Hello,

Does anyone have information about why a Presumption of Death Certificate issue by
the Belgian authorities after World War 2, had a "Stamp of Honor" affixed saying
"Died for Belgium" (translated >from Flemish)?

Here is the background details of my question:

My grandparents Moszek CZAPEK and Blima MAJTELES Czapek both perished in Auschwitz
after deportation >from Antwerp, Belgium in 1942. Several aunts, uncles and cousins
perished the same way. I obtained presumptions of death certificates for all of
them >from the Antwerp City Hall archives. However, only on my grandparents
certificates there appears at the left margin a "stamp of honor" mentioning :
"Died for Belgium".

I inquired at the City Hall as to the reason for the Stamp and received the
following response:
"As for the Stamp of Honor,we have no specifications about the actions undertaken
against the Germans and no idea which organisation decided about such stamp. The
only thing we know is that the smallest action by which people risked their life
(e.g. by hiding someone) was reason enough to give them a Stamp of Honor."

I also sent an inquiry to the Jewish Deportation Museum in Maline/Mechelen and
received the following:
"This stamp seems to have nothing to do with resistance, it was only a formal
stamp put on the act of Death presumption of any people who died in deportation
(if people were deported for racial or politic reasons doesn't matter). This act
of Death presumption was delivered when there was no official proof of the place
or moment of a person's death."

These answers do not explain why only two out of 15 certificates that I received
have the stamp.

Binyamin Kamilar
Beit Shemesh, Israel

Searching:
MAJTELES, FAJTMANN, NARCYZ - Wolbrom, Olkusz Poland; Antwerp, Brussels Belgium;
CZAPEK - Pilica, Poland; Antwerp, Belgium;
KAMILAR, KAMILER, HEINRICH, STURZA, RACHMILEWITZ, RACKMIL, LIPSCHITZ, LAFGOWET -
Piatra Neamt, Galatz Romania; Brooklyn, New York;

Hello,

Does anyone have information about why a Presumption of Death Certificate issue by
the Belgian authorities after World War 2, had a "Stamp of Honor" affixed saying
"Died for Belgium" (translated >from Flemish)?

Here is the background details of my question:

My grandparents Moszek CZAPEK and Blima MAJTELES Czapek both perished in Auschwitz
after deportation >from Antwerp, Belgium in 1942. Several aunts, uncles and cousins
perished the same way. I obtained presumptions of death certificates for all of
them >from the Antwerp City Hall archives. However, only on my grandparents
certificates there appears at the left margin a "stamp of honor" mentioning :
"Died for Belgium".

I inquired at the City Hall as to the reason for the Stamp and received the
following response:
"As for the Stamp of Honor,we have no specifications about the actions undertaken
against the Germans and no idea which organisation decided about such stamp. The
only thing we know is that the smallest action by which people risked their life
(e.g. by hiding someone) was reason enough to give them a Stamp of Honor."

I also sent an inquiry to the Jewish Deportation Museum in Maline/Mechelen and
received the following:
"This stamp seems to have nothing to do with resistance, it was only a formal
stamp put on the act of Death presumption of any people who died in deportation
(if people were deported for racial or politic reasons doesn't matter). This act
of Death presumption was delivered when there was no official proof of the place
or moment of a person's death."

These answers do not explain why only two out of 15 certificates that I received
have the stamp.

Binyamin Kamilar
Beit Shemesh, Israel

Searching:
MAJTELES, FAJTMANN, NARCYZ - Wolbrom, Olkusz Poland; Antwerp, Brussels Belgium;
CZAPEK - Pilica, Poland; Antwerp, Belgium;
KAMILAR, KAMILER, HEINRICH, STURZA, RACHMILEWITZ, RACKMIL, LIPSCHITZ, LAFGOWET -
Piatra Neamt, Galatz Romania; Brooklyn, New York;

I'm stymied in a search for a ship's manifest. Its passage was Glasgow to Canada ,
November, 1910. My uncle's card states that his ship disembarked on 28 November
at port St. John, New Brunswick. I went through an Ottawa interlibrary loan and
received the correct Microfilm Reel T-4822 and was at first excited to use the
viewer. Although these reels are not indexed I had found the ship and its arrival
date was November 23rd! Well close enough I thought. And I scrolled through the
250 passenger names but without finding my uncle's name. While the ship traveled
the St. Lawrence River during navigable months to Quebec port, the colder months
created ice that made the river less navigable -- hence the use of New Brunswick
and then the overland railway.

