Let me enter the discussion on the descendants of the Mahara"m,
Rabbi Meir ben Baruch of Rothenburg o/T. I claim descend through
my ancestor, Rabbi Jakob WEIL of Weil-der-Stadt (1385-1456).

1. There is dispute regarding the connection of this Rabbi Jakob
(the Mahari"v) to the Mahara"m. Most of the (poor) evidence points
to the fact that probably his wife (>from Nuernberg) was the actual
descendant. There are probably 3 or 4 missing generations >from this
time frame to the time of Rabbi Meir.

2. Many years later, the prominent descendant of Rabbi Jakob, Rabbi
Nathanel WEIL ( 1687-1769) and author of Korban Nathanel, carries on
his tombstone the very specific notation that he was a descendant of
Rabbi Meir (hence making it possible that it may have been through
the wife of his esteemed ancestor, Rabbi Jakob).

3. The son of Rabbi Jakob WEIL was Rabbi Meir (Mahara"m) WEIL,
rabbi in Ulm and Munich, Rabbi of all Bavaria. I estimate his birth
as 1420 and he is possibly the first Maram, Marum, Maharam, known to
us (also mentioned by Brilling). This data comes directly >from the
Hakdamah of the Korban Nathanel.

4. The tradition of name selection of Meir in the WEIL family
begins with the children of Rabbi Jakob and his wife. The direct
antecedents of Rabbi Jakob did not use this name.

For further information regarding this and related topics, see my
posted article on the WEILs on the RavSIG website:
http://www.jewishgen.org/Rabbinic/journal/weil2.htm

Werner L. Frank
Calabasas, CA USA

Let me enter the discussion on the descendants of the Mahara"m,
Rabbi Meir ben Baruch of Rothenburg o/T. I claim descend through
my ancestor, Rabbi Jakob WEIL of Weil-der-Stadt (1385-1456).

1. There is dispute regarding the connection of this Rabbi Jakob
(the Mahari"v) to the Mahara"m. Most of the (poor) evidence points
to the fact that probably his wife (>from Nuernberg) was the actual
descendant. There are probably 3 or 4 missing generations >from this
time frame to the time of Rabbi Meir.

2. Many years later, the prominent descendant of Rabbi Jakob, Rabbi
Nathanel WEIL ( 1687-1769) and author of Korban Nathanel, carries on
his tombstone the very specific notation that he was a descendant of
Rabbi Meir (hence making it possible that it may have been through
the wife of his esteemed ancestor, Rabbi Jakob).

3. The son of Rabbi Jakob WEIL was Rabbi Meir (Mahara"m) WEIL,
rabbi in Ulm and Munich, Rabbi of all Bavaria. I estimate his birth
as 1420 and he is possibly the first Maram, Marum, Maharam, known to
us (also mentioned by Brilling). This data comes directly >from the
Hakdamah of the Korban Nathanel.

4. The tradition of name selection of Meir in the WEIL family
begins with the children of Rabbi Jakob and his wife. The direct
antecedents of Rabbi Jakob did not use this name.

For further information regarding this and related topics, see my
posted article on the WEILs on the RavSIG website:
http://www.jewishgen.org/Rabbinic/journal/weil2.htm

Werner L. Frank
Calabasas, CA USA

Dear Fellow Litvaks,

I am seeking assistance in understanding the administrative aspect of
Lithuanian record keeping in the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries.

My ggf, Wolf BARON and his wife Sara KAPLAN BARON said they came >from
Vilnius. I have determined that Wolf probably came >from Aukstadvaris, wsw of Vilnius, and in Trakai uezd. I have his naturalization papers >from 1893, which mention only Vilnius.

His younger brother, Rachmil immigrated in 1919 and his papers indicate
Aukstadvaris, as do Rachmil's 4 sons, who immigrated between 1908 and 1924.

Records that I recently received >from Lithuania are confusing me for several reasons.

The marriage record of Asna BARON, daughter of Rachmil Baron says she is an Aukstadvaris citizen >from Trabsk,Oshmianski Uezd. Her husband, Berko PITUM, son of Leib PITUM is said to be a Stoklishki citizen. They were married in Aukstadvaris in March 1913, and the record was found in LVIA (Lithuanian Historic Archives in Vilnius) and was part of the Vilnius Jewish Rabbinate records, Fond 728.

The death record of Leizer BARON, son of Hirsch (this may be my gggf and
ggggf) says he was a Trobski citizen >from Oshmiana Uezd who died in Feb 1894 in Aukstadvaris. This record also came >from the Vilnius Rabbinate records.

