Please correct a typographic error in my message of a few minutes ago.
Its first line should read,

G. Zetzel wrote on 4 Feb 2006, [not: 2005] Sorry!

Ralph B. Hirsch, Celle, Germany

Please correct a typographic error in my message of a few minutes ago.
Its first line should read,

G. Zetzel wrote on 4 Feb 2006, [not: 2005] Sorry!

Ralph B. Hirsch, Celle, Germany

G. Zetzel wrote on 4 Feb 2005,

"My GGF Joseph LAGOWITZ, "mosaisch", is listed as having been
"Rittergutsbesitzer". Dictionary translation is "Lord of the manor."
How likely does this seem for late 19th C. Saxony? "

The translation Zetzel found is misleading, as it implies a social role.
In fact the term "Rittergutsbesitzer" denotes only a property status,
namely that of owner of an estate.

Ralph B. Hirsch, Celle (Lower Saxony), Germany <hirsch@igc.org>

G. Zetzel wrote on 4 Feb 2005,

"My GGF Joseph LAGOWITZ, "mosaisch", is listed as having been
"Rittergutsbesitzer". Dictionary translation is "Lord of the manor."
How likely does this seem for late 19th C. Saxony? "

The translation Zetzel found is misleading, as it implies a social role.
In fact the term "Rittergutsbesitzer" denotes only a property status,
namely that of owner of an estate.

Ralph B. Hirsch, Celle (Lower Saxony), Germany <hirsch@igc.org>

In a message dated 2/4/2006 peter@thesinclairs.co.uk writes:

".....the highest acclamation must surely go to Arthur Obermayer for his vision
..... to honour utterly decent German men and women .... who see it
as their personal responsibility to perpetuate German-Jewish history."

==I would like to add that Herbert Loebl OBE of Newcastle on Tyne and Bamberg
(my 8th cousin twice removed), who six years ago originated the idea for such
an award, financed the original project and, in fact, promoted Johann Fleischmann
as one of the original recipients. Thank you Herbert and Arthur, both.

[ And thanks to any others who have helped inspire and carry on this program.
If other members wish to add kudos to those already posted here please send
same to: gersig@aol.com
for collection. A summary of your honorable mentions will be posted to the list
but no more **individual** messages of this kind. MODERATOR ]

Michael Bernet, New York MBernet@aol.com

In a message dated 2/4/2006 peter@thesinclairs.co.uk writes:

".....the highest acclamation must surely go to Arthur Obermayer for his vision
..... to honour utterly decent German men and women .... who see it
as their personal responsibility to perpetuate German-Jewish history."

==I would like to add that Herbert Loebl OBE of Newcastle on Tyne and Bamberg
(my 8th cousin twice removed), who six years ago originated the idea for such
an award, financed the original project and, in fact, promoted Johann Fleischmann
as one of the original recipients. Thank you Herbert and Arthur, both.

[ And thanks to any others who have helped inspire and carry on this program.
If other members wish to add kudos to those already posted here please send
same to: gersig@aol.com
for collection. A summary of your honorable mentions will be posted to the list
but no more **individual** messages of this kind. MODERATOR ]

Michael Bernet, New York MBernet@aol.com

Message >from Gary Mokotoff:
***************************

The International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and Paul Jacobi Center
opened this week. Located at the Jewish National and University Library at
Givat Ram, Jerusalem, the new Institute, a non-profit organization, has two
main aims: (1) to engage in Jewish genealogical research and teaching at the
university level and (2) to make Jewish Genealogy a recognized academic
discipline within the realm of Jewish Studies.

The Institute is the only one of its kind in the Jewish world. It plans to
operate on an interdisciplinary basis and also in a collaborative way with
organizations engaged in aspects of Jewish genealogy. It will put a premium
on innovative programs and projects of practical benefit to individual
family historians.

Its establishment is the result of efforts over the last two years of an
international Founding Committee, headed by Sallyann Sack, of Washington,
DC. and Yosef Lamdan of Israel. Lamdan, a former Israeli ambassador to the
Vatican, has been appointed as Director of the Institute.

One of its first projects is an academic symposium to be held in Jerusalem
in September with a view to setting research and teaching priorities for the
new Institute. Experts >from the academic and genealogical world will be
presenting papers.

Its e-mail address is info@IIJG.com.

