Gary Mokotoff mentioned a person's American name being Jacob and in view of
special circumstances said it was highly likely his European name was
something else, and asked if any other European given names commonly
translate into "Jacob".

Dear Mr. Mokotoff,

A search in Prof. Esterson's Given Names Data Bases (GNDBs) in JewishGen

http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/GivenNames/search.htm

includes the possibility of a FOREIGN-TO-EUROPEAN SEARCH , for different
countries of origin and destination.

The indication is: "Enter your ancestor's vernacular given name(s) for his
foreign-country of immigration, and obtain all the possible foreign-country
vernacular given names he might have adopted, plus the European given names
he might have had in his European country of origin."

You can define Search Name: Jacob, for Foreign Country: U.S., and choose a
possible country of origin in Europe - I do not know if you have the info on
this person's original country.

I just made a couple of tries for different countries, and found unexpected
results (at least, for me!) among the lists of possibilities, such as
Legal/Hebrew Asher Zelig\Zelik in Lithuania becoming Jacob in the US, or the
European secular Ekalets, in Belarus, becoming Jacob in the U.S.

Hope this resource helps identify possible names in Europe for the Jacob in
the U.S.

Carlos Glikson

Buenos Aires, Argentina

A few years ago, a third cousin of mine decided to put up a stone on the grave
of her grandmother's brother Jake, who died of consumption in the early 1900's
at age 26. (They had had no money to put up a stone at the time.) So she had
a stone made up and, of course, wrote Jacob and Yaakov as the two forms of the
name.

Shortly thereafter, when JRI-Poland began giving us data >from Skalat, we found
his birth record. His name was listed as Jachiel, or as we would write it
today, Yehiel.

Israel Pickholtz

Quoting JewishGen Discussion Group digest <jewishgen@...>:

Gary Mokotoff mentioned a person's American name being Jacob and in view of
special circumstances said it was highly likely his European name was
something else, and asked if any other European given names commonly
translate into "Jacob".

Dear Mr. Mokotoff,

A search in Prof. Esterson's Given Names Data Bases (GNDBs) in JewishGen

http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/GivenNames/search.htm

includes the possibility of a FOREIGN-TO-EUROPEAN SEARCH , for different
countries of origin and destination.

The indication is: "Enter your ancestor's vernacular given name(s) for his
foreign-country of immigration, and obtain all the possible foreign-country
vernacular given names he might have adopted, plus the European given names
he might have had in his European country of origin."

You can define Search Name: Jacob, for Foreign Country: U.S., and choose a
possible country of origin in Europe - I do not know if you have the info on
this person's original country.

I just made a couple of tries for different countries, and found unexpected
results (at least, for me!) among the lists of possibilities, such as
Legal/Hebrew Asher Zelig\Zelik in Lithuania becoming Jacob in the US, or the
European secular Ekalets, in Belarus, becoming Jacob in the U.S.

Hope this resource helps identify possible names in Europe for the Jacob in
the U.S.

Carlos Glikson

Buenos Aires, Argentina

A few years ago, a third cousin of mine decided to put up a stone on the grave
of her grandmother's brother Jake, who died of consumption in the early 1900's
at age 26. (They had had no money to put up a stone at the time.) So she had
a stone made up and, of course, wrote Jacob and Yaakov as the two forms of the
name.

Shortly thereafter, when JRI-Poland began giving us data >from Skalat, we found
his birth record. His name was listed as Jachiel, or as we would write it
today, Yehiel.

