Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

Reminder, meeting on 18 Nov at 6:30 on Zoom

Zoom link is: https://ancestry.zoom.us/meeting/register/xn9olHtDTs6JQUh30L6hwg

Todd Knowles will speak on AI at FamilySearch. He is an Accredited Genealogist who currently serves as a Deputy Chief Genealogy Officer at FamilySearch, where he has been employed for over 25 years. His personal family history story began at the age of 11, when he first discovered his own Jewish heritage.

Miscellaneous

Honoring Gary Mokotoff

forwarded from IAJGS:

The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS), on behalf of its member societies around the world, expresses its sorrow to learn of the death of Gary Mokotoff. Gary was a central figure in the history of IAJGS with many firsts attached to his name. From 1989 to 1995 he served as the founding president of IAJGS, and in 1998 he was the first recipient of the IAJGS Lifetime Achievement Award. The international network of Jewish genealogical societies that we have today grew in large part out of his early efforts.

Gary’s enthusiasm for Jewish genealogy coupled with his technical skills as a computer software pioneer led to the creation of many genealogical innovations such as JewishGen’s Family Finder and the Daitch-Mokotoff Soundex system.

His vision and drive took him into the world of communications as both an author and as publisher of the journal Avotaynu: The International Review of Jewish Genealogy.

Gary also served in leadership roles for JewishGen, the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG). In 2006, FGS honored him with its Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Humanitarian Ward and APG, in 2008, granted him an Honorary Life Membership.

Gary opened the door to genealogy research for many in the Jewish community through organized trips to the FamilySearch Library and the Arolsen Archives. His passion for genealogy ignited that passion in others as well.

We extend our sincere condolences to Gary’s family and his many friends and colleagues in the genealogy community. Gary was a giant among leaders and will be deeply missed.

Miscellaneous

University of Colorado genetic study for BRCA

“Are you a Converso man or woman from the San Luis Valley, Colorado, or northern New Mexico? Do you know anyone who is? Volunteers from those areas are being asked to participate in an important medical study by the University of Colorado…” says the notice from the Society of Crypto-Judaic Studies.

See https://redcap.ucdenver.edu/ for details. Oh, they now make you fill out a survey to see if you qualify first. It is a study of hereditary cancer risk for BRCA among those of Spanish heritage in the San Luis Valley. This area is known for a high population of Jewish DNA. Please pass this along to those who would benefit from this free testing.

Miscellaneous

comments on name change

Hello Everyone.

I just had a couple of thoughts on the proposed name change which I raised at the last board meeting. I feel it is time to change the name and focus of our society and the reasons are listed below.

  • Since COVID the world of genealogical societies has changed, and membership is down nationwide. Those that are thriving are doing so because they are adapting. Changing the name and focus would enable us to grow and have a larger presence in Utah. Adding Historical to our name would show that but more importantly if we focus our society toward preserving Utah’s Jewish history, which would still include genealogy, we would be more welcoming toward a larger group.
  • Nationwide, Jewish Historical Societies are growing and making a difference. I welcome everyone to visit the website of The Dallas Jewish Historical Society (djhs.org) to see the incredible things they are doing. Visit their Oral History Project and see how they are documenting family history. I am a member, and I am constantly impressed by the society.
  • We would also be able to work closer with groups such as the Utah Historical Society (history.utah.gov), University of Utah History department, BYU history department and so forth.
  • We would not have to do monthly meetings, we could also have ongoing projects to document Utah Jewish history, however, when we have meetings, we could draw on a larger selection of speakers. We could have unlimited opportunities.
  • We would open ourselves to a potentially new membership base. Societies around the country that have a historical focus are attracting younger members.

I would hope that by making these changes, we could grow and prosper as a society.

All my best

Todd

Miscellaneous

Proposed name change

At our last board meeting, we revisited a proposal made by Josh Perlman three years ago, suggesting that we change our organization’s name to include “historical”.

Apparently this move has been used successfully by other Jewish Genealogical Society groups across the country to not only show their interest in the Jewish history of their areas, but to interest younger people in joining.

Adding “historical” to our name would announce that our scope is broader than just Jewish Genealogy. In fact, it would highlight our historic interest.

Some groups are not only involved in projects to preserve their local Jewish history, but also interviews of local leaders and families to preserve their oral histories. These groups are actively involved in preserving the Jewish history of their areas—something that appeals to younger members,

This involvement in projects and oral histories will probably decrease the frequency of our current monthly meetings as those meetings are replaced by oral histories and other projects. It will also increase the number of historians presenting their research at our meetings.

As part of this change, we would be adding more detailed information behind our member wall on our website (ujgs.org) about the historic families, businesses and synagogues of Utah.

We encourage your participation in this transition. Please reply to this email with your suggestions for a new name, as well as ideas for a new logo that reflects that name. If you’re not already a member, you can become one in time to vote on this issue at our September 16th board meeting. Remember, our board meetings are open and we welcome input from everyone!

Miscellaneous

Forwarding request

The Swiss Society for Jewish Genealogy is looking for descendants from LENGNAU in the CANTON of AARGAU/SWITZERLAND,

a village where mainly Jews lived until the emancipation of the Jews in Switzerland.

Since we are compiling a local family book of Lengnau about the Jewish families there and their descendants, we are looking for these

descendants worldwide. If you can prove that you have ancestors from this village, please get in touch with us.
———

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Swiss Society for Jewish Genealogy is in the process of compiling a Jewish local family book of LENGNAU/AARGAU.

In order to be able to print Jewish local family books, we have had a special software program created. It is planned to edit this

book in three languages: German, French and English.

The records we have start with birth dates around 1720. But many Jewish people emigrated to other European country or to

the United States of America. There are no references to marriages and descendants of these people in our records.

We therefore call on you if you have Jewish ancestors from the village of LENGNAU in the CANTON of AARGAU,

to contact us at the e-mail address below. The names we are looking for are the following surnames:

BERNHEIM, BLOCH, BRAUNSCHWEIG, BRANDEIS, DREYFUS, DREYFUSS, DREIFUS, DREIFUSS, GEDEON, GIDEON, GIDION,

GUGGENHEIM, GUGENHEIM, HEYMANN, HEIMANN, MEYER, MEIER, OPENHEIM, OPPENHEIM, RIES, RIS, RISS, SCHLESINGER, WEIL, WEILL.

Please note that due to marriages and changes of surnames all possible names can occur.

Swiss Society for Jewish Genealogy
René Loeb, President

E-mail: rene.loeb@bluewin.ch