Events 2002

Searching the Ellis Island Database and 1930 Census with Fewer Tears   flyer    

Dr. Stephen Morse

December 8, 2002 — 1:30-4:30 pm
Temple Reyim, West Newton

In April 2001, the Ellis Island ship manifests and passenger records went on-line. One year later, on April Fools Day, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) opened the doors to the 1930 US Census. But genealogists who had been eagerly awaiting both events were surprised to learn that neither of these resources was easy to use.

Stephen Morse, with the help of several collegues. has developed One-Step search-tool websites that simplify access to both databases. These websites have attracted attention worldwide. In his talk, Dr. Morse describes the One-Step websites from both a historical and a practical perspective, and compares them to alternatives.

As an amateur genealogist, Stephen Morse has been researching his Russian-Jewish origins for the past few years. In his other life, Steve is a computer professional who has spent a career alternately doing research, development, teaching, consulting, and writing. He is best known as the designer of the Intel 8086 microprocessor (grandfather of today’s Pentium processor), which sparked the PC revolution twenty years ago. He has a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and still enjoys tinkering with electronics as he continues his day jobs in computers.

Admission is free for members, $5 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.


A Genealogical Double-Header  flyer

Garry Stein

Sunday, November 17, 2002
Temple Reyim, West Newton

A day-long two-part program, featuring Garry Stein, President of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Canada (Toronto) and Past Director of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS).

Morning Workshop: Introduction to Genealogy — 9:30am-12:30pm

Spend the morning learning how to trace your Jewish roots with Garry Stein, an expert on Jewish genealogical research in the USA and Canada. A light (kosher) lunch will follow the workshop.

Admission: $20 for the workshop, including the light lunch.

Afternoon Lecture: Genealogy of the Torah — 1:30pm-4:30pm

The Torah, unlike other religious texts, documents a family history, that of the Jewish people, complete with genealogical trees. The issues that arise in doing Torah genealogy parallel those that modern genealogists encounter. Garry Stein will outline the family tree from Adam and Eve, through the descendents of King David and the rabbis of the Talmud, to the Vilna Gaon, and living individuals.

Admission is free for members and morning workshop attendees, $5 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.


JewishGen as a Research Tool: Getting the Most Out of Its Databases

Warren Blatt

Sunday, October 6, 2002 — 1:30-4:30 pm
The Film Lecture Hall, Newton North High School

Using a live Internet connection, Warren Blatt will guide us through the popular databases on the JewishGen website: the JewishGen Family Finder (JGFF), JewishGen ShtetlSeeker, Family Tree of the Jewish People (FTJP), and JewishGen Discussion Group message archives. He will also show us how to add our own data to the interactive databases

In addition to being JGSGB’s webmaster, Warren serves as JewishGen’s Vice-President for Editorial and Content Management and as Editor-in-Chief. He is the author of Resources for Jewish Genealogy in the Boston Area (JGSGB, 1996) as well as other books and articles pertaining to Jewish genealogical research. He was chair of the 15th International Seminar on Jewish Genealogy held in Boston in 1996. Warren is a popular speaker at many genealogical conferences, including the 2002 international Jewish genealogy conference recently in Toronto. When not engrossed in genealogy, he is a computer software engineer.

Location: The meeting will take place at Newton North High School (NNHS), 360 Lowell Avenue, Newtonville.  Enter through the main entrance on Elm Road. Proceed up the stairs onto the school’s “Main Street”. The Film Lecture Hall is situated on the left.

Admission is free for members, $5 for non-members.  Refreshments will be served.

Directions:

  • From Mass Turnpike (I-90): Get off at Exit 17 (Newton Corner). From the off ramp, follow signs to West Newton, which will take you westward down Washington St, parallel to the turnpike. After about 1 mile you will see the Star Market over the Turnpike on the left. The next set of lights is Lowell Ave. Turn left. NNHS is four blocks down on the left. Turn left onto Elm Rd just before the school and park in the lot.
  • From Route 128 (I-95) North or South: Get off at Exit 21 onto Route 16 east toward Newton (not Wellesley). Go approximately 1 mile (past Temple Reyim) to the 3rd set of traffic lights (fire station on right). Turn right onto Commonwealth Ave. Go approximately 1.5 miles to the 3rd set of lights, and turn left onto Lowell Ave. The school is on the right after two long blocks. Go just beyond the school, turn right onto Elm Rd, and park in the lot.
  • From Commonwealth Ave in Boston: Go towards Newton on Commonwealth Ave until you pass Walnut St (Newton City Hall on left). At the next light, take a right onto Lowell Ave and proceed to Elm Rd as above.

