Hello Everyone:

I am preparing a Powerpoint presentation/lecture called "Growing Up in
the Czech Exile Community" for this conference next month.
My idea is to discuss the Czech Jews in New York City during the
1950s, show photographs, and describe how this community was similar
to and different >from other post-war refugee/survivor communities.
Other speakers will include Peter Demetz, Mark Talisman and Mila Rechcigl.

I plan to focus on the different kinds of Jews that came together in
NYC because of Nazism and Stalinism who might not have encountered
one another in Czechoslovakia:
the intellectuals, the sports people who skated in Central Park on
Sunday mornings, the religious people, the arts community who went to
hear Voskovec at the theater and Jarmila Nvotna sing and Rudolf
Firkusny and Rudolf Serkin play, the Radio Free Europe people --
all held together by a gynecologist named Dr. Karel Steinbach who was
(besides being my Mom's OB/GYN) a good friend
of Jan Masaryk's and Ferdinand Peroutka. One of my interesting
findings already is that most of the non-Jewish adults I knew as a
child had spent time in the camps as political prisoners for their
anti-Nazi activities: Jaroslav Drabek, Ivan Herben, Peroutka. Also
that the women who worked for my mother as penniless refugees
sometimes had very interesting professional careers bac in Prague.
Have been reading a lot of memoirs.

If you have any questions or ideas you might wish me to investigate,
or photographs of interesting people in this community, or anecdotes
or bios, please email me directly.
There should be something about the conference online at the Embassy
website soon. I don't have any details but I think it's free and open
to all.

Thanks,
Helen

--
www.helenepstein.com
Reviewer-at-Large, TheArtsFuse: http://blog.theartsfuse.com/

Hello Everyone:

I am preparing a Powerpoint presentation/lecture called "Growing Up in
the Czech Exile Community" for this conference next month.
My idea is to discuss the Czech Jews in New York City during the
1950s, show photographs, and describe how this community was similar
to and different >from other post-war refugee/survivor communities.
Other speakers will include Peter Demetz, Mark Talisman and Mila Rechcigl.

I plan to focus on the different kinds of Jews that came together in
NYC because of Nazism and Stalinism who might not have encountered
one another in Czechoslovakia:
the intellectuals, the sports people who skated in Central Park on
Sunday mornings, the religious people, the arts community who went to
hear Voskovec at the theater and Jarmila Nvotna sing and Rudolf
Firkusny and Rudolf Serkin play, the Radio Free Europe people --
all held together by a gynecologist named Dr. Karel Steinbach who was
(besides being my Mom's OB/GYN) a good friend
of Jan Masaryk's and Ferdinand Peroutka. One of my interesting
findings already is that most of the non-Jewish adults I knew as a
child had spent time in the camps as political prisoners for their
anti-Nazi activities: Jaroslav Drabek, Ivan Herben, Peroutka. Also
that the women who worked for my mother as penniless refugees
sometimes had very interesting professional careers bac in Prague.
Have been reading a lot of memoirs.

If you have any questions or ideas you might wish me to investigate,
or photographs of interesting people in this community, or anecdotes
or bios, please email me directly.
There should be something about the conference online at the Embassy
website soon. I don't have any details but I think it's free and open
to all.

Thanks,
Helen

--
www.helenepstein.com
Reviewer-at-Large, TheArtsFuse: http://blog.theartsfuse.com/

Dear Ukraine Sig,

My grandfather was >from what is now Bobulintsy, Ukraine. It is in the Ternopil district. I am trying to find it on a map and can't. Can anyone help with this? Is it so small it is not showing up? Is it near a larger town?

Thanks in advance/Mary

Dear Ukraine Sig,

My grandfather was >from what is now Bobulintsy, Ukraine. It is in the Ternopil district. I am trying to find it on a map and can't. Can anyone help with this? Is it so small it is not showing up? Is it near a larger town?