The ship "Athenia" was of the Albertson Line. I have recovered the manifest for
"Cassandra" which carried gm and the rest of the children [later voyage in 1912].
This was found in the boxes of Board of Trade archived in , Kew, London. I'm
thinking this might be best source, but it's a very difficult trip for me to make
to London.

Question: How to proceed now, since the Canadian Archives don't seem to hold the
microfilm that correspond to the dates of arrival. Any ideas would be greatly
appreciated. Thank you.

Burt Hecht

14 September 2005

Hello, all,

I am interested in locating any JGS's in the South East/Detroit area of Michigan.
I belong to the Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County and if there is another
person there who is searching Jewish ancestors, I have not yet met him/her.

Thanks for your help.

Julius Cohen
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Hi, cousins.

I recently learned that my great grandmother, Helen WENZELBERG EINHORN, died at
the Warhsauer nursing home on 2nd Avenue in New York City in 1951. Have been going
around in circles with the good folks at Worth Street trying to find out where I
might look for any surviving records on her stay at this facility.

Does anyone know? Does anyone have a knowledgeable contact?

A million thanks,

Wendy Griswold
Arlington VA

Searching: BLITZ (near Lemburg), EINHORN (near Nowy Sacz) , PFEIFFER/FIFER (near
Lemburg), DWASS/DAVIS (Ekaterinoslaw), WENZELBERG (near Nowy Sacz), SHIFULDREM
(Near Nowy Sacz, spelling highly questionable)

Hi, cousins.

I recently learned that my great grandmother, Helen WENZELBERG EINHORN, died at
the Warhsauer nursing home on 2nd Avenue in New York City in 1951. Have been going
around in circles with the good folks at Worth Street trying to find out where I
might look for any surviving records on her stay at this facility.

Does anyone know? Does anyone have a knowledgeable contact?

A million thanks,

Wendy Griswold
Arlington VA

Searching: BLITZ (near Lemburg), EINHORN (near Nowy Sacz) , PFEIFFER/FIFER (near
Lemburg), DWASS/DAVIS (Ekaterinoslaw), WENZELBERG (near Nowy Sacz), SHIFULDREM
(Near Nowy Sacz, spelling highly questionable)

14 September 2005

Hello, all,

I am interested in locating any JGS's in the South East/Detroit area of Michigan.
I belong to the Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County and if there is another
person there who is searching Jewish ancestors, I have not yet met him/her.

Thanks for your help.

Julius Cohen
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

I'm stymied in a search for a ship's manifest. Its passage was Glasgow to Canada ,
November, 1910. My uncle's card states that his ship disembarked on 28 November
at port St. John, New Brunswick. I went through an Ottawa interlibrary loan and
received the correct Microfilm Reel T-4822 and was at first excited to use the
viewer. Although these reels are not indexed I had found the ship and its arrival
date was November 23rd! Well close enough I thought. And I scrolled through the
250 passenger names but without finding my uncle's name. While the ship traveled
the St. Lawrence River during navigable months to Quebec port, the colder months
created ice that made the river less navigable -- hence the use of New Brunswick
and then the overland railway.

The ship "Athenia" was of the Albertson Line. I have recovered the manifest for
"Cassandra" which carried gm and the rest of the children [later voyage in 1912].
This was found in the boxes of Board of Trade archived in , Kew, London. I'm
thinking this might be best source, but it's a very difficult trip for me to make
to London.

Question: How to proceed now, since the Canadian Archives don't seem to hold the
microfilm that correspond to the dates of arrival. Any ideas would be greatly
appreciated. Thank you.

Burt Hecht

from Frank Schulaner, <tankay@...>

I'm catching up on my jewishgen reading, and came across the discussion of the
meaning(s) of PORETZ and its variants as family name and as social descriptor.
I'm reminded of the song "Der Filozof" my mother half-remembered >from her years in
Galicia. My own transcription:

"A luft-balloon du oisgetracht,
und denkst du bist a poretz --
Der rebbe spucht, der rebbe lacht,
er darf dois oif kepores."

For some reason, "der rebbe spucht" makes me think of Oliver Hardy; I'm not sure
if Stan Laurel would be the filozof.

Hi!

I am a newbie but some of the messages that were sent about the NYC Conference
Accommodations are confusing to me. I don't know enough about genealogy but I do
live in New York and I do know business.

Robert Zavos stated "I was thinking all decent hotel in Manhattan were $300 or
more per night" Why was a $300 rate mentioned when the conference website
http://www.jgsny2006.org clearly states that the special conference rate for the
Marriott Marquis is $208? That is confusing and misleading.

