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Searching: POSNER
#general
WBH <wazza@...>
I am looking for the family of Woolf POSNER, my great grandfather.
Woolf and his brothers and sisters lived in High Street Kensington in the 1860's approx. Woolf b. 1861 Jacob (Father) b. 1829 Poland Theresa (Mother) b. 1831 There must be present day relatives out there. thanks Wayne Hodges
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Abbreviations
#general
Eve Line Blum <blume@...>
from time to time, on the LitvakSIG, we can see abbreviations such as FYI,or SASE, or ASAP. Please, could you think of us, poor ignorant foreigners (grin... as would say our Moderator), who don't always know these acronyms ? I'm beginning to be used to, after having asked here and there, but many friends of mines goes on asking me about that special English (or American) coded language... Moreover, I've read about it in Jewishgen rules (since Jewishgen is hosting LitvakSIG), #3 Queries and Replies : 3.4 (excerpt)Many thanks in advance for your understanding. PS : For the ones who don't know about the above abbreviations : FYI = For Your Information SASE = Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope ASAP = As Soon As Possible Eve Line Blum Besancon (France)
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Searching: HECHTs from Chicago
#general
yaacovi
I am searching any information about the descendants of Rachel & Moses
HECHT who came >from East Prussia to Santa-Monica, and >from there to Chicago, where they opened a shoe store. The HECHTS had 7 children, of which I know about a son -called Irving, who worked at his father's shop, a daughter called Gertrud, who married David MEYER, they had 2 children, one of them Richard MEYER, lives probably at Rockville, Maryland. There was a daughter too- Rose, who married a LEAVITT and she had a daughter named Bernadine who lived in California. Rina Yaacovi yaacovi@netvision.net.il
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SURNAMES
#general
Daniel Wagner <Cpwagner@...>
About once a year I post an updated list of names I research. This is
that time of the year.... Thanks for any help. Daniel BAUM (BOIM) - Wyszogrod; Konskie; Bedzin; Lodz; Brussels ELBINGER (ELWING)(ELWINGER) - Lodz GOLDBERG - Ustilug GOTHEIL (GOTTHEIL)(GOTHAJL)-- Lodz HERSZKOWICZ (GERSZKOWICZ) - Zdunska Wola & Lodz KACZKA - Zdunska Wola & Lodz KENIG (KONIG) - Bedzin KRELL -- Warsaw KRONENTAL - Warsaw KUMETZ -- Konskie LANGER - Zdunska Wola & Lodz PATRON - Warsaw POTAZNIK (POTASZNIK)(PTASHNIK)(POTAXNIK) - Zdunska Wola & Lodz RECHTDINER -- Lodz, Warsaw RYTEN (RITTEN) - Lublin & Ustilug SILBERKASTEN (ZILBERKASTEN)(KASTEN) -- Warsaw STAL (STAHL) - Warsaw WAGNER - Zyrardow & Warsaw WAJSKOP -- Warsaw ______________ H Daniel Wagner Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot 76100, Israel Tel: +(972) 8 934 2594 Fax: +(972) 8 934 4137 E-mail: cpwagner@wis.weizmann.ac.il http://www.weizmann.ac.il/wagner MODERATOR'S NOTE: Although the above list exceeds the normal restrictions of 6 lines for surname lists, this contributor does NOT include a list in each individual posting therefore we are allowing it.
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World War 2 Draft Cards
#general
Bert Lazerow <lazer@...>
Here is what I have discovered about World War 2 Draft Registration Cards.
