Recently, I have received several messages containing questions about the
"Index of Jewish Records in the FHL CD" that was produced by IAJGS. I am
repeating two of them here, with my response, as many others may have the
same question.

Question No. 1
<< Is the CD you wrote about 3/2 the same or different >from the one I
purchased for $5. in SLCity last Conference? That one is not Mac
compatible. You say the CD you mention is Mac compatible.

I spoke to FHL in SLCity last week and the librarian told me the CD they
sell is not compatible.

Which is which? What is what? I would like a Mac compatible CD if it is
available. >>

Response -

Thanks for your enquiry. The Index of Jewish records in the FHL CD,
produced by IAJGS, is compatible for both a Mac and a PC. It is quite
different than the CD you purchased in SLC and is far more advantageous
for Jewish research.

Question No. 2
<< I read the post in the news group, and I'm confused.

If the CD contains an actual index of records, then I'm interested. If it
contains only a list of towns, and which microfilms/fiche belong to them,
then I'm not. It's unclear to me why this doesn't replace the online
index.>>

Response -

The Index of Jewish Records in the FHL CD, produced by IAJGS, is a very
comprehensive CD. It does include a list of towns, and which
microfilms/fiche belong to them. However, the CD contains far more than
that. It includes a tremendous amount of data, finding aids, etc., and
is compatible on both a Mac and a PC. It is far more than just an idex of
towns. Here is one example of the information contained in the index:

TITLE - Matrykula, 1826-1911
SUMMARY - Civil registration of Jewish births, marriages, marriage
supplements and deaths for Sereje (Seree), Suwalki, Poland; now Seirijai,
Lithuania. Text in Polish and Russian.
LANGUAGE - Polish, Russian.
LOCATION - Poland, Suwalki, Sereje (Sejny). Lithuania, Seirijai.
Russia, Suvalki, Seree.
FILM - 752589 - Akta urodzen, malzenstw, zgonow 1826-1831, 1837-1838,
1845-1846, 1848, 1850-1851, 1854, 1856.
FILM - 1496961 Items 19-32; Dokumenty do akt malzenstw 1883-1887,
1889-1894, 1897-1899.
FILM - 1496962 Items 1-8; Dokumenty do akt malzenstw 1900-1903, 1905-1906,
1908, 1911.

I hope the above example will give you an idea of just how extensive
the index is. I do want to express a note of caution however, since you
are living in Israel. As I understand it, no FHL currently exists in
Israel. Even if you found several rolls of film that would be of interest
to you, I do not know how you would access it. The FHL in Salt Lake City,
Utah does send rolls of film and fiche to their branch FHL's around the
world but I do not know what, if any, provisions are made for anyone
living in Israel. I have heard that something may be worked out between
the FHL and Hebrew University but I have no verification of that.

Howard Margol
President, IAJGS

Dear Howard,
Re FHL and Israel, I have recently heard that negotiations between FHL
and an Israeli organization are nearing completion. Under the agreement,
FHL will ship microfiche or film to the Israeli connection for the same
price as it would cost in the US. I presume the Israeli connection will
make the appropriate announcement when the arrangement is in place.

Gene Sucov, Pittsburgh JGS, searching for
SUCHOWCZYCKI, Horodetz-Bialystok-US
SHLAFMITZ, Zaremby-Koscielne-US

From: <HOMARGOL@...>