Gary Mokotoff
Member of Founding Committee

Interesting news >from Gary Mokotoff:
************************************

The International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and Paul Jacobi Center
opened this week. Located at the Jewish National and University Library at
Givat Ram, Jerusalem, the new Institute, a non-profit organization, has two
main aims: (1) to engage in Jewish genealogical research and teaching at the
university level and (2) to make Jewish Genealogy a recognized academic
discipline within the realm of Jewish Studies.

The Institute is the only one of its kind in the Jewish world. It plans to
operate on an interdisciplinary basis and also in a collaborative way with
organizations engaged in aspects of Jewish genealogy. It will put a premium
on innovative programs and projects of practical benefit to individual
family historians.

Its establishment is the result of efforts over the last two years of an
international Founding Committee, headed by Sallyann Sack, of Washington,
DC. and Yosef Lamdan of Israel. Lamdan, a former Israeli ambassador to the
Vatican, has been appointed as Director of the Institute.

One of its first projects is an academic symposium to be held in Jerusalem
in September with a view to setting research and teaching priorities for the
new Institute. Experts >from the academic and genealogical world will be
presenting papers.

Its e-mail address is info@IIJG.com.

Gary Mokotoff
Member of Founding Committee

Message >from Gary Mokotoff:
***************************

The International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and Paul Jacobi Center
opened this week. Located at the Jewish National and University Library at
Givat Ram, Jerusalem, the new Institute, a non-profit organization, has two
main aims: (1) to engage in Jewish genealogical research and teaching at the
university level and (2) to make Jewish Genealogy a recognized academic
discipline within the realm of Jewish Studies.

The Institute is the only one of its kind in the Jewish world. It plans to
operate on an interdisciplinary basis and also in a collaborative way with
organizations engaged in aspects of Jewish genealogy. It will put a premium
on innovative programs and projects of practical benefit to individual
family historians.

Its establishment is the result of efforts over the last two years of an
international Founding Committee, headed by Sallyann Sack, of Washington,
DC. and Yosef Lamdan of Israel. Lamdan, a former Israeli ambassador to the
Vatican, has been appointed as Director of the Institute.

One of its first projects is an academic symposium to be held in Jerusalem
in September with a view to setting research and teaching priorities for the
new Institute. Experts >from the academic and genealogical world will be
presenting papers.

Its e-mail address is info@IIJG.com.

Gary Mokotoff
Member of Founding Committee

Interesting news >from Gary Mokotoff:
************************************

The International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and Paul Jacobi Center
opened this week. Located at the Jewish National and University Library at
Givat Ram, Jerusalem, the new Institute, a non-profit organization, has two
main aims: (1) to engage in Jewish genealogical research and teaching at the
university level and (2) to make Jewish Genealogy a recognized academic
discipline within the realm of Jewish Studies.

The Institute is the only one of its kind in the Jewish world. It plans to
operate on an interdisciplinary basis and also in a collaborative way with
organizations engaged in aspects of Jewish genealogy. It will put a premium
on innovative programs and projects of practical benefit to individual
family historians.

Its establishment is the result of efforts over the last two years of an
international Founding Committee, headed by Sallyann Sack, of Washington,
DC. and Yosef Lamdan of Israel. Lamdan, a former Israeli ambassador to the
Vatican, has been appointed as Director of the Institute.

One of its first projects is an academic symposium to be held in Jerusalem
in September with a view to setting research and teaching priorities for the
new Institute. Experts >from the academic and genealogical world will be
presenting papers.

Its e-mail address is info@IIJG.com.

Gary Mokotoff
Member of Founding Committee

I would like to draw the attention of readers that the traditional
line of ancestry of the MaHaRaL to King David is invalid. This arises

from an error in the copying of the date of death on the tombstone in

Prague of the MaHaRaL's supposed great-great-grandfather Yehudah Leib
(Liwai) Hazaken. The date of death was recorded in Meir Pereles' 1727
genealogy of the MaHaRaL as the Hebrew year corresponding to 1440.
However examination of that tombstone shows that the date corresponds
to 1540. Since the MaHaRaL, also Yehudah Leib, bore the same name as
Yehudah Leib Hazaken, and since the MaHaRaL was born about 1522, then
he could not have given the same name as a living ancestor.