Between October 1940 and March 1947, almost 51 million men registered for the draft. Men were obligated to register if born between 1877 and 1929. These registrations, which were recorded clearly on 5 x 8 cards, contain useful genealogical information. They ask for the age, date of birth, city and state of birth, contact person, home address and phone, work address, exact height, weight, type of complexion, color of eyes and hair, and any identifying scars and marks. However, not all these lines were completed. Only 5% of the cards I examined contained the exact city of birth for persons born abroad. Most cards contented themselves with the country. These registration cards are all physically located at the NARA Regional Archives. The Fourth Registration, which took place in April 1942, of persons born 1877 to 1897, are generally open to inspection. The remainder are not open to inspection, but information >from them can be obtained under FOIA by writing the Selective Service National Headquarters, 1515 Wilson Blvd Fl 4, Arlington VA 22209-2425 ATTN: Sharon Toon or Paula Sweeney, giving as much information about the individual as possible, but at least an approximate date of birth and expected location at the time of registration and, in the case of persons born after 1900, providing some indication that the individual is either dead or has authorized the inquiry. There is some discussion about making cards for persons born after 1897 available for inspection, but Ms Toon did not seem too optimistic about that. I suggested to her that since the census is released when the youngest person listed is 72, applying the same rule to draft cards would call for release in 2001. She did not seem convinced. The Fourth Registration is open to the public in most jurisdictions, but not all. For instance, in Massachusetts, the draft boards interfiled the Fourth Registration cards with all the others (which is bizarre, because those men were never eligible to be drafted). Since they are not separated from those that are closed to the public, the Fourth Registration forMassachusetts is likewise closed. In most other states, using the cards is easy because they are alphabetized by state. One should give the Regional Archives a few days' advance warning along with the names being sought so they can retrieve the boxes >from storage, but using them is quick and easy. But for some states such as Connecticut, the cards are arranged by local draft board number, then alphabetically, so you must know the person's address with some precision. This is complicated by the fact that, although you can figure out when people had to register by birth date, there were exceptions. Persons who were abroad, or who were already in the Armed Forces, did not need to register until they were discharged or returned to the U.S. So a person who should by birthdate have registered in 1942 might in fact have registered in 1946 >from a different address. For reasons that are not at all clear to me, the cards for New Jersey and New York, which should be at the Northeast Regional Archives in Manhattan, are in fact stored at the Regional Archive in Kansas City. Cards for Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are in Philadelphia, and are alphabetized statewide. New Hampshire cards are at Waltham, and alphabetized statewide. Bert Herbert Lazerow U. of San Diego Law School, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego CA 92110-2492 lazer@acusd.edu, fax 619-260-2230, phone (619)260-4597
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Re: Grodno Yeshiva and Haftorah Reading
#general
MBernet@...
In a message dated 98-10-05 00:25:56 EDT, jmg-miami@email.msn.com writes:
<< He writes that his 13th year would be on "Shabbat Nachamu." Does anyone know what part of the year that Haftorah reading refers to? >> ==The "Shabbat of Comforting"--the first Shabbat immediately after the fast of Tisha Be'Av which occurs on the 9th (occasionally 10th) of Av (Ab). It occurs usually in late July or August. The Haftorah of that day is >from Isaiah and starts "Nachamu, Nachamu, Ami"--Be comforted, be comforted my people," Michael Bernet ***************************** seeking: BERNET, BERNAT, BAERNET etc >from Frensdorf, Bamberg, Nurnberg, (Bavaria) KONIGSHOFER: Welbhausen, Konigshofen, Furth (S. Germany) ALTMANN: Kattowitz, Breslau, Poznan, Beuthen--Upper Silesia/Poland WOLF(F): Frankfurt, Wurzburg, Furth, Yugoslavia, Westchester WOLF, Sali & Rachel, Rotterdam, murdered by Dr. Petiot, Paris ca 1942 WEIL[L], Albert, Fr. hon. consul in Nurnberg; returned to France 1936/7.
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Re: NEBENZAHLs
#general
MBernet@...
In a message dated 98-10-04 23:49:41 EDT, you write:
<< An Israeli cousin found references to our shared family line, NEBENZAHL, >> ==One Nebenzahl was for many years a prominent official in Israel. As I recall it, he was the Comptroller-General. Michael Bernet ***************************** seeking: BERNET, BERNAT, BAERNET etc >from Frensdorf, Bamberg, Nurnberg, (Bavaria) KONIGSHOFER: Welbhausen, Konigshofen, Furth (S. Germany) ALTMANN: Kattowitz, Breslau, Poznan, Beuthen--Upper Silesia/Poland WOLF(F): Frankfurt, Wurzburg, Furth, Yugoslavia, Westchester
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Re: Bzenic community [sp?]