Thanks in advance/Mary

I am seek examples of Magnate documents to enhance my lecture
for the LA conf.
I have many >from the Tarnowski archives, for the town of Tarnobrzeg
but I welcome other magnate examples. Please respond privately..
Gayle Schlissel Riley >from San Gabriel

I am seek examples of Magnate documents to enhance my lecture
for the LA conf.
I have many >from the Tarnowski archives, for the town of Tarnobrzeg
but I welcome other magnate examples. Please respond privately..
Gayle Schlissel Riley >from San Gabriel

Digital Family History Scrapbooking with Photoshop Elements
Presented by Sarah Holmes

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 7:30 PM

Doors open at 7:00 PM for schmoozing and assistance with your
genealogy problems.

Where: Congregation Ahavath Achim, 3225 SW Barbur Blvd., Portland, OR

About our Program:

Our speaker says: "I keep learning new things each time I create a page.
There is no better way to keep those brain cells growing than to learn
something totally new. In this presentation you will be introduced to
digital scrapbooking and see some of the unique things you can accomplish
digitally. There are many programs one can use. I have chosen Photoshop
Elements. It is not too difficult and yet has lots of flexibility."

Admission is free to members of JGSO, $5 donation requested >from non-
members (can be applied to cost of membership if you join at the time).
For more information please see the JGSO website www.rootsweb.com/~orjgs
Toby Blake

Dear Jenners my parent's Katuba at
http://www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/responselist.asp?key=14814

Has been translated. Thank you all.

Sol Sylvan /Issaquah, Wa.

Digital Family History Scrapbooking with Photoshop Elements
Presented by Sarah Holmes

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 7:30 PM

Doors open at 7:00 PM for schmoozing and assistance with your
genealogy problems.

Where: Congregation Ahavath Achim, 3225 SW Barbur Blvd., Portland, OR

About our Program:

Our speaker says: "I keep learning new things each time I create a page.
There is no better way to keep those brain cells growing than to learn
something totally new. In this presentation you will be introduced to
digital scrapbooking and see some of the unique things you can accomplish
digitally. There are many programs one can use. I have chosen Photoshop
Elements. It is not too difficult and yet has lots of flexibility."

Admission is free to members of JGSO, $5 donation requested >from non-
members (can be applied to cost of membership if you join at the time).
For more information please see the JGSO website www.rootsweb.com/~orjgs
Toby Blake

Dear Jenners my parent's Katuba at
http://www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/responselist.asp?key=14814

Has been translated. Thank you all.

Sol Sylvan /Issaquah, Wa.

Ministry of Interior is the answer. I tried and got on for my sister
who was born in 1936.

Rose Feldman
Webmaster of the Israel Genealogical Society
http://www.isragen.org.il

Ministry of Interior is the answer. I tried and got on for my sister
who was born in 1936.

Rose Feldman
Webmaster of the Israel Genealogical Society
http://www.isragen.org.il

Dear All

In September last year, I posted to see if anyone had ever seen
various arrival files held at the UK Archives..one of the mAjor sites now
has a free search available for Alien Arrivals to England from
1810-1811 and >from 1826-1869.

Kind regards
Naomi Ogin
Brisbane
Searching;BRESNARK,CHERNOSKY,CHORGAN,
DAVIDOVITCH,DOMANIS,GOLDWITZ,GREENBERG,
HARYUDAH,HIATT,HUNT,LEBIS,OGIN,ORGIN,
POLIAKOFF,RABIN,RABINOVITCH,RANDALL,
RESNICK,RUBINSTEIN,TISMAN,TISHMAN,WILSON,WOLFSON

Dear All

In September last year, I posted to see if anyone had ever seen
various arrival files held at the UK Archives..one of the mAjor sites now
has a free search available for Alien Arrivals to England from
1810-1811 and >from 1826-1869.

Kind regards
Naomi Ogin
Brisbane
Searching;BRESNARK,CHERNOSKY,CHORGAN,
DAVIDOVITCH,DOMANIS,GOLDWITZ,GREENBERG,
HARYUDAH,HIATT,HUNT,LEBIS,OGIN,ORGIN,
POLIAKOFF,RABIN,RABINOVITCH,RANDALL,
RESNICK,RUBINSTEIN,TISMAN,TISHMAN,WILSON,WOLFSON

David Schreiber wrote: "I would like some advice on approaching possible
cousins. I originally wrote a detailed, two-page description...."

