A great uncle of mine left Poland just before World War II, joined our
family in NYC, and then, sometime around 1947-48, left New York and
joined his daughter in Israel.

His Israeli grandchildren believe their grandfather immigrated right around
the time of Israeli independence but they do not know the date. Does
anyone any have ideas of how I could locate this great uncle's records -- either
records of his departure >from the US (he was in the States on a tourist visa
which, I believe, he converted into an immigration visa in 1945 or so) or
records of his arrival in Israel? Thanks.

David Laskin, Seattle, WA

The Central Zionist Archive together with the Israel State Archive
have comprehensive collection of the lists of immigrants starting
about 1919. The material is not online.
http://www.zionistarchives.org.il/ZA/pMainE.aspx

Rose Feldman
Israel Genealogy Research Association

From: David Laskin <laskin.david@...>
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2012

A great uncle of mine left Poland just before World War II, joined our
family in NYC, and then, sometime around 1947-48, left New York and
joined his daughter in Israel.

His Israeli grandchildren believe their grandfather immigrated right around
the time of Israeli independence but they do not know the date. Does
anyone any have ideas of how I could locate this great uncle's records -- either
records of his departure >from the US (he was in the States on a tourist visa
which, I believe, he converted into an immigration visa in 1945 or so) or
records of his arrival in Israel? Thanks.

MODERATOR NOTE: Please copy and paste the original subject line form the JGDG
into the response message and all "re:" before the subject phrase. This enables
readers to better track the discussion.
regarding a particular request.

This is correct as far as it goes, but needs some qualification.

Their lists include passengers arriving at proper ports, not those arriving
overland or in clandestine fashion.

Occasionally, the films of passenger lists will have a missing page.

You cannot ask the CZA to search, unless you pretty much know when the
immigrant arrived.

If you request a search, you must make it clear that the person may have
arrived as a tourist. I had one instance where we had the information
correct, but they did not look at the six tourists at the bottom of the
typewritten page.

When going to the CZA, call ahead and make sure the computers are
running properly that day. (And hope they continue to do so.)

Israel Pickholtz
Jerusalem