#general
Don Saklad <dsaklad@...>
[02/14/1994 18:50 G Mittleman page 01]
~Notice to General Membership~ Edward M. Kempner, Jr. [New Jersey] November 16, 1987 M. Selling Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Buffalo [New York] Dear Ms. Selling: In an attempt to trace family lines, I recently wrote to Avotaynu, The International Review of Jewish Genealogy. (I am searching four lines with family names of Kempner, Warner, Tishler and Springer.) They sent me a list of Jewish genealogical societies which includes your name. I have assembled much material about these families, some of which might interest some of your members. Not knowing about your Society, I gave printouts of both genealogies and family histories to Sister Martin Joseph Jones, Archives/Special Collections, State University College at Buffalo, 13000 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY 14222 ( 878-6304 ) . Anyone interested can view them at the Butler Library on that campus. I also gave much material to Temple Beth Zion, to a man named Fox, I believe. (Much of my study of the Warner family included origins of Temple Beth Zion, since my great grandfather, Leopold Warner, was a founder, officer and prominent member of that congregation until his death in 1900. Born in 1818, he emigrated in 1848 >from Bisenz, Moravia, Austria - now Bzenic, Czechoslovakia - and, after a sojourn in Utica, NY, settled in Buffalo in 1854. Though the Temple lost most of its records in the fire, many are available through the American Jewish Archives, 3101 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45220-2488 (Att. Kevin Proffitt, Associate Archivist). so informed Mr. Fox, who appeared not to know about this material. My grandfather Simon Kempner (married Celia Warner, hence the connection) emigrated from Gorlitz, Germany (now East Germany) in 1864. I have no idea as to either the interest any of your members might have in these families or the possible help they might be able to give me in my own further researches. Also, unfortunately, I get to Buffalo only once or twice a year (though I was born there in 1918 and attended School 56 and Lafayette High School) - and just recently returned with my wife >from one of our infrequent visits. But if any of your members are interested or think they might like to engage me in further discourse, I'd welcome hearing >from them. In any event, they might like to look over the material I sent to Sister Martin Joseph or Mr. Fox. Sincerely yours ~Ed Kempner~ Edward M. Kempner, Jr.
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Searching: POSNER
#general
WBH <wazza@...>
I am looking for the family of Woolf POSNER, my great grandfather.
Woolf and his brothers and sisters lived in High Street Kensington in the 1860's approx. Woolf b. 1861 Jacob (Father) b. 1829 Poland Theresa (Mother) b. 1831 There must be present day relatives out there. thanks Wayne Hodges
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Abbreviations
#general
Eve Line Blum <blume@...>
from time to time, on the LitvakSIG, we can see abbreviations such as FYI,or SASE, or ASAP. Please, could you think of us, poor ignorant foreigners (grin... as would say our Moderator), who don't always know these acronyms ? I'm beginning to be used to, after having asked here and there, but many friends of mines goes on asking me about that special English (or American) coded language... Moreover, I've read about it in Jewishgen rules (since Jewishgen is hosting LitvakSIG), #3 Queries and Replies : 3.4 (excerpt)Many thanks in advance for your understanding. PS : For the ones who don't know about the above abbreviations : FYI = For Your Information SASE = Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope ASAP = As Soon As Possible Eve Line Blum Besancon (France)
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Searching: HECHTs from Chicago
#general
yaacovi
I am searching any information about the descendants of Rachel & Moses
HECHT who came >from East Prussia to Santa-Monica, and >from there to Chicago, where they opened a shoe store. The HECHTS had 7 children, of which I know about a son -called Irving, who worked at his father's shop, a daughter called Gertrud, who married David MEYER, they had 2 children, one of them Richard MEYER, lives probably at Rockville, Maryland. There was a daughter too- Rose, who married a LEAVITT and she had a daughter named Bernadine who lived in California. Rina Yaacovi yaacovi@netvision.net.il
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen SURNAMES
#general
Daniel Wagner <Cpwagner@...>
About once a year I post an updated list of names I research. This is
that time of the year.... Thanks for any help. Daniel BAUM (BOIM) - Wyszogrod; Konskie; Bedzin; Lodz; Brussels ELBINGER (ELWING)(ELWINGER) - Lodz GOLDBERG - Ustilug GOTHEIL (GOTTHEIL)(GOTHAJL)-- Lodz HERSZKOWICZ (GERSZKOWICZ) - Zdunska Wola & Lodz KACZKA - Zdunska Wola & Lodz KENIG (KONIG) - Bedzin KRELL -- Warsaw KRONENTAL - Warsaw KUMETZ -- Konskie LANGER - Zdunska Wola & Lodz PATRON - Warsaw POTAZNIK (POTASZNIK)(PTASHNIK)(POTAXNIK) - Zdunska Wola & Lodz RECHTDINER -- Lodz, Warsaw RYTEN (RITTEN) - Lublin & Ustilug SILBERKASTEN (ZILBERKASTEN)(KASTEN) -- Warsaw STAL (STAHL) - Warsaw WAGNER - Zyrardow & Warsaw WAJSKOP -- Warsaw ______________ H Daniel Wagner Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot 76100, Israel Tel: +(972) 8 934 2594 Fax: +(972) 8 934 4137 E-mail: cpwagner@wis.weizmann.ac.il http://www.weizmann.ac.il/wagner MODERATOR'S NOTE: Although the above list exceeds the normal restrictions of 6 lines for surname lists, this contributor does NOT include a list in each individual posting therefore we are allowing it.