We've had this discussion recently in this group (me thinks). But I did
not weigh in last time. My advice: short and to the point is good. I
would also suggest calling rather than writing, if possible. I've had
great success cold calling. I actually love getting answering machines
(altho', of course, one can't choose that option). With an answering
machine I can quickly outline my reason for calling: "My name is Emily
Garber. I am doing family history research and I believe that your
grandfather, Louis, and my great grandmother, Ida, were siblings."
Sometimes I leave a number. Sometimes I say I will call back. When I've
called back, I find that they've been waiting for my call and they're
always interested in talking. I've had several call me.

I always ask if they have email and if I may add them to my family
mailing list. Regardless, I always follow up with a family tree showing
our relationship and several documents directly related to their close
relations. My most recent cold call resulted in filling out a branch of
my tree with by adding more than 20 people.
--
Emily Garber
Phoenix, AZ

Lubin/Labun/Yurovshchina & Gritsev, Volhynia (Ukraine) -- GARBER,
MAZEWITSKY, MALZMANN, KESTLEMAN, ZABARSKY
Radauti (Romania), Zalishchyky, Utechko & Torskie, Galicia (Ukraine) --
LIEBROSS, WENKERT/WEINGART, ETT, BARATH
Kasan/Kozyany, Disna District, Vilna Province & Babroysk, Minsk Gub
(Belarus) -- WILENSKY/WILENSKI, EPSTEIN

David Schreiber wrote: "I would like some advice on approaching possible
cousins. I originally wrote a detailed, two-page description...."

We've had this discussion recently in this group (me thinks). But I did
not weigh in last time. My advice: short and to the point is good. I
would also suggest calling rather than writing, if possible. I've had
great success cold calling. I actually love getting answering machines
(altho', of course, one can't choose that option). With an answering
machine I can quickly outline my reason for calling: "My name is Emily
Garber. I am doing family history research and I believe that your
grandfather, Louis, and my great grandmother, Ida, were siblings."
Sometimes I leave a number. Sometimes I say I will call back. When I've
called back, I find that they've been waiting for my call and they're
always interested in talking. I've had several call me.

I always ask if they have email and if I may add them to my family
mailing list. Regardless, I always follow up with a family tree showing
our relationship and several documents directly related to their close
relations. My most recent cold call resulted in filling out a branch of
my tree with by adding more than 20 people.
--
Emily Garber
Phoenix, AZ

Lubin/Labun/Yurovshchina & Gritsev, Volhynia (Ukraine) -- GARBER,
MAZEWITSKY, MALZMANN, KESTLEMAN, ZABARSKY
Radauti (Romania), Zalishchyky, Utechko & Torskie, Galicia (Ukraine) --
LIEBROSS, WENKERT/WEINGART, ETT, BARATH
Kasan/Kozyany, Disna District, Vilna Province & Babroysk, Minsk Gub
(Belarus) -- WILENSKY/WILENSKI, EPSTEIN

On March 11 David Schreiber wrote ...."I would like some advice on
approaching possible cousins......" . I wrote to him privately but I think
this might help others, also.
To protect other people I have ....'d out names.

Dear David, here is what worked for me. I found a few facts about L... and
wrote a polite informative email (see below) to which she promptly
responded. Then after that contact and one more, she gave me all the info
and contacts on her husband's family who mostly had moved to Florida years
ago. After I contacted them, I just got back >from a trip where I met 3
wonderful "new" cousins, all very nice, and happy that I found them, and
want to get together again soon. Luckily, now I have added a whole limb with
branches to my tree.
The guide rules I followed which I had read before stated write politely,
explain what you're trying to do, give them something (in this case a copy
of a telegram), and if you have a fact try to empathize or find common
ground with them. Maybe I wrote a bit too much but that's a guess you make.

