Does anyone on this list have any information regarding the
town/village of Ryasna, in the former Mogilev Guberniya, some
50-60 km east of the city of Mogilev ( in Chausy uezd ).

My maternal gf, David MIRMOVITSCH, was born in this town and
emigrated >from there to Helsinki, Finland, sometime around
1903-1905.

Any information on this town, and especially on its Jewish community,
much appreciated.

Please answer privately.

Joel Blankett

Jerusalem, Israel
mailto:csps@netvision.net.il

Does anyone on this list have any information regarding the
town/village of Ryasna, in the former Mogilev Guberniya, some
50-60 km east of the city of Mogilev ( in Chausy uezd ).

My maternal gf, David MIRMOVITSCH, was born in this town and
emigrated >from there to Helsinki, Finland, sometime around
1903-1905.

Any information on this town, and especially on its Jewish community,
much appreciated.

Please answer privately.

Joel Blankett

Jerusalem, Israel
mailto:csps@netvision.net.il

Re the correspondence on "Shepsl," I am researching my surname SHEPSENWOHL
and would appreciate any contacts.
--Steve Rosen, researching SHEPSENWOHL in Radoshkovich, ilya, Volozhyn, and
Kurenets, Belarus

Re the correspondence on "Shepsl," I am researching my surname SHEPSENWOHL
and would appreciate any contacts.
--Steve Rosen, researching SHEPSENWOHL in Radoshkovich, ilya, Volozhyn, and
Kurenets, Belarus

My grandfather, Moshek Kamien (>from Ostrow Mazowiecka in Poland) was
drafted into the Polish/Russian Army in the late 1800s; and, being tall
and strongly-built, was put into the Cavalry--an unfortunate choice since
he was terrified of horses. Subsequently, a horse kicked him--hard--in
the leg, which became badly infected. Army doctors wanted to cut off the
bad leg but he protested vehemently and, upon being told he would die
otherwise, said well then, he would die. So he was sent home. The
local "healer" (does anyone know who that might have been? a midwife? a
rebbe? and does anyone know what this medicine man/woman was called?) had
him sit next to an anthill and placed the suppurated leg into the middle
of the anthill. The ants ate all the bad flesh and left behind uric acid--
I think it's uric acid--which promoted healing. After a whole day and a
night, or so he told me, he was taken out with a clean leg. He never even
had the slightest limp; and apparently he was in good enough shape so that
he might have to go back to his barracks. It was then that he went on the
lam, traveling by night through Germany, Holland (I think) and somehow, to
England, thence across the ocean to the US. Grandpa was born in 1876 and
left Europe probably in 1905. He sent for his wife (She was Sora Bluma
Dyber >from Lubotyn in Lomza Gubernya)and two children when my father was
four, which would have been 1907. Does anyone know where I might find a
list of ships leaving England for the US in that year? and their passenger
lists? My grandfather always told my brothers that they must *Never* go
to Poland because any male descendent of his could be forced into the
Polish Army to finish out his unfinished tour of duty (which was what?
25 years?). Does anyone know if that's true?

I'll appreciate any answers to my questions...any messages >from those who
think they might be related...and any other information about our mutual
Polish-Jewish past.

Marcia Kamien
Brooklyn, NY

MODERATOR NOTE: For information on immigratation to the US, the JewishGen
FAQ <http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/faq.html>; has a section on
Passenger Lists. Also, JewishGen Infofiles on this topic can be found at
<http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/#Immigration>;

My grandfather, Moshek Kamien (>from Ostrow Mazowiecka in Poland) was
drafted into the Polish/Russian Army in the late 1800s; and, being tall
and strongly-built, was put into the Cavalry--an unfortunate choice since
he was terrified of horses. Subsequently, a horse kicked him--hard--in
the leg, which became badly infected. Army doctors wanted to cut off the
bad leg but he protested vehemently and, upon being told he would die
otherwise, said well then, he would die. So he was sent home. The
local "healer" (does anyone know who that might have been? a midwife? a
rebbe? and does anyone know what this medicine man/woman was called?) had
him sit next to an anthill and placed the suppurated leg into the middle
of the anthill. The ants ate all the bad flesh and left behind uric acid--
I think it's uric acid--which promoted healing. After a whole day and a
night, or so he told me, he was taken out with a clean leg. He never even
had the slightest limp; and apparently he was in good enough shape so that
he might have to go back to his barracks. It was then that he went on the
lam, traveling by night through Germany, Holland (I think) and somehow, to
England, thence across the ocean to the US. Grandpa was born in 1876 and
left Europe probably in 1905. He sent for his wife (She was Sora Bluma
Dyber >from Lubotyn in Lomza Gubernya)and two children when my father was
four, which would have been 1907. Does anyone know where I might find a
list of ships leaving England for the US in that year? and their passenger
lists? My grandfather always told my brothers that they must *Never* go
to Poland because any male descendent of his could be forced into the
Polish Army to finish out his unfinished tour of duty (which was what?
25 years?). Does anyone know if that's true?

