I am searching for information on Gorodeya, which is now in Belarus. This
town is located on the Minsk-Brest railway near Baranvichy, 58 KM. SW of
Minsk.

The current Belarus spelling is Garadzea. Other variations are Horodzie and
Horodziej.

My family name is FINE, which may have been spelled FAYN, FEYN, or FEJN.

I believe that our name was changed >from POPAK.

I would appreciate any clues to finding out about my family or general
information about this shtetl.

Issie Fine
cbsrap@bcs.ca

I am searching for information on Gorodeya, which is now in Belarus. This
town is located on the Minsk-Brest railway near Baranvichy, 58 KM. SW of
Minsk.

The current Belarus spelling is Garadzea. Other variations are Horodzie and
Horodziej.

My family name is FINE, which may have been spelled FAYN, FEYN, or FEJN.

I believe that our name was changed >from POPAK.

I would appreciate any clues to finding out about my family or general
information about this shtetl.

Issie Fine
cbsrap@bcs.ca

A number of years ago, I was told by a relative in Israel that we (both he
& I ) are direct descendants of the Shach, Rabbi Shabse Cohen, z"l,
through my maternal grandmother, who came >from Seta, Lithuania. (Shach
being an acronym for his work "Siftei Kohen" on the Shulchan Aruch- Code
of Jewish Law.)

I asked him for pertinent details about the generations , but he couldn't
provide any, except to say that my brother and great-grandfather, both
named Menachem Bentzion, are named after the Shach's son-in-law, Rabbi
Menachem Manis, z"l.

Through interlibrary loan, I obtained a copy of Keter Kehuna, a book
outlining the biograpies and family tree of Rabbi Shabse Kohen, z"l, and
his family.

His daughter, Esther, z"l, married to Menachem Manis, z"l, is the central
character of the true story "The Adopted Princess", by Dr. Marcus Lehman,
published in the 1970s.

In neither book, Keter Kehuna, nor The Adopted Princess, is any mention
given of Esther & Menachem Manis' z"l, children's, grandchildren's....etc.
names.

Can anyone give me an "etza", an idea, as to how to proceed? I want to
know the names of the generations connecting my great-grandfather and the
Shach, z"l.

TIA.

Sarah Lasry
s.lasry@videotron.ca
Montreal, Canada

A number of years ago, I was told by a relative in Israel that we (both he
& I ) are direct descendants of the Shach, Rabbi Shabse Cohen, z"l,
through my maternal grandmother, who came >from Seta, Lithuania. (Shach
being an acronym for his work "Siftei Kohen" on the Shulchan Aruch- Code
of Jewish Law.)

I asked him for pertinent details about the generations , but he couldn't
provide any, except to say that my brother and great-grandfather, both
named Menachem Bentzion, are named after the Shach's son-in-law, Rabbi
Menachem Manis, z"l.

Through interlibrary loan, I obtained a copy of Keter Kehuna, a book
outlining the biograpies and family tree of Rabbi Shabse Kohen, z"l, and
his family.

His daughter, Esther, z"l, married to Menachem Manis, z"l, is the central
character of the true story "The Adopted Princess", by Dr. Marcus Lehman,
published in the 1970s.

In neither book, Keter Kehuna, nor The Adopted Princess, is any mention
given of Esther & Menachem Manis' z"l, children's, grandchildren's....etc.
names.

Can anyone give me an "etza", an idea, as to how to proceed? I want to
know the names of the generations connecting my great-grandfather and the
Shach, z"l.

TIA.

Sarah Lasry
s.lasry@videotron.ca
Montreal, Canada

If you care about the future of the Northeast Branch of the National Archives,
plan to attend the public meeting on "Space Planning at NARA" to be held this
week -- August 6, 7pm-9pm-- at 201 Varick Street, New York, NY on the 12th
Floor. We expect John Carlin, US Archivist to be present. Even if you do
not plan to speak, please attend! Numbers do count! The Space Planning Team
is analyzing "NARA's current configuration of regional facilities (to)
determine what facilities NARA should have and where they should be located."
If you plan to attend, you should notify Diane LeBlanc, Regional Administrator
at diane.leblanc@walthan.nara.gov. Now is the time to act!