Israel Pickholtz

Quoting JewishGen Discussion Group digest <jewishgen@...>:

November Meeting of Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia

Date: Monday, November 8, 2004
Time: 7:45 PM
Place: The Newman Building at Gratz College
Old York Road (Route 611) and Melrose Avenue
Melrose Park, PA
***
Topic: Tombstone Translation Topics or The Matzevah Matters
How to Read A Hebrew Tombstone Anywhere In The World

Speaker: Judith Shulamith Langer-Surnamer Caplan

***

Judith Shulamith Langer-Surnamer Caplan, the daughter of a rabbi and
a rebbetzin, earned a BA in English >from Brooklyn College, a Masters
in Mass Communications >from Syracuse University, and studied at
Seminary College of Jewish Theological Seminary. She has taught
high school English and is a published poet and short story writer.
Her articles on genealogy have appeared in Avotaynu, the APG Quarterly,
and The Jewish Star. Judi is the Editor of the Litvak SIG Online Journal
http://www.jewishgen.org/litvak/journal.htm. She and her husband Neil
are the grandparents of Gwen (Gisa), Owen (Yehezkel), Chana Rivka,
and Esther Malka Caplan ~ who was named for her 8th great-grandmother.

Judi <Judith27@...> is also the founder of Up, Roots! a professional
genealogical research and cemetery visitation service in the NYC - LI area.

What information of genealogical value might a visit to a family gravestone
provide? How can you properly decipher and decode what the Hebrew
letters and words recite, even if you aren't as Hebrew literate as you might
like to be? To help you read your family gravestones almost anywhere
in the world ~ >from the Americas to Zimbabwe ~ this presentation will focus
on:

-- The Usual Format of the Hebrew Section of Jewish Gravestones
-- Whether a "Resh" indicates your Great-Grandfather was a Rabbi,
or the difference between Reb and Rav
-- Common and Uncommon Words and Phrases used
-- Hebrew Acronyms and Abbreviations (Roshei Tevot) as a shorthand
for Words, Phrases, Significant Dates
-- Hebrew Dates, and Dating Practices
-- Whether You Have to Translate Everything
-- Symbols and Motifs Found on a Gravestone
-- Designing a Genealogically Useful Tombstone Inscription

***
For New Members - Q. & A..

Come to the meeting 7:15 PM (30 minutes early) for Q.& A. session
where more experienced members of our group give advice and counsel
on issues that perplex you.

***
For all who are researching Philadelphia roots and need information
on local resources; cemeteries, funeral directors, repositories (and
much more) please visit the JGSGP website:
http://www.jewishgen.org/jgsp

***
Interested friends are always welcome!
Refreshments will be served following the meeting

***
German Special Interest Group:
The next meeting will be on Sunday,
December 5 at the home of Phyllis Sichel,
For more information contact Monica Leonards at
<m_leonards@...>

***
Russian Special Interest Group (RIG):
Meetings are held on a Sunday, 1:30PM at Klein Branch JCC
at Red Lion Road and Jamison Avenue, Philadelphia.
For more information contact David Brill at <Dbrill@...>

***
Delaware County Main Line Affiliate:
Tuesday, November 16, 2004 730PM:
Speaker is Paul Abrams - "My Trip to Vilna"
Meetings are held at Martins Run Life Care Community,
11 Martins Run, Media, PA at 7:30PM.
One-on-one help is offered in the Computer Room starting at 6:45PM.
For more information contact Shelda Sandler at <stanshel @msn.com>.

***
South Jersey Affiliate:
Meetings are held at Congregation Beth Tikvah,
115 Evesboro-Medford Rd., Marlton, New Jersey.
For information contact Joel Spector at <jlspector@ aol.com>.

***

Lois Sernoff
<JGLois@...>

The San Diego Jewish Book Fair will be presenting Arthur Kurzweil on
Sunday, November 14th at 5:00 p.m. at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community
Center, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. The San Diego Jewish Genealogical
Society is a co-sponsor of this event.

Kurzweil is the author of ">from Generation to Generation: How to Trace your
Jewish Genealogy and Family History." In 1999 he was awarded a "Lifetime
Achievement" award >from the International Association of Jewish
Genealogical Societies. His talk in San Diego in 1982 resulted in the
founding of the San Diego Jewish Genealogical Society. Copies of his
latest book will be available for purchase.

Tickets are $9.50 and may be purchased >from the Jewish Community Center box
office (858) 362-1348.