Good Luck,
Abe Simon
Las Vegas, NV
abe_simon@...
===
First contact letter

Hi L..., shalom and Happy New Year.
I'm writing to see if your late husband, C..., and I are related as cousins.
I'm sorry you lost him. I too lost my wife 8 years ago.
It's a long story but I found you through the recent Woodstock anniversary
publicity on PBS and eventually to S... County.
I have been the family historian/genealogist for about 10 years, >from
joining the Denver JGS and after moving to Las Vegas, the JGSSN. I see among
your many accomplishments you were active at the S... County Historical
Society so I thought you would be interested and a good contact.
My grandfather S... Simon married my grandmother E... B... in Belarus and
they had 4 children-T..., A... my dad, I..., and I.... My gf emigrated to
the US in 19.. and the rest of the family arrived in 19.., as did
coincidentally my mom's family (F...).
The extended family all lived in Buffalo, NY where I was raised.
I have 3 possible connections. One is a telegram congratulating my dad on
his 1928 marriage >from "Uncle J... B...", Brooklyn, NY. I have attached a
copy for you.
The second is on my grandfather's arrival ship manifest in 19.. it states he
is going to see his brother-in-law J... B... at R... St. Brooklyn.
The third is a story my cousin F... Simon >from Toledo told me about 5 years
ago. She says when she was a youngster in the 1940's they went to see some
B... family who had a gas station in the E..., NY area. This info seemed to
tie in with what I read recently about you. If C...'s grandfather was J...
B... then he and my grandmother E... were brother and sister. They would
have come >from Minsk area. It's hard to read but I think based on Elka's
ship manifest she had a sister R... in Minsk and their father's name (>from
E...'s grave in Buffalo) is A... my great grandfather.
I hope you don't mind my contacting you and I would like to hear >from you
soon.
Abe Simon

On March 11 David Schreiber wrote ...."I would like some advice on
approaching possible cousins......" . I wrote to him privately but I think
this might help others, also.
To protect other people I have ....'d out names.

Dear David, here is what worked for me. I found a few facts about L... and
wrote a polite informative email (see below) to which she promptly
responded. Then after that contact and one more, she gave me all the info
and contacts on her husband's family who mostly had moved to Florida years
ago. After I contacted them, I just got back >from a trip where I met 3
wonderful "new" cousins, all very nice, and happy that I found them, and
want to get together again soon. Luckily, now I have added a whole limb with
branches to my tree.
The guide rules I followed which I had read before stated write politely,
explain what you're trying to do, give them something (in this case a copy
of a telegram), and if you have a fact try to empathize or find common
ground with them. Maybe I wrote a bit too much but that's a guess you make.

Good Luck,
Abe Simon
Las Vegas, NV
abe_simon@...
===
First contact letter

Hi L..., shalom and Happy New Year.
I'm writing to see if your late husband, C..., and I are related as cousins.
I'm sorry you lost him. I too lost my wife 8 years ago.
It's a long story but I found you through the recent Woodstock anniversary
publicity on PBS and eventually to S... County.
I have been the family historian/genealogist for about 10 years, >from
joining the Denver JGS and after moving to Las Vegas, the JGSSN. I see among
your many accomplishments you were active at the S... County Historical
Society so I thought you would be interested and a good contact.
My grandfather S... Simon married my grandmother E... B... in Belarus and
they had 4 children-T..., A... my dad, I..., and I.... My gf emigrated to
the US in 19.. and the rest of the family arrived in 19.., as did
coincidentally my mom's family (F...).
The extended family all lived in Buffalo, NY where I was raised.
I have 3 possible connections. One is a telegram congratulating my dad on
his 1928 marriage >from "Uncle J... B...", Brooklyn, NY. I have attached a
copy for you.
The second is on my grandfather's arrival ship manifest in 19.. it states he
is going to see his brother-in-law J... B... at R... St. Brooklyn.
The third is a story my cousin F... Simon >from Toledo told me about 5 years
ago. She says when she was a youngster in the 1940's they went to see some
B... family who had a gas station in the E..., NY area. This info seemed to
tie in with what I read recently about you. If C...'s grandfather was J...
B... then he and my grandmother E... were brother and sister. They would
have come >from Minsk area. It's hard to read but I think based on Elka's
ship manifest she had a sister R... in Minsk and their father's name (>from
E...'s grave in Buffalo) is A... my great grandfather.
I hope you don't mind my contacting you and I would like to hear >from you
soon.
Abe Simon