If the basis for the claim to Davidic descent of the MaHaRaL is the
text referring to that on the tombstone of Yehudah Leib Hazaken, then
this would indicate that the MaHaRaL may not be descended >from King
David.

Unfortunately large numbers of books have been published over the last
300 which repeat Pereles' error.

However, before the MaHaRaL's descendants start mourning that
situation, I am conducting research into texts independent of Pereles'
error, and am coming to the conclusion that there was a pre-existent
tradition of the MaHaRaL's descent >from Rabbi Yehudah Hanassi, of the
House of Hillel, who was of Davidic descent. These genealogies list
the MaHaRaL's father Betzalel and Chaim of Worms, and do not include
the so-called Yehudah-Leib of Prague. Nor do they trace the ancestry
through the much-disputed line back to Hai Gaon and thence to the
Exilarchs and King Solomon. rather they state descent >from Yehudah
Hanassi, without listing the intervening generations.

I plan to write an article describing these sources.

Details of the error in the MaHaRaL's ancestry are included in the
following sources:

- Moneles, Otto "Ketovot Mibeit Ha'almin Hayehudi Ha'atic Beprag"
(Inscriptions in the ancient Jewish cemetery in Prague), Jerusalem
1988.

- Englard, Shlomo, "Tsfunot #12" reprinted in England's collection of
his articles, Bnei Brak 2004.

- Avotaynu Vol.XII, #1, 1996, article about Englard's critical
genealogy research, by Neil Rosenstein.

Chaim Freedman
Petah Tikvah, Israel

I would like to draw the attention of readers that the traditional
line of ancestry of the MaHaRaL to King David is invalid. This arises

from an error in the copying of the date of death on the tombstone in

Prague of the MaHaRaL's supposed great-great-grandfather Yehudah Leib
(Liwai) Hazaken. The date of death was recorded in Meir Pereles' 1727
genealogy of the MaHaRaL as the Hebrew year corresponding to 1440.
However examination of that tombstone shows that the date corresponds
to 1540. Since the MaHaRaL, also Yehudah Leib, bore the same name as
Yehudah Leib Hazaken, and since the MaHaRaL was born about 1522, then
he could not have given the same name as a living ancestor.

If the basis for the claim to Davidic descent of the MaHaRaL is the
text referring to that on the tombstone of Yehudah Leib Hazaken, then
this would indicate that the MaHaRaL may not be descended >from King
David.

Unfortunately large numbers of books have been published over the last
300 which repeat Pereles' error.

However, before the MaHaRaL's descendants start mourning that
situation, I am conducting research into texts independent of Pereles'
error, and am coming to the conclusion that there was a pre-existent
tradition of the MaHaRaL's descent >from Rabbi Yehudah Hanassi, of the
House of Hillel, who was of Davidic descent. These genealogies list
the MaHaRaL's father Betzalel and Chaim of Worms, and do not include
the so-called Yehudah-Leib of Prague. Nor do they trace the ancestry
through the much-disputed line back to Hai Gaon and thence to the
Exilarchs and King Solomon. rather they state descent >from Yehudah
Hanassi, without listing the intervening generations.

I plan to write an article describing these sources.

Details of the error in the MaHaRaL's ancestry are included in the
following sources:

- Moneles, Otto "Ketovot Mibeit Ha'almin Hayehudi Ha'atic Beprag"
(Inscriptions in the ancient Jewish cemetery in Prague), Jerusalem
1988.

- Englard, Shlomo, "Tsfunot #12" reprinted in England's collection of
his articles, Bnei Brak 2004.

- Avotaynu Vol.XII, #1, 1996, article about Englard's critical
genealogy research, by Neil Rosenstein.

Chaim Freedman
Petah Tikvah, Israel

The International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and Paul Jacobi Center
opened this week. Located at the Jewish National and University Library at
Givat Ram, Jerusalem, the new Institute, a non-profit organization, has two
main aims: (1) to engage in Jewish genealogical research and teaching at the
university level and (2) to make Jewish Genealogy a recognized academic
discipline within the realm of Jewish Studies.

The Institute is the only one of its kind in the Jewish world. It plans to
operate on an interdisciplinary basis and also in a collaborative way with
organizations engaged in aspects of Jewish genealogy. It will put a premium
on innovative programs and projects of practical benefit to individual
family historians.

