Jewish Surnames
Warren Blatt
Sunday, December 10, 2000 — 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Temple Reyim, West Newton
Come learn about the fascinating history of Jewish surnames — their origins, types, and etymologies. Find out when they were first used in various countries, and their transformation upon immigration. This presentation will dispell several common myths about Jewish surnames. Discover which Jewish surnames are the most common in the U.S. and Israel. We will present sources for learning more about your surnames and how they may be accessed. This information is indispensable in tracing your family history.
The meeting will take place at Temple Reyim, 1860 Washington Street (Route 16), West Newton. The Temple is near Newton-Wellesley Hospital and the Woodland Stop on the Riverside Green Line, as well as a short ride from Route 128 at Exit 21. Click here for directions.
An Evening at the National Archives
Tuesday, November 21, 2000 — 6:00-9:00pm
National Archives, New England Region, 380 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA.
The National Archives, New England Region holds many records for genealogical research, including the U.S. Federal Census (1790-1920); Passenger Arrival Records for Boston and other New England ports; New England Naturalization Records, Canadian Border Crossing records, WWI Draft Registration Card for New England, Russian Consular Records, and WWII War Crimes records.
For a complete list of the National Archives’ relevant holdings, see Resources for Jewish Genealogy in the Boston Area, (Boston: JGSGB, 1996).
This meeting will include an orientation lecture and over two hours of open research time. Archives staff and experienced JGSGB members will be available to help anyone who needs assistance. Microfilm copiers are available, so bring quarters.
This meeting is open to JGSGB members only — you may join at the door. Beginners and those wishing to join please come at 6:00pm, others at 6:30pm. Orientation promptly at 6:10 and 6:25pm. Refreshments will be served.
Directions:
- From Route 128: Exit at Trapelo Road (Exit 28A) and continue east on Trapelo Road for 2.8 miles to the National Archives, on the right side of the road.
- From Boston: Take Storrow Drive, follow signs for Route 2. Cross the Charles River at the Eliot Bridge, bear right but keep left, left on Mt. Auburn Street till it forks, bear right onto Belmont Street. When Belmont Street forks, bear right onto Trapelo Road, follow for 2.4 miles to National Archives on the left.
Beginner’s Class
Sunday, November 5, 2000 — 2:00-4:00pm
Temple Reyim, West Newton
Taught by Patti Couture, APG
Areas to be covered include: how to start your search, what records are available and how to access them, how to keep track of your findings, how to interpret data that you find, using your computer to further your research, and how to deal with immigrant searches. Researchers of all backgrounds are welcome.
Admission: The fee for the class is $20, which includes handouts and a copy of the very important reference book Resources for Jewish Genealogy in the Boston Area, by Warren Blatt, a fine manual for any kind of genealogical research in Massachusetts. Class size limited to allow for individual attention.
Refreshments served. Sign up to reserve a spot: Phone: 617-796-8522; email: info@jgsgb.org.
The meeting will take place at Temple Reyim, 1860 Washington Street (Route 16), West Newton. The Temple is near Newton-Wellesley Hospital and the Woodland Stop on the Riverside Green Line, as well as a short ride from Route 128 at Exit 21. Click here for directions.
Research Time
Sunday, October 29, 2000 — 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Temple Reyim, West Newton
A great opportunity to really dig into our research materials without interruption. Several “experts” are expected to be on hand to help with questions about various areas such as Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, and more. At the same time, other experienced members will be available to guide you towards the best research materials for your hunt.
New members welcomed. Bring a friend. Refreshments will be served. Admission: free for members of JGSGB, $3 for non-members.
The meeting will take place at Temple Reyim, 1860 Washington Street (Route 16), West Newton. The Temple is near Newton-Wellesley Hospital and the Woodland Stop on the Riverside Green Line, as well as a short ride from Route 128 at Exit 21. Click here for directions.
Jewish Research at HisGen — 19th and 20th Century Records
Sunday, September 24, 2000 — 1:30-4:30 p.m.
New England Historic Genealogical Society, 101 Newbury Street, Boston
The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), known familiarly as “HisGen”, is the oldest genealogical society in the country. When it opens its doors especially for us, you will be pleased and surprised to discover how much material this venerable Yankee institution has for Jewish genealogical research. Jerry Anderson, staff member at HisGen and board member of the JGSGB, will give an opening talk on HisGen’s holdings. Other staff members will then give us a tour and help us find our way around HisGen’s incredible library.
Directions: HisGen is located at 101 Newbury Street, between Clarendon and Berkeley streets. If you come by MBTA (a good idea), take the Green Line to the Copley stop. Walk one block north on Dartmouth St. to Newbury St. and turn right. HisGen is just past Clarendon on the left. If you drive, take the Mass Pike to Exit 22 (Copley Square). Continue on Stuart St. to Berkeley St. (3rd light) and turn left. Take 3rd left onto Newbury and park wherever you can (manageable on Sundays).
Don’t miss this unique opportunity!
Refreshments will be served.
20th International Conference on Jewish Genealogy
July 9-14, 2000
Doubletree Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah
For details see http://www.jewishgen.org/iajgs/slcy2k. | Sponsored by the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies |
Research — Revelry — Refreshments
Sunday, June 11, 2000 — 2:00pm-5:00pm
Temple Reyim, West Newton
Our Spring Social and Annual Meeting, the last meeting of the 1999-2000 season, will be held Sunday, June 11th from 2:00-5:00 at Temple Reyim.