Estelle Guzik
JGS (NY)

If you care about the future of the Northeast Branch of the National Archives,
plan to attend the public meeting on "Space Planning at NARA" to be held this
week -- August 6, 7pm-9pm-- at 201 Varick Street, New York, NY on the 12th
Floor. We expect John Carlin, US Archivist to be present. Even if you do
not plan to speak, please attend! Numbers do count! The Space Planning Team
is analyzing "NARA's current configuration of regional facilities (to)
determine what facilities NARA should have and where they should be located."
If you plan to attend, you should notify Diane LeBlanc, Regional Administrator
at diane.leblanc@walthan.nara.gov. Now is the time to act!

Estelle Guzik
JGS (NY)

Has anyone used any of the software available on the market to do their
research? My gut tells me it isn't useful for tracing Jewish immigrants
or family members lost in the holocaust but I'd like to know if anyone
has any experience.

Has anyone used any of the software available on the market to do their
research? My gut tells me it isn't useful for tracing Jewish immigrants
or family members lost in the holocaust but I'd like to know if anyone
has any experience.

Corin Goodwin wrote:

2. A cousin is sending me studio photos of my gggf and gggf >from Russia.
On the back is some writing -- probably the name of the studio, but
possibly also other notes on who/when/where/etc. Unfortunately, it's in
Cyrillic (spel?), which I can't read. Does anyone know where I can get
it translated?

I would volunteer my services however my one year of college Russianis
embarrassingly far in my past.

I will point out that there are many recent emigrants >from "the former Soviet
Union" in the Bay Area. Try the Jewish Family Services, a JCC, or maybe
even the Russian Center in San Francisco. One of them might be able to
direct you to someone who could help.

As a last resort, we could see if any of that coursework >from over 30 years
ago managed to stick in my poor brain. I do have a couple of elementary
Russian-English dictionaries that you could use once the words are figured
out.

Good luck.

//Corin Barsily Goodwin
Cupertino, CA

Mike Lipsie / mikel@dosbears.com (home)

Corin Goodwin wrote:

2. A cousin is sending me studio photos of my gggf and gggf >from Russia.
On the back is some writing -- probably the name of the studio, but
possibly also other notes on who/when/where/etc. Unfortunately, it's in
Cyrillic (spel?), which I can't read. Does anyone know where I can get
it translated?

I would volunteer my services however my one year of college Russianis
embarrassingly far in my past.

I will point out that there are many recent emigrants >from "the former Soviet
Union" in the Bay Area. Try the Jewish Family Services, a JCC, or maybe
even the Russian Center in San Francisco. One of them might be able to
direct you to someone who could help.

As a last resort, we could see if any of that coursework >from over 30 years
ago managed to stick in my poor brain. I do have a couple of elementary
Russian-English dictionaries that you could use once the words are figured
out.

Good luck.

//Corin Barsily Goodwin
Cupertino, CA

Mike Lipsie / mikel@dosbears.com (home)

TO whom it may concern
Someone posted for this name ? When browsing London Jewish Chron found
Death Phillip TANCHAN 21.03.1942 youngest son of TAN (sic) TANCHIN 2 Sir
Harry Rd Brmingham 5.
BTW I knew/know a TONCHIN family

TO whom it may concern
Someone posted for this name ? When browsing London Jewish Chron found
Death Phillip TANCHAN 21.03.1942 youngest son of TAN (sic) TANCHIN 2 Sir
Harry Rd Brmingham 5.
BTW I knew/know a TONCHIN family

Seeking NECHAMKIN family...... Changed name to NEWMAN upon
arrival in US... Israel & Feige, (Fannie) parents... .
Descendants of Hirsch, Gershon, & ? male.... Family of ten
children- one died as an infant. Six sisters immigrated >from
Riga, Latvia (Shtetl-Smiltene) -1922 to Chicago, via Ellis
Island. Family lost contact with brothers. Eldest sister
Ethel arrived first to visit Aunt, Rachel Goldstein.... .
Nephew-Gershon >from Krustpils, Latvia.
Possible descendants of males of Nechamkin family please
e-mail me at marvgailsarah@uswest.net