The marriage record of Rivka BARON, daughter of Leiser, says she is an
Oshmiana citizen who was married in Vilnius in 1896 to Oshmiana uezd
Devenishki citizen Egidya LEVIN, son of Chaim.

I have concentrated my efforts on Vilnius city, Vilnius Guberniya,
Aukstadvaris and Trakai Uezd for the last 10 years. Have I been spinning my wheels?

The Shtetls of Lithuania feature indicates Aukstadvaris to be in Trakai Uezd, Vilnius Gubernia and Oshmiany to be in Oshmiany Uezd, Minsk Gubernia. It also indicates that Trob / Traby is in Oshmiany Uezd, Vilnius Gubernia. My researcher insists my ancestors came >from Belarus before they lived in Lithuania. I'm not convinced because I can't be certain that the records she acquired are actually my family.

Some clarification is appreciated as I have read the LitvakSig Website and
cannot get a handle on this.

Eden S. Joachim
Pomona, NY (suburb of NYC)

EDENSARA@aol.com

Dear Fellow Litvaks,

I am seeking assistance in understanding the administrative aspect of
Lithuanian record keeping in the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries.

My ggf, Wolf BARON and his wife Sara KAPLAN BARON said they came >from
Vilnius. I have determined that Wolf probably came >from Aukstadvaris, wsw of Vilnius, and in Trakai uezd. I have his naturalization papers >from 1893, which mention only Vilnius.

His younger brother, Rachmil immigrated in 1919 and his papers indicate
Aukstadvaris, as do Rachmil's 4 sons, who immigrated between 1908 and 1924.

Records that I recently received >from Lithuania are confusing me for several reasons.

The marriage record of Asna BARON, daughter of Rachmil Baron says she is an Aukstadvaris citizen >from Trabsk,Oshmianski Uezd. Her husband, Berko PITUM, son of Leib PITUM is said to be a Stoklishki citizen. They were married in Aukstadvaris in March 1913, and the record was found in LVIA (Lithuanian Historic Archives in Vilnius) and was part of the Vilnius Jewish Rabbinate records, Fond 728.

The death record of Leizer BARON, son of Hirsch (this may be my gggf and
ggggf) says he was a Trobski citizen >from Oshmiana Uezd who died in Feb 1894 in Aukstadvaris. This record also came >from the Vilnius Rabbinate records.

The marriage record of Rivka BARON, daughter of Leiser, says she is an
Oshmiana citizen who was married in Vilnius in 1896 to Oshmiana uezd
Devenishki citizen Egidya LEVIN, son of Chaim.

I have concentrated my efforts on Vilnius city, Vilnius Guberniya,
Aukstadvaris and Trakai Uezd for the last 10 years. Have I been spinning my wheels?

The Shtetls of Lithuania feature indicates Aukstadvaris to be in Trakai Uezd, Vilnius Gubernia and Oshmiany to be in Oshmiany Uezd, Minsk Gubernia. It also indicates that Trob / Traby is in Oshmiany Uezd, Vilnius Gubernia. My researcher insists my ancestors came >from Belarus before they lived in Lithuania. I'm not convinced because I can't be certain that the records she acquired are actually my family.

Some clarification is appreciated as I have read the LitvakSig Website and
cannot get a handle on this.

Eden S. Joachim
Pomona, NY (suburb of NYC)

EDENSARA@aol.com

Did immigrants travelling >from Europe (i.e., Hamburg) to Ellis Island have
any travel documents or was there only the ship manifest?

A relative tells me they have a German "passport" issued in 1909 for their
grandmother and mother who sailed together >from Germany. Interestingly,
there are entries in French for "madame et jeune fille."

I wonder why the French? I was not aware that there were such travel
documents. Does this suggest a different class of passage and/or an
arrival at other than Ellis Island? I can not find a record of their
arrival in the Ellis Island records.

MODERATOR NOTE: Dates should be included in inquiries like this one.

Michael Marx Lexington, MA, USA email: MHMarx@mindspring.com

Did immigrants travelling >from Europe (i.e., Hamburg) to Ellis Island have
any travel documents or was there only the ship manifest?

A relative tells me they have a German "passport" issued in 1909 for their
grandmother and mother who sailed together >from Germany. Interestingly,
there are entries in French for "madame et jeune fille."

I wonder why the French? I was not aware that there were such travel
documents. Does this suggest a different class of passage and/or an
arrival at other than Ellis Island? I can not find a record of their
arrival in the Ellis Island records.

