JewishGen is proud to announce its 2020 year-end update for the Memorial Plaques Database (MPD). The MPD database can be accessed at http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/Memorial/   The MPD database includes the data from plaques and Yizkor lists from synagogue and other organizations.  Many of these sources include patronymic information.

This update added approximately 6,000 records and 2,200 photos from 7 organizations worldwide. This update brings the Memorial Plaques holdings to 211,000 records and 146,000 photos from 393 synagogues, institutions and memorials representing 38 countries. 

            Some of the largest additions to the database are the following:

• Niagara Falls, Canada – 250 names and photos Congregation B’Nai Tikvah, which is closing.
• West Hartford, Connecticut – 3,700 records from Congregation Beth Israel.
• Livingston, New Jersey – 925 records and photos from the Kushner Academy at Young Israel.
• El Paso, Texas – 675 records and photos from Congregation B'Nai Zion Talmud,
• Pottstown, Pennsylvania – 425 records and photos from Congregation Hesed Shel Emet (Congregation Mercy & Truth).
• Maplewood, New Jersey – 415 records and photos from Congregation Ahavath Zion.
• Lewistown, Pennsylvania – 250 records and photos from Ohev Sholom Synagogue
• Raleigh, North Carolina – 115 records from Congregation Sha'arei Israel.

We believe that the MPD is a good example of how users of JewishGen’s databases can “give back”.  If you are a member of a synagogue or other organization with memorial plaques or Yizkor lists, please consider helping us to grow this database.  You can find more information on submitting data at http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/Memorial/Submit.htm   If you have additional questions, please contact me directly.

For a complete listing of the institutions currently in the database, please see http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/Memorial/tree/MemList.htm

Nolan Altman

NAltman@...

Director for Data Acquisition – Memorial Plaques Project

January, 2021