I'll appreciate any answers to my questions...any messages >from those who
think they might be related...and any other information about our mutual
Polish-Jewish past.

Marcia Kamien
Brooklyn, NY

MODERATOR NOTE: For information on immigratation to the US, the JewishGen
FAQ <http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/faq.html>; has a section on
Passenger Lists. Also, JewishGen Infofiles on this topic can be found at
<http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/#Immigration>;

There are a number of towns in Poland, Belarus, Czech Republic, and other
Eastern European countries that are called Janow/Janowa (and spelling
variations). For a database that I am working on, can those of you with
roots in these towns please identify the exact corresponding town for the
following New York Jewish cemetery landsmannschaft plots. Please use the
current town name according to "Where Once We Walked." I have not listed
the burial societies for Jonava, Lithuania -- I already have them.

Disclaimers: I have no roots in any of these towns and cannot answer any
questions about these societies, nor have I cataloged these plots. I am in
a time crunch and regret that I cannot answer any email that does not
pertain to the matter at hand. Please respond privately.

And now the plots:

Chaim Hersch Weiss First Janower Sick & Benevolent Society (Chaim Hirsh
Weiss Erste Yanower Kranken Unt. Verein)

Chevra Bnei Israel Anshe Yanover

Congregation Bnei David Anshe Chorzel Yanove (Congregation Bnei David Anshe
Chorzil & Janover)

First Congregation Anshe Yanower Sedlecer

First Yanover Aid Society (Erste Yanower B"A Trebavle Kranken Unt. Verein)

Janover Sedliczer

Janover Siedlicer Sick Benevolent Society (Janever Siedlizer Sick &
Benevolent Society)

Yanower Sedlitzer Society

Yanower Independent Ben. Association (Pride of Israel Hebrew Free School
Anshei Brisk D'Littau)

Yanover Lodge

Yunover Young Men's Benevolent Association

Many thanks for your help.

Ada Greenblatt
ada.Greenblatt@worldnet.att.net

There are a number of towns in Poland, Belarus, Czech Republic, and other
Eastern European countries that are called Janow/Janowa (and spelling
variations). For a database that I am working on, can those of you with
roots in these towns please identify the exact corresponding town for the
following New York Jewish cemetery landsmannschaft plots. Please use the
current town name according to "Where Once We Walked." I have not listed
the burial societies for Jonava, Lithuania -- I already have them.

Disclaimers: I have no roots in any of these towns and cannot answer any
questions about these societies, nor have I cataloged these plots. I am in
a time crunch and regret that I cannot answer any email that does not
pertain to the matter at hand. Please respond privately.

And now the plots:

Chaim Hersch Weiss First Janower Sick & Benevolent Society (Chaim Hirsh
Weiss Erste Yanower Kranken Unt. Verein)

Chevra Bnei Israel Anshe Yanover

Congregation Bnei David Anshe Chorzel Yanove (Congregation Bnei David Anshe
Chorzil & Janover)

First Congregation Anshe Yanower Sedlecer

First Yanover Aid Society (Erste Yanower B"A Trebavle Kranken Unt. Verein)

Janover Sedliczer

Janover Siedlicer Sick Benevolent Society (Janever Siedlizer Sick &
Benevolent Society)

Yanower Sedlitzer Society

Yanower Independent Ben. Association (Pride of Israel Hebrew Free School
Anshei Brisk D'Littau)

Yanover Lodge

Yunover Young Men's Benevolent Association

Many thanks for your help.

Ada Greenblatt
ada.Greenblatt@worldnet.att.net

Dear Fellow Researchers,

I have volunteered to be the Coordinator for the Przemysl Archive Project.
The holdings of the archives contain the following 19th century birth,
marriage and death record:

TOWN BIRTHS MARRIAGES DEATHS
Jaroslaw 180 131 38
Oleszyce 2040 101 1508
Przemysl 16104 1244 17864
Radymno 73 39

Indexing of these records will be completed under the auspices of Jewish
Records Indexing - Poland's (JRI-PL) Polish State Archive (PSA) project. To
facilitate the Przemysl Archive project Town Leaders and Co-town leaders are
needed.
More information about the JRI-PL indexing project can be found at
<http://www.jewishgen.org/JRI-PL/psa/>;.

Ilan Blech has volunteered to be the town leader for the City of Przemysl.
Volunteers are needed for the other towns. If you are interested in these
towns or in volunteering to help with the project please contact me.
<rivkalcj@aol.com>

Having the records indexed will make it easier for all of us to find records
of our ancestors.