MODERATOR NOTE: Dates should be included in inquiries like this one.

Michael Marx Lexington, MA, USA email: MHMarx@mindspring.com

Miriam

Here is a link with the French NGO of Hidden Children, maybe they can help
you
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/memorial-cdjc/fr/enfantscaches.htm

As they don't have a specific email you can reach them at
Adresse principale : contact@memorial-cdjc.org
or fax them at the number on the web page (just add 33 and take the 0 out
[Mod. Note: i.e., >from the US: 011.33.1......]
Hope it can help you.
Manuela Wyler
Lyon France

Manuela Wyler


mwyler@club-internet.fr

Miriam

Here is a link with the French NGO of Hidden Children, maybe they can help
you
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/memorial-cdjc/fr/enfantscaches.htm

As they don't have a specific email you can reach them at
Adresse principale : contact@memorial-cdjc.org
or fax them at the number on the web page (just add 33 and take the 0 out
[Mod. Note: i.e., >from the US: 011.33.1......]
Hope it can help you.
Manuela Wyler
Lyon France

Manuela Wyler


mwyler@club-internet.fr

Genners:

I would like to thank this group for all the kind and supportive feedback I've
received over the past week. I was gratified that many people seem to be using
the ESRI tool to customize their maps and even more people found the .jpg
images useful.

In response to suggestions, I have expanded the project to include the Polish
gubernias and Galicia. Please find refined gubernia boundaries and these new
data at
http://www.mousifer.com/genealogy/pale/

If you know of a good source for historical maps (scanned or digitized) on the
web or can contribute a list of cities with coordinates (i.e., a gazetteer)
that you'd like to see included as a "data layer", let me hear >from you.
BTW, if you're looking for the geographic coordinates of a city, try
http://www.multimap.com/ and/or http://www.calle.com/world/

enjoy!

Seth Orloff
Lowell, MA

Researching ORLOFF LURIE LISS SERBIN LERMAN SAWITSKY SMUSHKEVICH

Hi Genners,

There is a another site located at <A HREF="http://www.foreignword.com/">
Foreignword.com - The Language Site: dictionaries & free translation tools.
</A>
It has links to many translation tools, over 200 online dictionaries and
about 20, or so, text translators.

This might help to at least get the gist of a document - but as we all know,
with many languages, the idioms and terms, translated word for word may not
be what was originally intended. So use and enjoy......

Freya Blitstein Maslov
Morton Grove, IL

Genners:

I would like to thank this group for all the kind and supportive feedback I've
received over the past week. I was gratified that many people seem to be using
the ESRI tool to customize their maps and even more people found the .jpg
images useful.

In response to suggestions, I have expanded the project to include the Polish
gubernias and Galicia. Please find refined gubernia boundaries and these new
data at
http://www.mousifer.com/genealogy/pale/

If you know of a good source for historical maps (scanned or digitized) on the
web or can contribute a list of cities with coordinates (i.e., a gazetteer)
that you'd like to see included as a "data layer", let me hear >from you.
BTW, if you're looking for the geographic coordinates of a city, try
http://www.multimap.com/ and/or http://www.calle.com/world/

enjoy!

Seth Orloff
Lowell, MA

Researching ORLOFF LURIE LISS SERBIN LERMAN SAWITSKY SMUSHKEVICH

Hi Genners,

There is a another site located at <A HREF="http://www.foreignword.com/">
Foreignword.com - The Language Site: dictionaries & free translation tools.
</A>
It has links to many translation tools, over 200 online dictionaries and
about 20, or so, text translators.

This might help to at least get the gist of a document - but as we all know,
with many languages, the idioms and terms, translated word for word may not
be what was originally intended. So use and enjoy......

Freya Blitstein Maslov
Morton Grove, IL

Recently I have fully upgraded the Radomyshl site, which was created
five years ago. The site is located on: http://radomyshl.lk.net
(JewishGen administrators were asking me to move the site contents to
their server; a few months ago I did it, but they are still linking from
ShtettlLinks Project to the above address, so meanwhile it is on lk.net).

The renewal site is redesigned and includes a lot of new discoveries.
Now it contains of eight parts: History, Images, Maps, Links, Holocaust,
Archives & databases, Memoirs & family stories and Genealogy.

I think, "Images" is most interest, it is divided into two other parts:
views
and faces. In last one Radomyshl researchers are welcomed to send
their family photos in order to publish them on the site.