Yeah, I know that it is expensive but talking NY terms that is a great rate.
Normally that hotel would cost loads more. I once stayed in one of those cheaper
hotels near the Marriott and the room was so small that I walked around sideways.
So, I guess I will look for a roommate to split the expenses. I live in Queens but
if the lectures begin early in the morning and go to late at night, then I am not
schlepping back home with the subway and bus. That will be over an hour trip each
way and I want to network and get to meet people. After all it is my vacation and
every once in a while I can treat myself.

Selma's stated the following: "My suggestion to the movers and shakers of the NY
JGS -- move the conference (it's a year away) to any of the areas mentioned above,
and out of midtown Manhattan. As long as a hotel is convenient to transportation
for those who want to do NY research, theaters, museums etc., there's no reason to
be at that Marriott." She suggests Queens, Long, Island, New Jersey and
Westchester.

I really do not understand her suggestion.

Well, I live in Queens and I know of no hotel in Queens that can accommodate a
conference that size. I also know of no hotel in Queens that is only one subway
ride to any archive. You have to take a taxi or bus to the subway. Why should the
JGS of New York organize a conference in New Jersey? or Long Island? Perhaps you
should ask the Societies in New Jersey or Long Island to make the arrangements
then. Are there any hotels in Westchester and New Jersey that can accommodate a
conference that size? There are very few in NYC that can. Someone suggested the
Plaza Motor Inn in Secaucus. I just called them and they have 55 rooms in their
hotel. How are we going to get everyone into the Motor Inn for the conference?
It is 11 months away >from the conference and NY area hotels are booked for
conferences 2 and 3 years before hand. You can't just a cancel a contract without
having to pay penalties.

I am looking forwarding to having a good time at the 2006 conference in NY.

Tom Kennedy
College Point, NY

Hi!

I am a newbie but some of the messages that were sent about the NYC Conference
Accommodations are confusing to me. I don't know enough about genealogy but I do
live in New York and I do know business.

Robert Zavos stated "I was thinking all decent hotel in Manhattan were $300 or
more per night" Why was a $300 rate mentioned when the conference website
http://www.jgsny2006.org clearly states that the special conference rate for the
Marriott Marquis is $208? That is confusing and misleading.

Yeah, I know that it is expensive but talking NY terms that is a great rate.
Normally that hotel would cost loads more. I once stayed in one of those cheaper
hotels near the Marriott and the room was so small that I walked around sideways.
So, I guess I will look for a roommate to split the expenses. I live in Queens but
if the lectures begin early in the morning and go to late at night, then I am not
schlepping back home with the subway and bus. That will be over an hour trip each
way and I want to network and get to meet people. After all it is my vacation and
every once in a while I can treat myself.

Selma's stated the following: "My suggestion to the movers and shakers of the NY
JGS -- move the conference (it's a year away) to any of the areas mentioned above,
and out of midtown Manhattan. As long as a hotel is convenient to transportation
for those who want to do NY research, theaters, museums etc., there's no reason to
be at that Marriott." She suggests Queens, Long, Island, New Jersey and
Westchester.

I really do not understand her suggestion.

Well, I live in Queens and I know of no hotel in Queens that can accommodate a
conference that size. I also know of no hotel in Queens that is only one subway
ride to any archive. You have to take a taxi or bus to the subway. Why should the
JGS of New York organize a conference in New Jersey? or Long Island? Perhaps you
should ask the Societies in New Jersey or Long Island to make the arrangements
then. Are there any hotels in Westchester and New Jersey that can accommodate a
conference that size? There are very few in NYC that can. Someone suggested the
Plaza Motor Inn in Secaucus. I just called them and they have 55 rooms in their
hotel. How are we going to get everyone into the Motor Inn for the conference?
It is 11 months away >from the conference and NY area hotels are booked for
conferences 2 and 3 years before hand. You can't just a cancel a contract without
having to pay penalties.

I am looking forwarding to having a good time at the 2006 conference in NY.

Tom Kennedy
College Point, NY

from Frank Schulaner, <tankay@...>

I'm catching up on my jewishgen reading, and came across the discussion of the
meaning(s) of PORETZ and its variants as family name and as social descriptor.
I'm reminded of the song "Der Filozof" my mother half-remembered >from her years in
Galicia. My own transcription:

"A luft-balloon du oisgetracht,
und denkst du bist a poretz --
Der rebbe spucht, der rebbe lacht,
er darf dois oif kepores."

For some reason, "der rebbe spucht" makes me think of Oliver Hardy; I'm not sure
if Stan Laurel would be the filozof.