Chag Samaach,

Roberta Cohen Jainchill
Przemysl Archive Project Coordinator

Dear Fellow Researchers,

I have volunteered to be the Coordinator for the Przemysl Archive Project.
The holdings of the archives contain the following 19th century birth,
marriage and death record:

TOWN BIRTHS MARRIAGES DEATHS
Jaroslaw 180 131 38
Oleszyce 2040 101 1508
Przemysl 16104 1244 17864
Radymno 73 39

Indexing of these records will be completed under the auspices of Jewish
Records Indexing - Poland's (JRI-PL) Polish State Archive (PSA) project. To
facilitate the Przemysl Archive project Town Leaders and Co-town leaders are
needed.
More information about the JRI-PL indexing project can be found at
<http://www.jewishgen.org/JRI-PL/psa/>;.

Ilan Blech has volunteered to be the town leader for the City of Przemysl.
Volunteers are needed for the other towns. If you are interested in these
towns or in volunteering to help with the project please contact me.
<rivkalcj@aol.com>

Having the records indexed will make it easier for all of us to find records
of our ancestors.

Chag Samaach,

Roberta Cohen Jainchill
Przemysl Archive Project Coordinator

I have recently come across three letters written in Yiddish that do
not belong to my family. They are >from a Morris GLOBE at 3145 Brighton 4
Str in Brooklyn, NY. They are addressed to Mr Al BERNSTEIN at 6038 N 13
Sts here in Philadelphia, Pa. The dates are 1938 and 1943. If this
sounds familiar to you, I will be glad to send it to you.

Jack L. WEINSTEIN - jwtv@juno.com - Phila., Pa.
www.familytreemaker.com/users/w/e/i/Jack-L-Weinstein

I have recently come across three letters written in Yiddish that do
not belong to my family. They are >from a Morris GLOBE at 3145 Brighton 4
Str in Brooklyn, NY. They are addressed to Mr Al BERNSTEIN at 6038 N 13
Sts here in Philadelphia, Pa. The dates are 1938 and 1943. If this
sounds familiar to you, I will be glad to send it to you.

Jack L. WEINSTEIN - jwtv@juno.com - Phila., Pa.
www.familytreemaker.com/users/w/e/i/Jack-L-Weinstein

To whom it may concern,

The Belarus SIG is looking for volunteers in the New York area who
has access to the New York Public Library in mid-town Manhattan for
the purpose of identifying and making copies of lists >from the
Grodnenskie Gubernskie Vedomosti microfilm.

The task requires the ability to read enough Russian to locate Duma
Lists >from microfilm, copy these lists via the microfilm readers/
printers available at NYPL, and mailing the copies via snail mail.

Please keep in mind that the making of paper copies is a very laborious
task >from talking to other who have done it. These microfilms require
that you use a particualar lense on the microfilm reader - printer and
even with that, it takes multiple print pages to make one filmed page.

However, this is being done for the Minskie Gubernskie Vedomosti project
and the results can be seen in the following example (>from the Novogrodok
1906 Duma List):

http://www.jewishgen.org/Belarus/novogrodok_dumaa.htm

Instructions shall be provided to all volunteers.

Please send all responses directly to me as I am the project leader for
this project.
mailto:steven_rosenberg@gaya.com

Thank you for your time and consideration.

With Best Regards.

Steve Rosenberg.
Project Leader - Grodnenskie Gubernskie Vedomosti.

To whom it may concern,

The Belarus SIG is looking for volunteers in the New York area who
has access to the New York Public Library in mid-town Manhattan for
the purpose of identifying and making copies of lists >from the
Grodnenskie Gubernskie Vedomosti microfilm.

The task requires the ability to read enough Russian to locate Duma
Lists >from microfilm, copy these lists via the microfilm readers/
printers available at NYPL, and mailing the copies via snail mail.

Please keep in mind that the making of paper copies is a very laborious
task >from talking to other who have done it. These microfilms require
that you use a particualar lense on the microfilm reader - printer and
even with that, it takes multiple print pages to make one filmed page.

However, this is being done for the Minskie Gubernskie Vedomosti project
and the results can be seen in the following example (>from the Novogrodok
1906 Duma List):

http://www.jewishgen.org/Belarus/novogrodok_dumaa.htm

Instructions shall be provided to all volunteers.

Please send all responses directly to me as I am the project leader for
this project.
mailto:steven_rosenberg@gaya.com

Thank you for your time and consideration.

With Best Regards.

Steve Rosenberg.
Project Leader - Grodnenskie Gubernskie Vedomosti.

Many thanks to all who replied to my request for a translation. I shall
pass the information on to our new member. He will be encouraged to get
on-line and join this wonderful group!

David Fielker
London UK

Many thanks to all who replied to my request for a translation. I shall
pass the information on to our new member. He will be encouraged to get
on-line and join this wonderful group!

