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
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ViewMate translation request - Russian
#translation
#russia
#poland
jaskinnon@...
Please may I request a translation from Russian (full, literal please) of a Wyszkow Death record. The original document is on ViewMate at the following address:
https://www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/viewmateview.asp?key=VM95750 Please respond using the online ViewMate form. Many thanks, Jeff A Skinnon
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ViewMate interpretation - Romania
#bessarabia
#romania
#translation
jaskinnon@...
The attached inscription is written on the back of my grandparents' wedding photo. Finesilver is my grandfather's family name .. he was born in Bessarabia. I cannot decipher or recognise the next word. I am hoping it could be the town of his birth. A picture of the back of the photo is on ViewMate at the following address:
https://www.jewishgen.org/view Can anyone who knows this part of the world venture a guess as to the meaning of the middle word or (even) name? Please respond using the online ViewMate form: Jeff A Skinnon
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Debbie Brown
Hi Siggers. My mother was born 1919 in Mandok, Hungary, to Mendel and Bertha Jakobovits. I believe she had a first cousin, Ernest Jacobs, living in the UK in 1961. I’m hoping to find his decendents. Ernest’s father could be the son of, one of these three brothers, of Mendel. They were all born in Repedea Romania, between 1881/1893.
The last name at that time was spelled Jacobovits. The brothers are , Hersh, Mojse, and Marko. These birth records are the only records of these men that I have found, other than Mendels marriage record. These birth records, are in the Romanian Archive. Of course I would love to know anything more about all of them and other descendents, but I doubt any of them survived the Holocaust. I would appreciate any help and guidance. Regards, Debbie Klein Brown Hungary, Braun, Klein, Jakobovits, Weiman, Grosz
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I am working with three different families, descendants of three people we believe may be related, possibly siblings:
• Lizzie Dickler / Leah Schwartzstein (1851-1925) • Sam Schwartz / Solomon (Samuel) Schwartzstein / (1861-1952)
• Joseph Schwartz/ Joseph Schwarzman / Josef Schwarzstein (1867-1921).
Available records report fathers' names as Manis, Munish, Moyshe, or Emanuel. Home town locations reported are Tarnowke, Ternifke, Tirowken, Ternovsky (pointing to Ternivka, Ukraine). We've identified more than 35 of their descendants who match each other through DNA testing. We're trying to identify other descendants and place them either in one of these trees or other potential branches. We encourage anyone who believes they might be related or have been linked to other Schwartzstein descendants to upload their DNA results to GEDMatch and join our Schwartz / Schwartzstein / Schwarzman ancestor project. (Go to https://www.gedmatch.com/, login in, find Ancestor Projects under free tools and search "schwartz" see our entry). We have engaged a professional genetic genealogist to review the tests and data we've collected so far.
If you have questions, feel free to contact me privately. Thanks,
Lee Jaffe Surnames / Towns: Jaffe / Suchowola, Poland ; Stein (Sztejnsapir) / Bialystok and Rajgrod, Poland ; Joroff (Jaroff, Zarov) / Chernigov, Ukraine ; Schwartz (Schwarzman?, Schwarzstein?) / Ternivka ; Koshkin / Snovsk, Ukraine ; Rappoport / ? ; Braun / Wizajny, Suwalki, Poland, Ludwinowski / Wizajny, Suwalki, Poland
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ViewMate translation request - Polish
#poland
#translation
Greg Tuckman
Hello everyone,
I've posted a vital record in Russian and Polish for which I need a translation of the Polish. It is the marriage record of Izrael Szyja BLUMENSZTOK and Chaia UNFLAJS. The actual record is in Russian, but the writing in the left margin is Polish and I would like to know what it says. It is on ViewMate at the following address ... https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jewishgen.org%2Fviewmate%2Fviewmateview.asp%3Fkey%3DVM95689&data=04%7C01%7C%7Ccd0c4b767d8847d704d808d997171c5e%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637706947782260226%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=Zx7sNIOxb71L%2FizbTG8ZVB2B%2FFUV6RiL0aPoQB9L5DQ%3D&reserved=0 Please respond via the form provided on the ViewMate image page. Thank you very much. Greg Tuckman Phoenix, Arizona USA
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ViewMate translation request - Russian
#translation
#poland
#russia
Greg Tuckman
Hello everyone,