Roberta Berman
SDJGS event coordinator

November Meeting of Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia

Date: Monday, November 8, 2004
Time: 7:45 PM
Place: The Newman Building at Gratz College
Old York Road (Route 611) and Melrose Avenue
Melrose Park, PA
***
Topic: Tombstone Translation Topics or The Matzevah Matters
How to Read A Hebrew Tombstone Anywhere In The World

Speaker: Judith Shulamith Langer-Surnamer Caplan

***

Judith Shulamith Langer-Surnamer Caplan, the daughter of a rabbi and
a rebbetzin, earned a BA in English >from Brooklyn College, a Masters
in Mass Communications >from Syracuse University, and studied at
Seminary College of Jewish Theological Seminary. She has taught
high school English and is a published poet and short story writer.
Her articles on genealogy have appeared in Avotaynu, the APG Quarterly,
and The Jewish Star. Judi is the Editor of the Litvak SIG Online Journal
http://www.jewishgen.org/litvak/journal.htm. She and her husband Neil
are the grandparents of Gwen (Gisa), Owen (Yehezkel), Chana Rivka,
and Esther Malka Caplan ~ who was named for her 8th great-grandmother.

Judi <Judith27@...> is also the founder of Up, Roots! a professional
genealogical research and cemetery visitation service in the NYC - LI area.

What information of genealogical value might a visit to a family gravestone
provide? How can you properly decipher and decode what the Hebrew
letters and words recite, even if you aren't as Hebrew literate as you might
like to be? To help you read your family gravestones almost anywhere
in the world ~ >from the Americas to Zimbabwe ~ this presentation will focus
on:

-- The Usual Format of the Hebrew Section of Jewish Gravestones
-- Whether a "Resh" indicates your Great-Grandfather was a Rabbi,
or the difference between Reb and Rav
-- Common and Uncommon Words and Phrases used
-- Hebrew Acronyms and Abbreviations (Roshei Tevot) as a shorthand
for Words, Phrases, Significant Dates
-- Hebrew Dates, and Dating Practices
-- Whether You Have to Translate Everything
-- Symbols and Motifs Found on a Gravestone
-- Designing a Genealogically Useful Tombstone Inscription

***
For New Members - Q. & A..

Come to the meeting 7:15 PM (30 minutes early) for Q.& A. session
where more experienced members of our group give advice and counsel
on issues that perplex you.

***
For all who are researching Philadelphia roots and need information
on local resources; cemeteries, funeral directors, repositories (and
much more) please visit the JGSGP website:
http://www.jewishgen.org/jgsp

***
Interested friends are always welcome!
Refreshments will be served following the meeting

***
German Special Interest Group:
The next meeting will be on Sunday,
December 5 at the home of Phyllis Sichel,
For more information contact Monica Leonards at
<m_leonards@...>

***
Russian Special Interest Group (RIG):
Meetings are held on a Sunday, 1:30PM at Klein Branch JCC
at Red Lion Road and Jamison Avenue, Philadelphia.
For more information contact David Brill at <Dbrill@...>

***
Delaware County Main Line Affiliate:
Tuesday, November 16, 2004 730PM:
Speaker is Paul Abrams - "My Trip to Vilna"
Meetings are held at Martins Run Life Care Community,
11 Martins Run, Media, PA at 7:30PM.
One-on-one help is offered in the Computer Room starting at 6:45PM.
For more information contact Shelda Sandler at <stanshel @msn.com>.

***
South Jersey Affiliate:
Meetings are held at Congregation Beth Tikvah,
115 Evesboro-Medford Rd., Marlton, New Jersey.
For information contact Joel Spector at <jlspector@ aol.com>.

***

Lois Sernoff
<JGLois@...>

The San Diego Jewish Book Fair will be presenting Arthur Kurzweil on
Sunday, November 14th at 5:00 p.m. at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community
Center, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. The San Diego Jewish Genealogical
Society is a co-sponsor of this event.