The Jewish Genealogical Society is the host society for the 2006
International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies' annual
conference to be held at the Marriott Marquis here in New York City from
August 13th to 18th.

We are pleased to announce our Call for Papers. Submissions should be made
at the Conference website at <http://www.jgsny2006.org/call.cfm>

All abstract submissions must be submitted via our on-line abstract module
process. E-mail submittals will not be accepted.

Presentation categories are listed below:

Computer Training Workshops
Eastern and Central European research
Genetics and DNA Research
Holocaust research
Immigration, naturalization and migration Methodology
Metropolitan New York City and New York State research
Non-European research (e.g. India, China)
Rabbinical research Repositories
Sephardic research
Technology and Internet resources
United States research
Yiddish theater/Tin Pan Alley

Just follow the instructions at the website.

The decision to accept a submission will be heavily weighted toward
presentations not given at previous IAJGS Conferences, that provide specific
research methodology and that include specific information for researchers
to replicate the success of the presenter in acquiring information.

Sessions will be one hour and fifteen minutes, with the last 15 minutes
reserved for questions and answers.

Proposal Deadline - December 1, 2005.

Speakers will be notified no later than February 1, 2006

Handout material/resource material, due March 1, 2006, is required for each
presentation and will be included in the syllabus distributed to all
conference registrants. Further details of the handout material requirements
will be provided upon acceptance of lecture.

Gloria Berkenstat Freund
2006 Conference Program Committee Chair
gloria@...

The Jewish Genealogical Society is the host society for the 2006
International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies' annual
conference to be held at the Marriott Marquis here in New York City from
August 13th to 18th.

We are pleased to announce our Call for Papers. Submissions should be made
at the Conference website at <http://www.jgsny2006.org/call.cfm>

All abstract submissions must be submitted via our on-line abstract module
process. E-mail submittals will not be accepted.

Presentation categories are listed below:

Computer Training Workshops
Eastern and Central European research
Genetics and DNA Research
Holocaust research
Immigration, naturalization and migration Methodology
Metropolitan New York City and New York State research
Non-European research (e.g. India, China)
Rabbinical research Repositories
Sephardic research
Technology and Internet resources
United States research
Yiddish theater/Tin Pan Alley

Just follow the instructions at the website.

The decision to accept a submission will be heavily weighted toward
presentations not given at previous IAJGS Conferences, that provide specific
research methodology and that include specific information for researchers
to replicate the success of the presenter in acquiring information.

Sessions will be one hour and fifteen minutes, with the last 15 minutes
reserved for questions and answers.

Proposal Deadline - December 1, 2005.

Speakers will be notified no later than February 1, 2006

Handout material/resource material, due March 1, 2006, is required for each
presentation and will be included in the syllabus distributed to all
conference registrants. Further details of the handout material requirements
will be provided upon acceptance of lecture.

Gloria Berkenstat Freund
2006 Conference Program Committee Chair
gloria@...

I am searching for information on my grandparents Solomon and Esther Hirshtritt
TEPFER originally >from Krystynopol which is now Chervonograd Ukraine.
The name TEPFER may have been spelled TOEPFER at one time. Solomon came to NY
first in 1893 and Esther in 1902. They settled in the Bensonhurst section of
Brooklyn. I know nothing of Solomon in terms of what he did for a living when
in Krystynopol, who his parents were, or if he had any siblings. If anyone has
any information on the TEPFER family I would be most grateful. My name is Helen
Eckman and my email address is ceckman@....

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Please sign your posts with a location. The JewishGen Family
Finder (JGFF) is a great place to start. It can be found at
<http://www.jewishgen.org/jgff/>, and will allow you to connect with others who
might be researching that name or that town.

Yelisavet'grad, now known as Kirovohrad, Ukr.

Schloime ben Zalman Dov Zamachovsky, 1851-1926, born
in Ukraine and died in New Haven, CT. He was my
great-grandfather. He married Beila (last name not
known). She was born in Ukraine 1860 (possibly Uman),
died New Haven, CT. 1948. They had two children both
born in Yelisavet'grad, Sendor, in 1891, migrated to
New Haven, CT. via Antwerp, Belgium in 1906. Jack
(Yacob)migrated with his parents to New Haven in 1909.
Sendor changed his name to Samuel Zonder shortly after
his arrival. The others adopted the new name on their
arrival.
Sam and Schloime were both tailors. Jack was only six
year old.
Sam moved to New York City in 1912. His parents and
his brother remained in New Haven for the rest of
their lives.
Note: According to my late father, his grandmother had
eight children. This fact was confirmed by the EIDB.
However, neither my father nor his uncle, Jack, ever
knew what happened to the other six children.