I've posted 4 vital records in Russian for which I need translations. They are on ViewMate at the following addresses ... 1. Birth record of Chaia UNFLAJS: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jewishgen.org%2Fviewmate%2Fviewmateview.asp%3Fkey%3DVM95690&data=04%7C01%7C%7Ca72bf3865a6e44e3f71808d99717204f%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637706947850531642%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=q9ISk%2F2cNuqdGosc88zuG0dls0PZCAGiIs%2BJNLJ%2FI%2Fk%3D&reserved=0 2. Marriage record of BLUMENSZTOK - UNFLAJS: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jewishgen.org%2Fviewmate%2Fviewmateview.asp%3Fkey%3DVM95688&data=04%7C01%7C%7C4c2a9c9bf24745741c9208d997171ab9%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637706947760202682%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=n4OMR%2Bd36QVYdyzWtCEO2xZbca77verk94teRW4N3hQ%3D&reserved=0 3. Marriage record of CUKIERMAN - GIERTLER: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jewishgen.org%2Fviewmate%2Fviewmateview.asp%3Fkey%3DVM95683&data=04%7C01%7C%7C616f7d1958e44ecb1bf708d9971718f1%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637706947724352943%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=qkBSQIkAC2tNAh%2FatOo7cq53EGs9Uk1wL3G2JkET3c0%3D&reserved=0 4. Death record of Izaak Wolf BLUMENSZTOK: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jewishgen.org%2Fviewmate%2Fviewmateview.asp%3Fkey%3DVM95652&data=04%7C01%7C%7C72ad73211f2b4c91069e08d99716ef56%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637706947025457519%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=9psyxWMy8gg9285xA6qVxTa4z%2FFzxh96lgXcyrYnAFg%3D&reserved=0 Please respond via the form provided on the ViewMate image page. Thank you very much. Greg Tuckman Phoenix, Arizona USA
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Re: Argentina birth record needed
#latinamerica
#records
George Muenz
II hired Andres for research on families I did not know existed, and he was successful. Highly recommended
Andres Rodenstein VitalRecords.com.ar Av. Cabildo 66 - 1426 Buenos Aires - Argentina Phone +5411 4978 3581 info@... -- George (Naftali) Muenz Vancouver, Canada
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The Jewish Genealogy Society of Colorado presents Jennifer Mendlsohn "No You Don't Really Have 7,900 4th Cousins: Getting Started with Ashkenazi Jewish DNA"
#dna
The Jewish Genealogy Society of Colorado presents Jennifer Mendlsohn "No You Don't Really Have 7,900 4th Cousins: Getting Started with Ashkenazi Jewish DNA" Please Remember that Daylight Savings Time has Ended. Sunday November 7, 2021 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM Mountain Time Schmear, Schmooze, and Share 10 AM to 12:00 PM Program 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM Schmear, Schmooze, and Share Program starts promptly at 10 AM On Zoom DNA has the potential to be an essential and exciting genealogical tool. But many Jewish testers find their DNA results completely overwhelming and unnavigable. Based on the popular 2017 article that has garnered over 110,000 views, this talk will help those with Jewish heritage learn to make sense of their DNA results. We’ll cover why our match lists are so large, (hello, endogamy!), why all our matches seem to match each other (endogamy, again!), and how to spot the meaningful matches and separate them from the faux ones. Using real-life examples of DNA success, you’ll learn techniques that will help you learn to work effectively with DNA to expand your tree. Jennifer Mendelsohn is a seasoned journalist and ghostwriter whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time, People, Slate, and USA Today. A native Long Islander now based in Baltimore, Mendelsohn serves on the board of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Maryland and is the administrator of Facebook’s Jewish genetic genealogy group. A member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, she is the creator of the movement known as #resistancegenealogy, a project that uses genealogical and historical records to fight disinformation and honor America’s immigrant past. A veteran of many successful unknown parent searches, she was featured in the 2019 bestseller Inheritance by Dani Shapiro. Her work has received international media attention, including being featured on CNN.com, The New Yorker, The Washington Post and Yahoo News.
Free for members of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Colorado To become a member please go to JGSCO.org $5 for guests Please register at JGSCO.org Ellen Beller JGSCO President
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Naftali from Sveksna
#lithuania
estherahr@...
Tomorrow is Naftali's 97 birthday. Naftalai is one of the 6 people from Sveskna, Lithuania that suvived the Holocaust. He now lives inSydney Australia with his wife Hana.She comes from a Shtetl near Svevksna ; but her family went to Australia before the Holocaust. Ihave ben corcspomnding with them for quite a few yeas and feel asif they are may family.Perhaps? I am so interested in Sveksna and wrote about it and organized a website for the Sveksna that was, for my Grandfather -Zacharia Marcus came from there.