Society resources will be available from 2:00 to 3:00, with knowledgeable members helping novices.
At 3:00 our brief annual meeting will be held, where our 2000-2001 slate of officers will be presented. Following the election, there will be some entertainment: the Wholesale Klezmer Band, headed by one of our members, Sherry Mayrent. There will be a chance to share problems and successes with other members as you partake of the festive refreshments. We hope you will join us for a fun finale to a wonderful year.
This is a Members Only Event. New memberships will be gladly accepted at the door.
The meeting will take place at Temple Reyim, 1860 Washington Street (Route 16), West Newton. The Temple is near Newton-Wellesley Hospital and the Woodland Stop on the Riverside Green Line, as well as a short ride from Route 128 at Exit 21. Click here for directions.
Jewish Given Names
Warren Blatt
Sunday, May 7, 2000 — 7:30pm-9:30pm
Temple Reyim, West Newton
Learn why “Mordechai Yehuda” is also “Mortka Leib” is also “Max”. An introduction to Jewish given names (first names), focusing on practical issues for genealogical research.
Our ancestors each had many different given names and nicknames, in various languages and alphabets — this can make Jewish genealogical research difficult. This presentation will teach you about the history and patterns of Jewish first names, and how to recognize your ancestors’ names in genealogical sources.
Topics include: Religious and secular names; origins of given names; languages used; patronymics; name equivalents; variants, nicknames and diminutives; double names (unrelated pairs, kinnui, Hebrew/Yiddish translations); Ashkenazic naming traditions (naming of children); statistics on the distribution and popularity of given names in various regions and times; spelling issues; Polish and Russian declensions; and the “Americanization” of immigrant Jewish names: adaptations and transformations.
The meeting will take place at Temple Reyim, 1860 Washington Street (Route 16), West Newton. The Temple is near Newton-Wellesley Hospital and the Woodland Stop on the Riverside Green Line, as well as a short ride from Route 128 at Exit 21. Click here for directions.
Mormon Family History Center
Monday, April 10, 2000 — 7:00pm to 9:00pm
150 Brown Street, Weston, MA
An evening at the Mormon Family History Center in Weston, with a preview of what materials are available for those attending the International Seminar of Jewish Genealogy in Salt Lake City this summer.
Genetics and Genealogy
Stanley Diamond
Sunday, March 26, 2000 — 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Temple Reyim, West Newton
Stanley Diamond of Montreal, head of the incredible Jewish Record Indexing – Poland Project, will speak on “Genetics and Genealogy”, and his search for people from Poland carrying the Beta-Thalassemia trait. He will tell how he originally got involved in this project, and how it has turned into a phenomenal cooperative venture for all Jewish genealogists with any Polish roots. It is also a model for other groups to follow elsewhere.
In a similar vein, we are invited to participate in a study conducted by Dr. Harry Ostrer on “Genetic Analysis of Jewish Origins”, a related topic. Dr. Ostrer will pass out a questionnaire about the places of origin of our matrilineal and patrilineal lines and collect samples of our DNA via a brief swab. This will help identify areas of origin, and is a project that has involved many Jewish Genealogical Societies.
The meeting will take place at Temple Reyim, 1860 Washington Street (Route 16), West Newton. The Temple is near Newton-Wellesley Hospital and the Woodland Stop on the Riverside Green Line, as well as a short ride from Route 128 at Exit 21. Click here for directions.
Visiting the Old Country: Two Genealogical Success Stories
Arthur Obermayer and Jim Feldman
Sunday, February 13, 2000 — 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Temple Reyim, West Newton
Two experienced genealogists will share their successful visits to their ancestral communities and how they found family information and records.
Arthur Obermayer will speak on: “At Home with Isaac the Jew: A Return Visit to 16th Century Germany.” Arthur, a chemical engineer and entrepreneur, has made several trips to Germany to investigate his family history. In addition to describing his genealogical findings, he will share how he worked with officials in his ancestral town to create a town-sponsored Jewish museum in the house of one of his ncestors.
Jim Feldman will speak and show slides on: “FOUND! 200 Family Records: Success in Poland.” Jim Feldman is a retired professor of electrical and chemical engineering who has used his training to develop tools of technical research with which he has traced his Polish roots back to the 1750s and forward to relatives now living in every continent but Antarctica. He will discuss his most recent research trip to Poland and the methodology for making such a trip.
The Society’s resources will be available for research before and after the speaking program.
The meeting will take place at Temple Reyim, 1860 Washington Street (Route 16), West Newton. The Temple is near Newton-Wellesley Hospital and the Woodland Stop on the Riverside Green Line, as well as a short ride from Route 128 at Exit 21. Click here for directions.
Refreshments will be served. The meeting is free to JGS members. The charge is $3 for non-members, who may pay or join at the door.
Sunday, January 9, 2000
Temple Reyim, West Newton
Rabbi Wilfond, assistant rabbi at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, will talk about his recent two years in Kiev as a Reform rabbi. He will also tell us how he happpened to accidently find relatives in the Ukraine. There will be an opportunity to use the Society resources after the talk.