Its establishment is the result of efforts over the last two years of an
international Founding Committee, headed by Sallyann Sack, of Washington,
DC. and Yosef Lamdan of Israel. Lamdan, a former Israeli ambassador to the
Vatican, has been appointed as Director of the Institute.

One of its first projects is an academic symposium to be held in Jerusalem
in September 2006 with a view to setting research and teaching priorities for the
new Institute. Experts >from the academic and genealogical world will be
presenting papers.

Its e-mail address is: info@IIJG.com.

Gary Mokotoff Member of Founding Committee

The International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and Paul Jacobi Center
opened this week. Located at the Jewish National and University Library at
Givat Ram, Jerusalem, the new Institute, a non-profit organization, has two
main aims: (1) to engage in Jewish genealogical research and teaching at the
university level and (2) to make Jewish Genealogy a recognized academic
discipline within the realm of Jewish Studies.

The Institute is the only one of its kind in the Jewish world. It plans to
operate on an interdisciplinary basis and also in a collaborative way with
organizations engaged in aspects of Jewish genealogy. It will put a premium
on innovative programs and projects of practical benefit to individual
family historians.

Its establishment is the result of efforts over the last two years of an
international Founding Committee, headed by Sallyann Sack, of Washington,
DC. and Yosef Lamdan of Israel. Lamdan, a former Israeli ambassador to the
Vatican, has been appointed as Director of the Institute.

One of its first projects is an academic symposium to be held in Jerusalem
in September 2006 with a view to setting research and teaching priorities for the
new Institute. Experts >from the academic and genealogical world will be
presenting papers.

Its e-mail address is: info@IIJG.com.

Gary Mokotoff Member of Founding Committee

from Gary Mokotoff:

*******************

The International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and Paul Jacobi Center
opened this week. Located at the Jewish National and University Library at
Givat Ram, Jerusalem, the new Institute, a non-profit organization, has two
main aims: (1) to engage in Jewish genealogical research and teaching at the
university level and (2) to make Jewish Genealogy a recognized academic
discipline within the realm of Jewish Studies.

The Institute is the only one of its kind in the Jewish world. It plans to
operate on an interdisciplinary basis and also in a collaborative way with
organizations engaged in aspects of Jewish genealogy. It will put a premium
on innovative programs and projects of practical benefit to individual
family historians.

Its establishment is the result of efforts over the last two years of an
international Founding Committee, headed by Sallyann Sack, of Washington,
DC. and Yosef Lamdan of Israel. Lamdan, a former Israeli ambassador to the
Vatican, has been appointed as Director of the Institute.

One of its first projects is an academic symposium to be held in Jerusalem
in September with a view to setting research and teaching priorities for the
new Institute. Experts >from the academic and genealogical world will be
presenting papers.

Its e-mail address is info@IIJG.com.

Gary Mokotoff
Member of Founding Committee

from Gary Mokotoff:

*******************

The International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and Paul Jacobi Center
opened this week. Located at the Jewish National and University Library at
Givat Ram, Jerusalem, the new Institute, a non-profit organization, has two
main aims: (1) to engage in Jewish genealogical research and teaching at the
university level and (2) to make Jewish Genealogy a recognized academic
discipline within the realm of Jewish Studies.

The Institute is the only one of its kind in the Jewish world. It plans to
operate on an interdisciplinary basis and also in a collaborative way with
organizations engaged in aspects of Jewish genealogy. It will put a premium
on innovative programs and projects of practical benefit to individual
family historians.

Its establishment is the result of efforts over the last two years of an
international Founding Committee, headed by Sallyann Sack, of Washington,
DC. and Yosef Lamdan of Israel. Lamdan, a former Israeli ambassador to the
Vatican, has been appointed as Director of the Institute.

One of its first projects is an academic symposium to be held in Jerusalem
in September with a view to setting research and teaching priorities for the
new Institute. Experts >from the academic and genealogical world will be
presenting papers.

Its e-mail address is info@IIJG.com.

Gary Mokotoff
Member of Founding Committee

from Gary Mokotoff:

*******************

The International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and Paul Jacobi Center
opened this week. Located at the Jewish National and University Library at
Givat Ram, Jerusalem, the new Institute, a non-profit organization, has two
main aims: (1) to engage in Jewish genealogical research and teaching at the
university level and (2) to make Jewish Genealogy a recognized academic
discipline within the realm of Jewish Studies.