On my opinion, the page "Postcards" (see it in "Images") seems to be
very attractive. There you can find 16 restored postcards of Radomyshl,
which were published by my great grandfather Elya ZAYEZDNY about
100 years ago. Also you can find there a few Photo Galleries of modern
Radomyshl.

In "Memoirs & family stories" Radomyshl researchers are invited to tell
their family stories, which could be added on the site. There you can also
read my notes >from the interest meeting with 96-years-old former
Radomyshl resident Zina EISENBERG, who lived there until 1995.

Parts "Links", "Archives & databases" and "Genealogy" are enriched by
new and/or updated links. The new link to the 1895 list of Radomyshl
businesses, which was translated and compiled by JewishGen site,
is found in "Archives & databases".

I would like to apologize in advance for possible inaccuracy or any mistakes
(especially in my English) and will appreciate, if you correct
and update such mistakes by sending e-mail to me. By the way, my
e-mail address recently was changed. It is now: elikis@bezeqint.net

Eli Kislyuk
Karmiel, Israel
elikis@bezeqint.net

Recently I have fully upgraded the Radomyshl site, which was created
five years ago. The site is located on: http://radomyshl.lk.net
(JewishGen administrators were asking me to move the site contents to
their server; a few months ago I did it, but they are still linking from
ShtettlLinks Project to the above address, so meanwhile it is on lk.net).

The renewal site is redesigned and includes a lot of new discoveries.
Now it contains of eight parts: History, Images, Maps, Links, Holocaust,
Archives & databases, Memoirs & family stories and Genealogy.

I think, "Images" is most interest, it is divided into two other parts:
views
and faces. In last one Radomyshl researchers are welcomed to send
their family photos in order to publish them on the site.

On my opinion, the page "Postcards" (see it in "Images") seems to be
very attractive. There you can find 16 restored postcards of Radomyshl,
which were published by my great grandfather Elya ZAYEZDNY about
100 years ago. Also you can find there a few Photo Galleries of modern
Radomyshl.

In "Memoirs & family stories" Radomyshl researchers are invited to tell
their family stories, which could be added on the site. There you can also
read my notes >from the interest meeting with 96-years-old former
Radomyshl resident Zina EISENBERG, who lived there until 1995.

Parts "Links", "Archives & databases" and "Genealogy" are enriched by
new and/or updated links. The new link to the 1895 list of Radomyshl
businesses, which was translated and compiled by JewishGen site,
is found in "Archives & databases".

I would like to apologize in advance for possible inaccuracy or any mistakes
(especially in my English) and will appreciate, if you correct
and update such mistakes by sending e-mail to me. By the way, my
e-mail address recently was changed. It is now: elikis@bezeqint.net

Eli Kislyuk
Karmiel, Israel
elikis@bezeqint.net

There is a distinct possibility that Hurricane Lili will hit the Houston
Texas area within the next day or so. Even while we are watching the
storm's progress, we have been preparing, should we be hit.

Everything possible is being done to ensure that JewishGen looses no data
and all our records are safe, but we may be off line, depending on how
severely the area is affected.

Carol Skydell, Vice President,
JewishGen Special Projects

There is a distinct possibility that Hurricane Lili will hit the Houston
Texas area within the next day or so. Even while we are watching the
storm's progress, we have been preparing, should we be hit.

Everything possible is being done to ensure that JewishGen looses no data
and all our records are safe, but we may be off line, depending on how
severely the area is affected.

Carol Skydell, Vice President,
JewishGen Special Projects

For pauper's graves, try contacting the Hebrew Free Burial Society in New
York. They were very helpful to me for a grandfather who died in NYC in
1906. They told me he was buried in Silver Lake Cemetary in Staten Island
and they had a copy of the application for burial.
Judy Salomon
New Jersey

Apropos of one name being in several areas, there is a
northern Gomel and a southern Gomel. As the archives
in clude a Homler-Kiever Synagogue I would safely
conclude thet my Gomel is in southeastern Belarus
close in miles to Kiev.

Jerry Seligsohn
NYC

For pauper's graves, try contacting the Hebrew Free Burial Society in New
York. They were very helpful to me for a grandfather who died in NYC in
1906. They told me he was buried in Silver Lake Cemetary in Staten Island
and they had a copy of the application for burial.
Judy Salomon
New Jersey

Apropos of one name being in several areas, there is a
northern Gomel and a southern Gomel. As the archives
in clude a Homler-Kiever Synagogue I would safely
conclude thet my Gomel is in southeastern Belarus
close in miles to Kiev.

Jerry Seligsohn
NYC