Isaac Brodsky, born in Zlatapol, moved to
Yelisavet'grad prior to 1894. He worked as a
bookbinder.
Isaac married Malka Belachovsky. She was killed in the
Yelisavet'grad pogram of 1905. Isaac and Malka had
seven children. My grandmother, Lily (Leah) was the
oldest of three girls.
Lily moved to New York City around 1910 and lived with
her oldest brother at 297 Rivington St. in Manhattan.
Isaac arrived in 1912 with the youngest children and
by 1918 was living in Brooklyn near the Brooklyn Navy
Yard.
Sam and Lily married in 1915. They had one son, my
father, Leon, in 1917. Lily and her father both died
in the Spanish Influenza epidemic of 1918.

Lenn Zonder
Woodbridge, CT 06525
lenwriter@...

Yelisavet'grad, now known as Kirovohrad, Ukr.

Schloime ben Zalman Dov Zamachovsky, 1851-1926, born
in Ukraine and died in New Haven, CT. He was my
great-grandfather. He married Beila (last name not
known). She was born in Ukraine 1860 (possibly Uman),
died New Haven, CT. 1948. They had two children both
born in Yelisavet'grad, Sendor, in 1891, migrated to
New Haven, CT. via Antwerp, Belgium in 1906. Jack
(Yacob)migrated with his parents to New Haven in 1909.
Sendor changed his name to Samuel Zonder shortly after
his arrival. The others adopted the new name on their
arrival.
Sam and Schloime were both tailors. Jack was only six
year old.
Sam moved to New York City in 1912. His parents and
his brother remained in New Haven for the rest of
their lives.
Note: According to my late father, his grandmother had
eight children. This fact was confirmed by the EIDB.
However, neither my father nor his uncle, Jack, ever
knew what happened to the other six children.

Isaac Brodsky, born in Zlatapol, moved to
Yelisavet'grad prior to 1894. He worked as a
bookbinder.
Isaac married Malka Belachovsky. She was killed in the
Yelisavet'grad pogram of 1905. Isaac and Malka had
seven children. My grandmother, Lily (Leah) was the
oldest of three girls.
Lily moved to New York City around 1910 and lived with
her oldest brother at 297 Rivington St. in Manhattan.
Isaac arrived in 1912 with the youngest children and
by 1918 was living in Brooklyn near the Brooklyn Navy
Yard.
Sam and Lily married in 1915. They had one son, my
father, Leon, in 1917. Lily and her father both died
in the Spanish Influenza epidemic of 1918.

Lenn Zonder
Woodbridge, CT 06525
lenwriter@...

I am searching for information on my grandparents Solomon and Esther Hirshtritt
TEPFER originally >from Krystynopol which is now Chervonograd Ukraine.
The name TEPFER may have been spelled TOEPFER at one time. Solomon came to NY
first in 1893 and Esther in 1902. They settled in the Bensonhurst section of
Brooklyn. I know nothing of Solomon in terms of what he did for a living when
in Krystynopol, who his parents were, or if he had any siblings. If anyone has
any information on the TEPFER family I would be most grateful. My name is Helen
Eckman and my email address is ceckman@....

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Please sign your posts with a location. The JewishGen Family
Finder (JGFF) is a great place to start. It can be found at
<http://www.jewishgen.org/jgff/>, and will allow you to connect with others who
might be researching that name or that town.

Our family of FEIGENBAUMs is related to the mother of Taube who was a FEIGENBAUM.
Taube's brothers were listed as FEIGENBAUM on their marriage records in Poland. I
will bet because of the practices in Galicia at the time that in Galicia Taube's
last name was FEIGENBAUM (even though I know her father is KAUFMAN) because of the
common practices of the day.

Louise Hajdenberg
New York City

Her mother was Taube KAUFMAN >from Brzesko, Galicia and she was associated with
Pressburg and Nowy Targ.
Jacob Rosen

Our family of FEIGENBAUMs is related to the mother of Taube who was a FEIGENBAUM.
Taube's brothers were listed as FEIGENBAUM on their marriage records in Poland. I
will bet because of the practices in Galicia at the time that in Galicia Taube's
last name was FEIGENBAUM (even though I know her father is KAUFMAN) because of the
common practices of the day.

Louise Hajdenberg
New York City

Her mother was Taube KAUFMAN >from Brzesko, Galicia and she was associated with
Pressburg and Nowy Targ.
Jacob Rosen