The Institute is the only one of its kind in the Jewish world. It plans to
operate on an interdisciplinary basis and also in a collaborative way with
organizations engaged in aspects of Jewish genealogy. It will put a premium
on innovative programs and projects of practical benefit to individual
family historians.

Its establishment is the result of efforts over the last two years of an
international Founding Committee, headed by Sallyann Sack, of Washington,
DC. and Yosef Lamdan of Israel. Lamdan, a former Israeli ambassador to the
Vatican, has been appointed as Director of the Institute.

One of its first projects is an academic symposium to be held in Jerusalem
in September with a view to setting research and teaching priorities for the
new Institute. Experts >from the academic and genealogical world will be
presenting papers.

Its e-mail address is info@IIJG.com.

Gary Mokotoff
Member of Founding Committee

from Gary Mokotoff:

*******************

The International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and Paul Jacobi Center
opened this week. Located at the Jewish National and University Library at
Givat Ram, Jerusalem, the new Institute, a non-profit organization, has two
main aims: (1) to engage in Jewish genealogical research and teaching at the
university level and (2) to make Jewish Genealogy a recognized academic
discipline within the realm of Jewish Studies.

The Institute is the only one of its kind in the Jewish world. It plans to
operate on an interdisciplinary basis and also in a collaborative way with
organizations engaged in aspects of Jewish genealogy. It will put a premium
on innovative programs and projects of practical benefit to individual
family historians.

Its establishment is the result of efforts over the last two years of an
international Founding Committee, headed by Sallyann Sack, of Washington,
DC. and Yosef Lamdan of Israel. Lamdan, a former Israeli ambassador to the
Vatican, has been appointed as Director of the Institute.

One of its first projects is an academic symposium to be held in Jerusalem
in September with a view to setting research and teaching priorities for the
new Institute. Experts >from the academic and genealogical world will be
presenting papers.

Its e-mail address is info@IIJG.com.

Gary Mokotoff
Member of Founding Committee

from Gary Mokotoff:

*******************

The International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and Paul Jacobi Center
opened this week. Located at the Jewish National and University Library at
Givat Ram, Jerusalem, the new Institute, a non-profit organization, has two
main aims: (1) to engage in Jewish genealogical research and teaching at the
university level and (2) to make Jewish Genealogy a recognized academic
discipline within the realm of Jewish Studies.

The Institute is the only one of its kind in the Jewish world. It plans to
operate on an interdisciplinary basis and also in a collaborative way with
organizations engaged in aspects of Jewish genealogy. It will put a premium
on innovative programs and projects of practical benefit to individual
family historians.

Its establishment is the result of efforts over the last two years of an
international Founding Committee, headed by Sallyann Sack, of Washington,
DC. and Yosef Lamdan of Israel. Lamdan, a former Israeli ambassador to the
Vatican, has been appointed as Director of the Institute.

One of its first projects is an academic symposium to be held in Jerusalem
in September with a view to setting research and teaching priorities for the
new Institute. Experts >from the academic and genealogical world will be
presenting papers.

Its e-mail address is info@IIJG.com.

Gary Mokotoff
Member of Founding Committee

from Gary Mokotoff:

*******************

The International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and Paul Jacobi Center
opened this week. Located at the Jewish National and University Library at
Givat Ram, Jerusalem, the new Institute, a non-profit organization, has two
main aims: (1) to engage in Jewish genealogical research and teaching at the
university level and (2) to make Jewish Genealogy a recognized academic
discipline within the realm of Jewish Studies.

The Institute is the only one of its kind in the Jewish world. It plans to
operate on an interdisciplinary basis and also in a collaborative way with
organizations engaged in aspects of Jewish genealogy. It will put a premium
on innovative programs and projects of practical benefit to individual
family historians.

Its establishment is the result of efforts over the last two years of an
international Founding Committee, headed by Sallyann Sack, of Washington,
DC. and Yosef Lamdan of Israel. Lamdan, a former Israeli ambassador to the
Vatican, has been appointed as Director of the Institute.

One of its first projects is an academic symposium to be held in Jerusalem
in September with a view to setting research and teaching priorities for the
new Institute. Experts >from the academic and genealogical world will be
presenting papers.

Its e-mail address is info@IIJG.com.

Gary Mokotoff
Member of Founding Committee