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen World War 2 Draft Cards
#general
Bert Lazerow <lazer@...>
Here is what I have discovered about World War 2 Draft Registration Cards.
Between October 1940 and March 1947, almost 51 million men registered for the draft. Men were obligated to register if born between 1877 and 1929. These registrations, which were recorded clearly on 5 x 8 cards, contain useful genealogical information. They ask for the age, date of birth, city and state of birth, contact person, home address and phone, work address, exact height, weight, type of complexion, color of eyes and hair, and any identifying scars and marks. However, not all these lines were completed. Only 5% of the cards I examined contained the exact city of birth for persons born abroad. Most cards contented themselves with the country. These registration cards are all physically located at the NARA Regional Archives. The Fourth Registration, which took place in April 1942, of persons born 1877 to 1897, are generally open to inspection. The remainder are not open to inspection, but information >from them can be obtained under FOIA by writing the Selective Service National Headquarters, 1515 Wilson Blvd Fl 4, Arlington VA 22209-2425 ATTN: Sharon Toon or Paula Sweeney, giving as much information about the individual as possible, but at least an approximate date of birth and expected location at the time of registration and, in the case of persons born after 1900, providing some indication that the individual is either dead or has authorized the inquiry. There is some discussion about making cards for persons born after 1897 available for inspection, but Ms Toon did not seem too optimistic about that. I suggested to her that since the census is released when the youngest person listed is 72, applying the same rule to draft cards would call for release in 2001. She did not seem convinced. The Fourth Registration is open to the public in most jurisdictions, but not all. For instance, in Massachusetts, the draft boards interfiled the Fourth Registration cards with all the others (which is bizarre, because those men were never eligible to be drafted). Since they are not separated from those that are closed to the public, the Fourth Registration forMassachusetts is likewise closed. In most other states, using the cards is easy because they are alphabetized by state. One should give the Regional Archives a few days' advance warning along with the names being sought so they can retrieve the boxes >from storage, but using them is quick and easy. But for some states such as Connecticut, the cards are arranged by local draft board number, then alphabetically, so you must know the person's address with some precision. This is complicated by the fact that, although you can figure out when people had to register by birth date, there were exceptions. Persons who were abroad, or who were already in the Armed Forces, did not need to register until they were discharged or returned to the U.S. So a person who should by birthdate have registered in 1942 might in fact have registered in 1946 >from a different address. For reasons that are not at all clear to me, the cards for New Jersey and New York, which should be at the Northeast Regional Archives in Manhattan, are in fact stored at the Regional Archive in Kansas City. Cards for Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are in Philadelphia, and are alphabetized statewide. New Hampshire cards are at Waltham, and alphabetized statewide. Bert Herbert Lazerow U. of San Diego Law School, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego CA 92110-2492 lazer@acusd.edu, fax 619-260-2230, phone (619)260-4597
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Re: Grodno Yeshiva and Haftorah Reading
#general
MBernet@...
In a message dated 98-10-05 00:25:56 EDT, jmg-miami@email.msn.com writes:
<< He writes that his 13th year would be on "Shabbat Nachamu." Does anyone know what part of the year that Haftorah reading refers to? >> ==The "Shabbat of Comforting"--the first Shabbat immediately after the fast of Tisha Be'Av which occurs on the 9th (occasionally 10th) of Av (Ab). It occurs usually in late July or August. The Haftorah of that day is >from Isaiah and starts "Nachamu, Nachamu, Ami"--Be comforted, be comforted my people," Michael Bernet ***************************** seeking: BERNET, BERNAT, BAERNET etc >from Frensdorf, Bamberg, Nurnberg, (Bavaria) KONIGSHOFER: Welbhausen, Konigshofen, Furth (S. Germany) ALTMANN: Kattowitz, Breslau, Poznan, Beuthen--Upper Silesia/Poland WOLF(F): Frankfurt, Wurzburg, Furth, Yugoslavia, Westchester WOLF, Sali & Rachel, Rotterdam, murdered by Dr. Petiot, Paris ca 1942 WEIL[L], Albert, Fr. hon. consul in Nurnberg; returned to France 1936/7.
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Re: NEBENZAHLs
#general
MBernet@...