Kurzweil is the author of ">from Generation to Generation: How to Trace your
Jewish Genealogy and Family History." In 1999 he was awarded a "Lifetime
Achievement" award >from the International Association of Jewish
Genealogical Societies. His talk in San Diego in 1982 resulted in the
founding of the San Diego Jewish Genealogical Society. Copies of his
latest book will be available for purchase.

Tickets are $9.50 and may be purchased >from the Jewish Community Center box
office (858) 362-1348.

Roberta Berman
SDJGS event coordinator

Nurit Peri [WEINREB] wrote on 16 Oct 2004 looking for
for the LAGSTEIN family >from Schwarzenau, Austria
until 1939: "these should be relatives to Regina
LAGSTEIN who was married to Michael WEINREB."

Schwarzenau is in the Waldviertel of Austria see
http://kommenundgehen.schwarzenau.at/

Once again, I have to stress that there is a SIG
called Bohemia-Moravia which deals specifically with
Austria and especially Vienna. The name of the SIG is
misleading as the group deals with the former Hapsburg
Crownlands of Bohemia and Moravia [Czech Republic] as
well as the then [pre-WW1] colonial power, Austria
with its capital Vienna, a city with one of the
largest pre-war Jewish populations.

There were small communities of Jews living in other
areas of Austria and Nurit may find links to her
family if she joins Bohemia-Moravia SIG, which might
otherwise go undiscovered and vice versa for our
members. Furthermore we have many knowledgeable
members who could help her.

I have located over ten holocaust victims called
LAGSTEIN >from Austria and 20 called WEINREB. Most
appear to be of Galician origin. I have a potential
victim called Regine WEINREB and other family members
but cannot positively identify them as being members
of the LAGSTEIN/WEINREB clan until I receive further
data.

For Vienna and Austria, please remember our SIG:
http://www.jewishgen.org/bohmor

Celia Male [UK]

Nurit Peri [WEINREB] wrote on 16 Oct 2004 looking for
for the LAGSTEIN family >from Schwarzenau, Austria
until 1939: "these should be relatives to Regina
LAGSTEIN who was married to Michael WEINREB."

Schwarzenau is in the Waldviertel of Austria see
http://kommenundgehen.schwarzenau.at/

Once again, I have to stress that there is a SIG
called Bohemia-Moravia which deals specifically with
Austria and especially Vienna. The name of the SIG is
misleading as the group deals with the former Hapsburg
Crownlands of Bohemia and Moravia [Czech Republic] as
well as the then [pre-WW1] colonial power, Austria
with its capital Vienna, a city with one of the
largest pre-war Jewish populations.

There were small communities of Jews living in other
areas of Austria and Nurit may find links to her
family if she joins Bohemia-Moravia SIG, which might
otherwise go undiscovered and vice versa for our
members. Furthermore we have many knowledgeable
members who could help her.

I have located over ten holocaust victims called
LAGSTEIN >from Austria and 20 called WEINREB. Most
appear to be of Galician origin. I have a potential
victim called Regine WEINREB and other family members
but cannot positively identify them as being members
of the LAGSTEIN/WEINREB clan until I receive further
data.

For Vienna and Austria, please remember our SIG:
http://www.jewishgen.org/bohmor

Celia Male [UK]

Susana Mamber asked:

Dear group, I found in Pinkas Hanitzulim I, the name of whom I think is a
relative of mine. The question is how can I know to which country he went
after been liberty >from the Buchenwald Camp. Is any information about the
place, or country? Can I somehow fine this information?

I'd suggest you to look at Yad VaShem library through the microfilms of the
International Tracing Center (Arolsen). There may be additional records for
this person, such as boarding on a ship to Australia.

Jean-Pierre Stroweis
Israel Genealogical Society,
Jerusalem
stroweis@...

Susana Mamber asked:

Dear group, I found in Pinkas Hanitzulim I, the name of whom I think is a
relative of mine. The question is how can I know to which country he went
after been liberty >from the Buchenwald Camp. Is any information about the
place, or country? Can I somehow fine this information?

I'd suggest you to look at Yad VaShem library through the microfilms of the
International Tracing Center (Arolsen). There may be additional records for
this person, such as boarding on a ship to Australia.