Thanks so much in advance for your help!
Gail Dechter

Seeking NECHAMKIN family...... Changed name to NEWMAN upon
arrival in US... Israel & Feige, (Fannie) parents... .
Descendants of Hirsch, Gershon, & ? male.... Family of ten
children- one died as an infant. Six sisters immigrated >from
Riga, Latvia (Shtetl-Smiltene) -1922 to Chicago, via Ellis
Island. Family lost contact with brothers. Eldest sister
Ethel arrived first to visit Aunt, Rachel Goldstein.... .
Nephew-Gershon >from Krustpils, Latvia.
Possible descendants of males of Nechamkin family please
e-mail me at marvgailsarah@uswest.net

Thanks so much in advance for your help!
Gail Dechter

My grandmother Sara, daughter of Israel Gershon TSORFAT married
my grandfather Eliezer the son of Abraham ZUBOWITZ. My grandfather
Eliezer had a sister Sara who married Joshua RAICHMAN and another sister Rachel who married Jacob LIFSCHITZ.
The Lifschitz family apparently all settled in the
U.S.A. Eliezer and Sara had a daughter Basia who married my father Isroel
TWORETZKY who came >from Vidzy (Widze). i would be interested to hear from
anybody connected with these families.

Jack Tworetzky

My grandmother Sara, daughter of Israel Gershon TSORFAT married
my grandfather Eliezer the son of Abraham ZUBOWITZ. My grandfather
Eliezer had a sister Sara who married Joshua RAICHMAN and another sister Rachel who married Jacob LIFSCHITZ.
The Lifschitz family apparently all settled in the
U.S.A. Eliezer and Sara had a daughter Basia who married my father Isroel
TWORETZKY who came >from Vidzy (Widze). i would be interested to hear from
anybody connected with these families.

Jack Tworetzky

I recently sent a Freedom of Information form to:

Department of Justice
Immigration and Naturalization Service
425 I Street NW
2nd Floor ULLICO Building
Washington, DC 20536

Within one week, I had a return letter with a request for more information. I had
neglected to attach an obituary or death certificate. The form itself is simple to
complete. The more information you have, the more information they have to work
with. I received copies of every paper I requested >from the immigration/ship arrival
card, affidavit of intent to become a citizen, application for citizenship,
affidavits of witnesses, citizenship papers. I was thrilled to receive them.

On another note, the information I had about my other grandfather yielded a letter
saying the based on the information supplied, there were no records to be found. It
seems that my grandfather arrived prior to 1892 when he was naturalized. Records
would be in the county/state/district court, but no court I've checked has anything
on him. So, sometimes it's hit or miss. Don't get discouraged. When it's a hit,
its grand. Keep on searching.
Jean Holz
jholz@erols.com

I recently sent a Freedom of Information form to:

Department of Justice
Immigration and Naturalization Service
425 I Street NW
2nd Floor ULLICO Building
Washington, DC 20536

Within one week, I had a return letter with a request for more information. I had
neglected to attach an obituary or death certificate. The form itself is simple to
complete. The more information you have, the more information they have to work
with. I received copies of every paper I requested >from the immigration/ship arrival
card, affidavit of intent to become a citizen, application for citizenship,
affidavits of witnesses, citizenship papers. I was thrilled to receive them.

On another note, the information I had about my other grandfather yielded a letter
saying the based on the information supplied, there were no records to be found. It
seems that my grandfather arrived prior to 1892 when he was naturalized. Records
would be in the county/state/district court, but no court I've checked has anything
on him. So, sometimes it's hit or miss. Don't get discouraged. When it's a hit,
its grand. Keep on searching.
Jean Holz
jholz@erols.com

JewishGeners,

I am seeking a professional genealogist to do some research for
me in Moscow. If you can recommend someone to me I would appreciate
it.

Saul Goldstone
sgoldsto@ix.netcom.com


MODERATOR NOTE: Please respond privately.

JewishGeners,

I am seeking a professional genealogist to do some research for
me in Moscow. If you can recommend someone to me I would appreciate
it.

Saul Goldstone
sgoldsto@ix.netcom.com


MODERATOR NOTE: Please respond privately.