Esther (Herschman)Rechtshafner, Kibburz Ein-Zurim, Israel
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Possible descendancy from Reb. Chaim of Volozhin
#rabbinic
Yonatan Ben-Ari
A deceased greatuncle of mine wrote a note stating that his maternal
grandmother was a descendant of Reb Chaim of Volozhin. I've checked several published trees and have not found any mention of her. There are family lore that we may be connected through R' Chaim's son (Itzaleh)'s daughter who married a LANDAU. According to published biographies, the LANDAU couple died relatively young during Itzaleh' lifetime . Again according to family lore, Itzaleh took our ancestress to her marriage canopy as her parents had died. My (above) great great grandmother was Sarah Hinde (Schatz?) who married Shlomo KANTOR of Pinsk. When Shlomo passed away suddenly, she made aliya to Jerusalem with their 4 orphaned children. The son, Chaim Dov, became well-known as the Mashgiach of the Yekev (wineery) in Zichron Yacov. My great grandmother married Yacov Gedalia SCHECHTER of Jerusalem. I would be happy to hear from anyone knowledgeable as to Reb. Chaim's tree if they could confirm the above. From what I have learned, another sister of Chaim Dov married ROSTOWSKI, who seems to have been a descendant of Reb. Chaim's brother, Shlomo Zalman. Its possible that my greatuncle was confused by the fact that his mother's sister's husband was connected to the Volozhin family. Tia. Yoni Ben-Ari, Jerusalem
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Re: Argentina birth record needed
#latinamerica
#records
Liliana Weintraub
You can try here https://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/tramites/solicitud-de-partidas# if the person was born in Capital Federal. The page has instructions about how to proceed. However, it might take time and not always do they do a proper research in their archive.
Good luck!
Liliana Weintraub - Buenos Aires
Argentina
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Publishing a Family History Book
#general
David Cantor
A short while back, a member sought help with regard to publishing a family history book of some 600 pages. I cannot remember who it was and I have been over zealous in clearing out my emails.
On reflection, there were many comments including my own about the hazards of self-publishing and I have been wondering if the original poster gave up heart or took the advice to take up the offer from Nina Schwartz. Either way, it would be good to know the route taken (I may have missed it) If the project is still in limbo, this is what I would do. This list is not exhaustive but it is the basis for a framework 1. Break down the project into manageable segments - perhaps 4 or 5 separate editions - you decide. 2. Put the relevant files into separate folders on your computer, Edition 1, Edition 2, etc, etc - have a robust backup regime. 3. Get the BookWright free software from Blurb and watch their tutorials. 4. Practice on Volume 1 until happy with the result. 5. Create a low-resolution PDF file for proofing - this is unsuitable for printing. 6. There is no commitment until the book is uploaded to the Blurb web site, if you are still not sure, the draft will be deleted after a shortish period but you will still have the project on your computer. 6. Decide on the cover type and paper quality (go for the best you can afford). 7. Before ordering the book, it's possible to purchase a high quality PDF that could be printable at home but I see no point in this unless to distribute digitally at low cost to family members. 8. Look for discounts on the Blurb web site, they are frequent and can range from 25% - 30% and occasionally higher. 9. Order a copy of volume 1 and if happy - proceed to Volume 2 and so on. A reasonable level of computer literacy should be adequate to achieve excellent results. If all this fails, hire a grandchild or Nina Schwartz I hope this is of use to the original poster and anyone else contemplating a similar exercise. I used Blurb for a similar but much smaller project and was delighted with the result David Cantor
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Re: Argentina birth record needed
#latinamerica
#records
Janet Furba
Ask by a written letter the civil birth, dead, marriage registration bureau of the place.
Janet Furba, Germany
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Re: What name is this on a ship manifest?
#translation
crystalbrown3431@...
I concur with the other commentaters-Gerson.Compare the first letter of the name with the "g" in Hamburg on the ship's manifest at the top of the page.
Richard Brown Glastonbury, CT
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Re: Argentina birth record needed
#latinamerica
#records
Yoni Kupchik
Argentinian citizens with a DNI number can request a digital copy of a birth/death/marriage record that took place in the city of Buenos Aires through this site - https://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/tramites/solicitud-de-partidas. One needs to know the exact spelling of the last name, otherwise they will not find it. It costs 650 Pesos (about 7 USD).
Yoni Kupchik
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JGS of Greater Boston November Zoom Programs
#announcements
#events
#holocaust
#names
Jessie Klein
Nov.7 1:30-3:30pm EST-Sallyann Amdur Sack – What You Need to Know About Jewish Family Names. Free for JGS of Greater Boston members, $5:00 for non-members. Information at www.jgsgb.org Nov. 21 1:30-3:30pm EST-Samuel Kassow – Time Capsules Under the Rubble: The Ringelblum Archive in the Warsaw Ghetto. This program is co-sponsored with Hebrew College. It is free and open to the public, but people who are not JGS of Greater Boston members are asked to register at www.jgsgb.org.