David Fielker
London UK

In response to the inquiry by Phyllis Levine regarding South African
burials, I might add that the database submitted by Dr. L. Jacob Herberg can
be found on the IAJGS Cemetery Project CD-ROM. Information on the available
South African burials that are on the CD-ROM can also be located at the
following JewishGen site:

http://www.jewishgen.org/cemetery/menulist.htm

There are other South African cemetery records that can be found in the
databases on the SA SIG web site as well and many more burials will be made
available through IAJGS in the future.

Ann Rabinowitz
annrab@bellsouth.net

In response to the inquiry by Phyllis Levine regarding South African
burials, I might add that the database submitted by Dr. L. Jacob Herberg can
be found on the IAJGS Cemetery Project CD-ROM. Information on the available
South African burials that are on the CD-ROM can also be located at the
following JewishGen site:

http://www.jewishgen.org/cemetery/menulist.htm

There are other South African cemetery records that can be found in the
databases on the SA SIG web site as well and many more burials will be made
available through IAJGS in the future.

Ann Rabinowitz
annrab@bellsouth.net

Dear Readers:

In the course of researching my mother's family tree a colleague found a
book in the Riga Archives entitled "Memory Book of Jewish Soldiers Perished
in Fighting the Nazis." This book written in Russian was published in 1994
in Moscow. (My mother came >from Dankere--now Gostini and formerly also
known as Glazmanka in Lativa. Her maiden name was GENCHEL.)

A citation in Volume I, page 321 read as follows:
GENCHEL, Abram Borisovitch (son of Boris) was born in Simpheropol,
drafted by the military commissariat of Evpatoria, Crimea, soldier, destiny
unknown (perished): born 1909 and died in 1944.

In the Fall of 1999 I placed a message in both the Litvak Digest and the
JewishGen Discussion Group seeking information about Jews in the Crimea.
On September 1999, I received a reply >from Haim Fridman who sent me the
following narrative: "In the late 18th century large areas of territories
in south-east Ukraine came under the control of the Russian Tsarist regime.
This area was then know as Novorussia (New Russia) and was divided roughly
into three gubernya: Kherson, Yekaterinoslav and Tavritch (the latter
included the Crimea penisular and part of the adjacent mainland."

Legislation was passed by the standing Russian government then to
encourage Jews to leave the crowded and economically poor centres in the
north and establish new settlements in Novorussia. This legislation was
also perceived a a means of relieving Russia of "the Jewish Question."
Jews who qualified to move to Crimea were promised financial support to
establish agricultural colonies and the added incentive of exemption from
military service.

Since all the Genchel mishpocha (to the best of my knowledge) originated

from Dankere, Latvia, it is my assumption that the father, Boris, may have

made the move to Crimea either before or after his son Abram was born.

I now seek any further information about the migration to Crimea as well
as any particular information possible about anyone with the surname
GENCHEL who lived in the Crimea.

Howard V. Epstein, Ph.D.
hepstein@mindspring.com

Dear Readers:

In the course of researching my mother's family tree a colleague found a
book in the Riga Archives entitled "Memory Book of Jewish Soldiers Perished
in Fighting the Nazis." This book written in Russian was published in 1994
in Moscow. (My mother came >from Dankere--now Gostini and formerly also
known as Glazmanka in Lativa. Her maiden name was GENCHEL.)

A citation in Volume I, page 321 read as follows:
GENCHEL, Abram Borisovitch (son of Boris) was born in Simpheropol,
drafted by the military commissariat of Evpatoria, Crimea, soldier, destiny
unknown (perished): born 1909 and died in 1944.

In the Fall of 1999 I placed a message in both the Litvak Digest and the
JewishGen Discussion Group seeking information about Jews in the Crimea.
On September 1999, I received a reply >from Haim Fridman who sent me the
following narrative: "In the late 18th century large areas of territories
in south-east Ukraine came under the control of the Russian Tsarist regime.
This area was then know as Novorussia (New Russia) and was divided roughly
into three gubernya: Kherson, Yekaterinoslav and Tavritch (the latter
included the Crimea penisular and part of the adjacent mainland."

Legislation was passed by the standing Russian government then to
encourage Jews to leave the crowded and economically poor centres in the
north and establish new settlements in Novorussia. This legislation was
also perceived a a means of relieving Russia of "the Jewish Question."
Jews who qualified to move to Crimea were promised financial support to
establish agricultural colonies and the added incentive of exemption from
military service.

Since all the Genchel mishpocha (to the best of my knowledge) originated

from Dankere, Latvia, it is my assumption that the father, Boris, may have

made the move to Crimea either before or after his son Abram was born.

I now seek any further information about the migration to Crimea as well
as any particular information possible about anyone with the surname
GENCHEL who lived in the Crimea.

Howard V. Epstein, Ph.D.
hepstein@mindspring.com