Jean-Pierre Stroweis
Israel Genealogical Society,
Jerusalem
stroweis@...

I would be interested in both a meeting and lunch depending on the schedule.

Jackye Sullins
San Diego

I would be interested in both a meeting and lunch depending on the schedule.

Jackye Sullins
San Diego

Barbara Zimmer of Norfolk, Virginia is seeking
information on Sigmund STEINER, possibly born in
Krakow, who moved to Vienna. He married Charlotte
SCHECK and had two children, Hans and Eric. Hans was
born in 1914 and Eric in 1911. The family lived in
Vienna until 1938 when they witnessed the Anschluss
and fled to New Jersey. There is also a relationship
to PAUL and EISENBERG.

She asks for a private reply but I must stress once
again that there is a SIG called Bohemia-Moravia which
deals specifically with Austria and especially Vienna.
The name of the SIG is misleading as the group deals
with the former Hapsburg Crownlands of Bohemia and
Moravia [Czech Republic] as well as the then [pre-WW1]
colonial power, Austria with its capital Vienna, a
city with one of the largest pre-war Jewish
populations. There is a wealth of information on the
website and amongst our members on Vienna, where there
is much documentation on Jewish residents.

I can tell Barbara now that there are many Jewish
SCHECKS buried in Vienna and some may be linked to her
family. Also there is one tragic SCHECK holocaust
victim: Lotta SCHECK born on 24.12.1895. STEINERs are
rather numerous to pinpoint but there are two Sigmunds
living in Vienna in the 1930s who could be hits.

Also Barbara may find links to her family if she joins
Bohemia-Moravia, which might otherwise go undiscovered
and vice versa for our members.

For Vienna and Austria, please remember our SIG:
http://www.jewishgen.org/bohmor/

Celia Male [UK]

Barbara Zimmer of Norfolk, Virginia is seeking
information on Sigmund STEINER, possibly born in
Krakow, who moved to Vienna. He married Charlotte
SCHECK and had two children, Hans and Eric. Hans was
born in 1914 and Eric in 1911. The family lived in
Vienna until 1938 when they witnessed the Anschluss
and fled to New Jersey. There is also a relationship
to PAUL and EISENBERG.

She asks for a private reply but I must stress once
again that there is a SIG called Bohemia-Moravia which
deals specifically with Austria and especially Vienna.
The name of the SIG is misleading as the group deals
with the former Hapsburg Crownlands of Bohemia and
Moravia [Czech Republic] as well as the then [pre-WW1]
colonial power, Austria with its capital Vienna, a
city with one of the largest pre-war Jewish
populations. There is a wealth of information on the
website and amongst our members on Vienna, where there
is much documentation on Jewish residents.

I can tell Barbara now that there are many Jewish
SCHECKS buried in Vienna and some may be linked to her
family. Also there is one tragic SCHECK holocaust
victim: Lotta SCHECK born on 24.12.1895. STEINERs are
rather numerous to pinpoint but there are two Sigmunds
living in Vienna in the 1930s who could be hits.

Also Barbara may find links to her family if she joins
Bohemia-Moravia, which might otherwise go undiscovered
and vice versa for our members.

For Vienna and Austria, please remember our SIG:
http://www.jewishgen.org/bohmor/

Celia Male [UK]

Arieh Mayer >from Israel wrote on 28th October about
conversion of RM in Austria in 1938.

Once again, I have to stress that there is a SIG
called Bohemia-Moravia which deals specifically with
Austria and especially Vienna. The name of the SIG is
misleading as the group deals with the former Hapsburg
Crownlands of Bohemia and Moravia [Czech Republic] as
well as the then [pre-WW1] colonial power, Austria
with its capital Vienna, a city with one of the
largest pre-war Jewish populations.

Restitution matters are always discussed on our SIG
and if you refer to our message archives and enter RM,
dollars, currency, conversion etc you will get many
hits.