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Re: Argentina birth record needed
#latinamerica
#records
Barbara Ellman
Civil Registration records for Buenos Aires are not online.
The info file on Jewish Gen has information on the requesting of records https://www.jewishgen.org/InfoFiles/argentina.html I had tried once to order a record from the US, but was unsuccessful. I finally paid a researcher to get me the record I needed. I wish you luck. -- Barbara Ellman Secaucus NJ USA HASSMAN, SONENTHAL, DAUERMAN, LUCHS - Drohobycz, Ukraine HIRSCHHORN, GOLDSTEIN, BUCHWALD - Dolyna, Ukraine HIRSCHHORN, STEIN, CAPLAN - Entre Rios & Buenos Aires, Arggentina ELLMAN, COIRA, MAIDMAN - Minkovtsy, Ukraine KAGLE, FASS - Ulanow, Poland
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Re: What name is this on a ship manifest?
#translation
Susan&David
Looking at the handwriting on this and other pages of the manifest
leads me to agree with name Gerson.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
David Rosen Boston, MA
On 10/23/2021 6:21 PM, Diane Jacobs
wrote:
Husband’s name looks like Gerson.
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Upcoming Programs from the Jewish Genealogy Society of Pittsburgh
#announcements
#jgs-iajgs
#events
Steve Jaron
Hello All - wanted to pass along some reminders and announcements from the Jewish Genealogy Society of Pittsburgh.
On October 31st at 1pm Eastern (US) The Jewish Genealogy Society of Pittsburgh will be hosting "Ask The Experts" with Tammy Hepps, Caitlin Hollander, Jarrett Ross, and Michael Waas for our International Jewish Genealogy Month / Family History Month Program. The deadline to register in order to submit questions ahead of time has passed however there may be time for additional questions at the end. Anyone who has registered by the October 15 deadline has been sent a Google form to submit their question to the panel.
Registration will remain open until the time of the program.
Cost for this virtual program is $10 USD for non-JGS of Pittsburgh members and Free for members.
Please visit the event page for our panelists bio's and areas of expertise.
On November 14th at 11am Eastern (US) join us for our program with author Jess Wieble - “Dead Letters: Delivering Unopened Mail from a Pennsylvania Ghost Town”
On assignment for a small-town newspaper in rural Pennsylvania, rookie reporter Jessica Weible meets Joan Swigart, a creative fireball and “pioneer in print.” As the two women forge a relationship based on their passion for storytelling, Joan reveals a mystery that she had discovered years ago, but had never solved—a pile of dead letters found in an abandoned general store, just before it was torn down. Joan gives Jessica the letters, each stamped and dated over a hundred years ago, and encourages Jessica to investigate the untold stories of the people and places contained in each one.
Among the letters is a correspondence in Yiddish, which connects to a web of Jewish stories in Pittsburgh.
This program costs $5 per person. It’s free for Jewish Genealogy Society members. Please register online.
This is a hybrid program. Attendees can participate either online or in-person at the Heinz History Center. In-person attendance will be limited to the first 20 people who register. Social distancing will be enforced. Depending on public health conditions at the time of the program, we may revert to all-virtual format and send updated instructions to all registrants. Attendees in person will get a chance to see the actual letters.
On December 12th at 1pm Eastern (US) join us for our program with professional genealogist Janette Silverman - “Written in Stone: When Gravestones Lie” As genealogists, we depend on gravestones to give us at least basic information about a decedent: name, for example, and perhaps years of birth and death. What happens when the gravestone doesn’t match other documents – how do you discover the facts? How do you interact with a cemetery to find graves when the gravestone isn’t in their database?
Dr. Janette Silverman is a professional genealogist, heading a team of researchers specializing in Eastern European and Jewish research at AncestryProGenealogists® the division of Ancestry® that does private client research. Her research on behalf of clients takes her all over the U.S. and Europe. Silverman holds a Doctorate in Jewish Studies from Spertus Institute. Her dissertation, “In Living Memory” explored her family’s journey from Europe to the U.S. from the 1880s to the 1920s, contextualizing their experiences.
Please visit the event page for more information and to register. This program costs $5 per person. It’s free for Jewish Genealogy Society members. Please register online.
https://www. For more information about the Jewish Genealogy Society of Pittsburgh please visit our website Thank You Steven Jaron JGS of Pittsburgh President
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civil registration mihalyfalva
#records
rachel leshem
Hello Sarah,
Do try the Municipality- population registry offices. I'll try to get the exact name & address from an acquaintance there. Sincerely, Rachel Leshem.
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