Sakal, states that their destination upon arriving in NYC is 17 Boyd St., Brooklyn. Not being from NYC, I have no idea if such a street existed. He was spot on with other details of their immigration. I've googled the street name with no success.
I would appreciate any help. Adrien Gernsbacher Genet
|
|
|
|
Abuwasta Abuwasta
Initial Reports about a fire at the Krakow City Archive last Saturday.
http://krakowexpats.pl/news-from-krakow/fire-at-krakow-city-archive/?fbclid=IwAR3kG6ovrNV-foKSiZQhTR569dlsJGTrfKyQWtBoIjRcIF4lRKvxryYWyqA Jacob Rosen Jerusalem
|
|
|
|
Re: New Revision Lists found
#ukraine
#bessarabia
#records
Yefim Kogan
Hello Ron, thank you very much,
The problem though is that FamilySearch catalogue is not clear and in many cases not correct. Also according to their catalogue they have Jewish records only a handful of case, but in fact there are much more Jewish Records there. For these records which Deborah found there are no indication that there are Jewish records among them, and in fact we did find many Jewish records there. If you, by looking into FamilySearch found some JEwish Records, which are NOT on our List at JewishGen (Bessarabia Vital Records and Bessarabia Revision List), please let me know. All the best, Yefim Kogan JewishGen Bessarabia Group Leader and Coordinator
|
|
|