Also Arieh may find links to his family if he joins
Bohemia-Moravia, which might otherwise go undiscovered
and vice versa for our members.

For Vienna and Austria, please remember our SIG:
http://www.jewishgen.org/bohmor/

Celia Male [UK]

Arieh Mayer >from Israel wrote on 28th October about
conversion of RM in Austria in 1938.

Once again, I have to stress that there is a SIG
called Bohemia-Moravia which deals specifically with
Austria and especially Vienna. The name of the SIG is
misleading as the group deals with the former Hapsburg
Crownlands of Bohemia and Moravia [Czech Republic] as
well as the then [pre-WW1] colonial power, Austria
with its capital Vienna, a city with one of the
largest pre-war Jewish populations.

Restitution matters are always discussed on our SIG
and if you refer to our message archives and enter RM,
dollars, currency, conversion etc you will get many
hits.

Also Arieh may find links to his family if he joins
Bohemia-Moravia, which might otherwise go undiscovered
and vice versa for our members.

For Vienna and Austria, please remember our SIG:
http://www.jewishgen.org/bohmor/

Celia Male [UK]

Fred Klein writes that he would appreciate hearing

from anyone that is researching the SILVERMAN

Family of Leeds, England. He is trying to find any
information on Sarah SILVERMAN, a resident of Leeds,
born in 1876.

The moderator comments quite correctly that the name
should be registered in the family Finder for a
greater chance of success.

I am not related to the SILVERMAN family, but as a
general point, I would like to stress that with a
common name like SILVERMAN, there may be a greater
chance of success if one tries to "zero in" on the
data available in the censuses.

Here for instance are the entries in the 1881 census
of England and Wales for Sarah SILVERMAN's family of a
Leeds, Yorkshire:

Marks SILVERMAN: father aged 31 born Poland - Slipper
Maker. Annie SILVERMAN: mother aged 31 born Poland.
Then there were 6 children all born in Leeds:
Abraham {10}, Becca {9}, Jacob {8}, Sarah {5}, Leah
{3} and Annie [designated as a scholar!] 9 months.

The parents obviously emigrated to England before 1871.
Marks and Annie may even have married in Leeds in ca
1870. Naturalisation records may be available at the
Public Records Office in Kew, see:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/default.htm

Furthermore, unless the family re-emigrated to the US
or possible South Africa or another location, it is
likely that there will be descendants in the Leeds
area as there were so many children. With two boys in
the family in 1881, Abraham and Jacob, they may still
be called SILVERMAN.

Fred Klein will now have many leads to follow up.

Celia Male [UK]

Fred Klein writes that he would appreciate hearing

from anyone that is researching the SILVERMAN

Family of Leeds, England. He is trying to find any
information on Sarah SILVERMAN, a resident of Leeds,
born in 1876.

The moderator comments quite correctly that the name
should be registered in the family Finder for a
greater chance of success.

I am not related to the SILVERMAN family, but as a
general point, I would like to stress that with a
common name like SILVERMAN, there may be a greater
chance of success if one tries to "zero in" on the
data available in the censuses.

Here for instance are the entries in the 1881 census
of England and Wales for Sarah SILVERMAN's family of a
Leeds, Yorkshire:

Marks SILVERMAN: father aged 31 born Poland - Slipper
Maker. Annie SILVERMAN: mother aged 31 born Poland.
Then there were 6 children all born in Leeds:
Abraham {10}, Becca {9}, Jacob {8}, Sarah {5}, Leah
{3} and Annie [designated as a scholar!] 9 months.

The parents obviously emigrated to England before 1871.
Marks and Annie may even have married in Leeds in ca
1870. Naturalisation records may be available at the
Public Records Office in Kew, see:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/default.htm

Furthermore, unless the family re-emigrated to the US
or possible South Africa or another location, it is
likely that there will be descendants in the Leeds
area as there were so many children. With two boys in
the family in 1881, Abraham and Jacob, they may still
be called SILVERMAN.

Fred Klein will now have many leads to follow up.

Celia Male [UK]