Jewish Genealogical Society of Sacramento

Topic: Connections Small and Grand

Speaker: Liz Igra

When: Sunday, March 21, 2010, 10 a.m.

Where: Albert Einstein Residence Center, 1935 Wright St., Sacramento, CA

Liz Igra is a Holocaust survivor born in Krakow, Poland. After she and
her mother escaped >from the Czorkow ghetto in October 1942, they hid on
false papers, crossed the Carpathian Mountains on foot, spent some time in a
Budapest jail and were released, only to go into hiding when Germany took
complete control of Hungary. Liz and her mother were liberated in 1945 and
returned to Poland to find only one other member of their family.

After time in Poland and France, she and her mother immigrated to
Australia and then came to the U.S. in 1968. Liz has been an elementary and high
school teacher, administrator, workshop presenter, and helped start Shalom
School in Sacramento. In the last twenty years she has been a guest speaker
in many classrooms and teacher conferences. Many teachers confirmed her
personal observations, that even the best seminars do not equip teachers to
meet the challenges of teaching about the Holocaust. So Liz founded the
Central Valley Holocaust Educators' Network.

Liz hopes her story will lead to a better understanding of the Holocaust
and the important lessons to be learned.

The March 21 meeting will be held at 10 a.m. at the Albert Einstein
Residence Center, 1935 Wright St., Sacramento. For more information about the
Jewish Genealogical Society of Sacramento, visit www.jgss.org, e-mail the JGSS
at jgs_sacramento@... or leave a message at 916-486-0906 ext. 361.

The program is set for 10 a.m., Sunday, February 21, at the Albert
Einstein Residence Center, 1935 Wright Street, Sacramento.

All are welcome to attend and to use the JGSS library collection.

Bob Wascou

Jewish Genealogical Society of Sacramento

Topic: Connections Small and Grand

Speaker: Liz Igra

When: Sunday, March 21, 2010, 10 a.m.

Where: Albert Einstein Residence Center, 1935 Wright St., Sacramento, CA

Liz Igra is a Holocaust survivor born in Krakow, Poland. After she and
her mother escaped >from the Czorkow ghetto in October 1942, they hid on
false papers, crossed the Carpathian Mountains on foot, spent some time in a
Budapest jail and were released, only to go into hiding when Germany took
complete control of Hungary. Liz and her mother were liberated in 1945 and
returned to Poland to find only one other member of their family.

After time in Poland and France, she and her mother immigrated to
Australia and then came to the U.S. in 1968. Liz has been an elementary and high
school teacher, administrator, workshop presenter, and helped start Shalom
School in Sacramento. In the last twenty years she has been a guest speaker
in many classrooms and teacher conferences. Many teachers confirmed her
personal observations, that even the best seminars do not equip teachers to
meet the challenges of teaching about the Holocaust. So Liz founded the
Central Valley Holocaust Educators' Network.

Liz hopes her story will lead to a better understanding of the Holocaust
and the important lessons to be learned.

The March 21 meeting will be held at 10 a.m. at the Albert Einstein
Residence Center, 1935 Wright St., Sacramento. For more information about the
Jewish Genealogical Society of Sacramento, visit www.jgss.org, e-mail the JGSS
at jgs_sacramento@... or leave a message at 916-486-0906 ext. 361.

The program is set for 10 a.m., Sunday, February 21, at the Albert
Einstein Residence Center, 1935 Wright Street, Sacramento.

All are welcome to attend and to use the JGSS library collection.

Bob Wascou