In a message dated 98-10-04 23:49:41 EDT, you write:
<< An Israeli cousin found references to our shared family line, NEBENZAHL, >> ==One Nebenzahl was for many years a prominent official in Israel. As I recall it, he was the Comptroller-General. Michael Bernet ***************************** seeking: BERNET, BERNAT, BAERNET etc >from Frensdorf, Bamberg, Nurnberg, (Bavaria) KONIGSHOFER: Welbhausen, Konigshofen, Furth (S. Germany) ALTMANN: Kattowitz, Breslau, Poznan, Beuthen--Upper Silesia/Poland WOLF(F): Frankfurt, Wurzburg, Furth, Yugoslavia, Westchester
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Re: Bzenic community [sp?]
#general
Don Saklad <dsaklad@...>
[02/14/1994 18:50 G Mittleman page 01]
~Notice to General Membership~ Edward M. Kempner, Jr. [New Jersey] November 16, 1987 M. Selling Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Buffalo [New York] Dear Ms. Selling: In an attempt to trace family lines, I recently wrote to Avotaynu, The International Review of Jewish Genealogy. (I am searching four lines with family names of Kempner, Warner, Tishler and Springer.) They sent me a list of Jewish genealogical societies which includes your name. I have assembled much material about these families, some of which might interest some of your members. Not knowing about your Society, I gave printouts of both genealogies and family histories to Sister Martin Joseph Jones, Archives/Special Collections, State University College at Buffalo, 13000 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY 14222 ( 878-6304 ) . Anyone interested can view them at the Butler Library on that campus. I also gave much material to Temple Beth Zion, to a man named Fox, I believe. (Much of my study of the Warner family included origins of Temple Beth Zion, since my great grandfather, Leopold Warner, was a founder, officer and prominent member of that congregation until his death in 1900. Born in 1818, he emigrated in 1848 >from Bisenz, Moravia, Austria - now Bzenic, Czechoslovakia - and, after a sojourn in Utica, NY, settled in Buffalo in 1854. Though the Temple lost most of its records in the fire, many are available through the American Jewish Archives, 3101 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45220-2488 (Att. Kevin Proffitt, Associate Archivist). so informed Mr. Fox, who appeared not to know about this material. My grandfather Simon Kempner (married Celia Warner, hence the connection) emigrated from Gorlitz, Germany (now East Germany) in 1864. I have no idea as to either the interest any of your members might have in these families or the possible help they might be able to give me in my own further researches. Also, unfortunately, I get to Buffalo only once or twice a year (though I was born there in 1918 and attended School 56 and Lafayette High School) - and just recently returned with my wife >from one of our infrequent visits. But if any of your members are interested or think they might like to engage me in further discourse, I'd welcome hearing >from them. In any event, they might like to look over the material I sent to Sister Martin Joseph or Mr. Fox. Sincerely yours ~Ed Kempner~ Edward M. Kempner, Jr.
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James IS the same name as Jacob!!!
#general
Judith Romney Wegner
Dear Digest Readers:
Whoops! Tom Venetianer, in the message reproduced below, saw fit to "correct" me publicly concerning the names James and Jacob; but please allow me to point out that his "correction" was entirely misconceived. Apparently he is unaware that the name James is merely an English variant of Jacobus -- via the intermediate (medieval Latin) form Jacomus. The Hebrew name of all the Jameses in the New Testament was Jacob, including James the brother of Jesus, who is given as "Iakobos" in the original Greek New Testament Matthew 13:55. Similarly, medieval documents referring to any of the English kings called James call them Jacobus. Hence "the Jacobite rebellion" supporting James II after his abdication in 1688. Similarly, the French Jacobins got their name from the Church of St. Jacques. Jacques of course comes >from Jacob -- and, as we all know, " Frere Jacques" is "Brother James" in English. See also any mid-sized Webster dictionary, but in particular Webster's New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, page 722, s.v. James, where it says, in addition to the above, as follows: James comes ">from Jacomus, later form of Jacobus; see Jacob." Sorry, Tom, nice try, but we really do have to set the record straight! Judith Romney Wegner jrw@brown.edu Subject: *Re: Equivalents to names>Excuse me, but some corrections are in order. You wrote: >> Each language developed its own version of each biblical name, usually because linguistic idiosyncrasiesNone of these three last given names are equivalents of Jacob: MODERATOR'S NOTE: We sense a battle brewing over names and their origins. Both writers have had the chance to say their piece so we'll end this one here. They are, of course, at liberty to continue privately. We will naturally publish a joint message >from them should they reach any consensus on this subject.
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen James IS the same name as Jacob!!!
#general
Judith Romney Wegner
Dear Digest Readers:
Whoops! Tom Venetianer, in the message reproduced below, saw fit to "correct" me publicly concerning the names James and Jacob; but please allow me to point out that his "correction" was entirely misconceived. Apparently he is unaware that the name James is merely an English variant of Jacobus -- via the intermediate (medieval Latin) form Jacomus. The Hebrew name of all the Jameses in the New Testament was Jacob, including James the brother of Jesus, who is given as "Iakobos" in the original Greek New Testament Matthew 13:55. Similarly, medieval documents referring to any of the English kings called James call them Jacobus. Hence "the Jacobite rebellion" supporting James II after his abdication in 1688. Similarly, the French Jacobins got their name from the Church of St. Jacques. Jacques of course comes >from Jacob -- and, as we all know, " Frere Jacques" is "Brother James" in English. See also any mid-sized Webster dictionary, but in particular Webster's New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, page 722, s.v. James, where it says, in addition to the above, as follows: James comes ">from Jacomus, later form of Jacobus; see Jacob." Sorry, Tom, nice try, but we really do have to set the record straight! Judith Romney Wegner jrw@brown.edu Subject: *Re: Equivalents to names>Excuse me, but some corrections are in order. You wrote: >> Each language developed its own version of each biblical name, usually because linguistic idiosyncrasiesNone of these three last given names are equivalents of Jacob: MODERATOR'S NOTE: We sense a battle brewing over names and their origins. Both writers have had the chance to say their piece so we'll end this one here. They are, of course, at liberty to continue privately. We will naturally publish a joint message >from them should they reach any consensus on this subject.
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Miriam and Emma
#general
Judith Romney Wegner
I too am curious about "Miriam." My great grandmother always was known asI see two possibilities here: The first hypothesis is that your grandmother was actually referring to her mother not as "Emma" but as "Imma" -- which is Hebrew for "Mummy" (and is routinely used as such in modern Israel). Some Diaspora Jewish children are taught to do this today, and no doubt even in your grandmother's day some children were taught to call their parents by the Hebrew titles Abba and Imma rather than by the Yiddish titles Tate and Mame. The second hypothesis, of course, is that your ggm Miriam did actually call herself Emma; but if so, since she is listed as Miriam on the passenger record, she must have adopted the name Emma because she (or her parents?) had deliberately picked Emma as a secular name to use in place of Miriam in America. (Some women in my own family considered the name Miriam to be "too Jewish-sounding" and preferred to call themselves by a secular alternative like "Minnie") But it would not be correct to think of Emma as in any literal sense "short for" Miriam -- it would have been simply an arbitrary choice by your ggm or her parents. Judith Romney Wegner PS I hope everyone noticed that I carefully avoided calling this a "Soundex" with quotes (as I did in an earlier response, when I really meant simply a "sound-alike"). My thanks to Carol Skydell for pointing out in the Digest that one really should not use this technical concept in such a loose fashion. I didn't mean to mislead, and in any case I promise never to do it again!
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JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen Miriam and Emma
#general
Judith Romney Wegner
I too am curious about "Miriam." My great grandmother always was known asI see two possibilities here: The first hypothesis is that your grandmother was actually referring to her mother not as "Emma" but as "Imma" -- which is Hebrew for "Mummy" (and is routinely used as such in modern Israel). Some Diaspora Jewish children are taught to do this today, and no doubt even in your grandmother's day some children were taught to call their parents by the Hebrew titles Abba and Imma rather than by the Yiddish titles Tate and Mame. The second hypothesis, of course, is that your ggm Miriam did actually call herself Emma; but if so, since she is listed as Miriam on the passenger record, she must have adopted the name Emma because she (or her parents?) had deliberately picked Emma as a secular name to use in place of Miriam in America. (Some women in my own family considered the name Miriam to be "too Jewish-sounding" and preferred to call themselves by a secular alternative like "Minnie") But it would not be correct to think of Emma as in any literal sense "short for" Miriam -- it would have been simply an arbitrary choice by your ggm or her parents. Judith Romney Wegner PS I hope everyone noticed that I carefully avoided calling this a "Soundex" with quotes (as I did in an earlier response, when I really meant simply a "sound-alike"). My thanks to Carol Skydell for pointing out in the Digest that one really should not use this technical concept in such a loose fashion. I didn't mean to mislead, and in any case I promise never to do it again!
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