A Summer’s Evening on Belarus with Vitaly Charny

Tuesday, August 13, 2002 — 7:00-9:30 pm     
Temple Reyim, West Newton

Vitaly Charny, a researcher born in Minsk and now living in Alabama (see bio below), focuses on obtaining and translating Jewish documentation from Belarus. He will give a short history of the Jewish community there and will discuss naming patterns in Belarus during the Russian Empire and Soviet times. A question and discussion period will follow the formal presentation.

Belarus was formerly known as “White Russia” or Byelorussia. The main cities are: Minsk, Grodno, Vitebsk, Babruysk (Bobruisk), Slutsk, and Pinsk. Acquired by the Russian Empire during the partition of Poland in the late 18th century, it stood in the heart of the Pale of Settlement.

Mr. Charny has helped several of our own members obtain family information, and he has graciously offered to translate at the meeting short documents in Russian.

Vitaly Charny was born in Minsk in 1953 and was brought up there. He graduated from Belarus State University in 1975 with a major in Nuclear Physics but couldn’t pursue a scientific career in the Soviet Union. He immigrated to the US with his family as political refugees in 1989. He worked in different places and fields including as a librarian assistant at NYU and at a lizard-breeding farm in Alabama. For the last few years he has lived in Birmingham, Alabama, and has worked as a programmer-analyst for a Computer Science Corporation. His hobbies and interests include philately (with Judaica as one of the topics); butterflies and dragonflies monitoring and photography; Jewish history of the Russian Empire/ USSR, military history, and the history of Russian Art; hiking; Jewish genealogy, including the origin and distribution of Jewish surnames in Minsk Gubernia; aquariums, terrariums, and wild flowers.

Admission is free for members, $5 for non-members. Refreshments will be served. Society resources will be available for research after the talk.

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.


22nd International Conference on Jewish Genealogy

August 4-9, 2002

Sheraton Centre Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Hosted by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Canada (Toronto); sponsored by the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS).

  • More than 100 Lectures
  • Jewish Genealogy Film Festival
  • Breakfasts with the Experts
  • Special Interest Group Luncheons
  • Birds-of-a-Feather Meetings
  • Special Interest Group Meetings
  • Exciting Closing Kosher Banquet
  • Great Toronto Resources
  • Computer and Resources Room
  • Biggest Vendor Exhibition Ever
  • Special Toronto & Canadian Tours and Events
  • Favourable currency exchange rate
  • Toronto — A Great Location to See and Meet

For more information, see http://www.jgstoronto2002.ca.


Caring for Your Invaluable Documents   &   Annual Meeting

Sunday, June 2, 2002 — 1:30-4:30 pm
Temple Reyim, West Newton     

Presented by a five-member panel of experts from the New England Archivists (http://www.newenglandarchivists.org/).

The program will take place after a short annual meeting and election of officers. The panel members-one from the Harvard University Libraries, one from the Massachusetts Historical Society, and three from different government repositories in the Boston area-will teach us how to preserve and protect our documents and photographs. Such items, though seemingly robust, may in fact be quite delicate, and they need to be cared for properly.

Bring you own documents and photographs, and after the presention, you may consult with the experts on the care of your particular items.

Admission is free for members, $3 for non-members. Special Middle Eastern refreshments will be served. Society resources will be available for research after the talk.

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.


The Application of DNA Testing to Jewish Populations and Migrations

Bennett Greenspan
Founder and President, Family Tree DNA, Houston, Texas

Sunday, May 5, 2002 — 1:30-4:30 pm
Temple Reyim, West Newton     

Bennett Greenspan will start by explaining how and why he got into genetic genealogy. He will then describe in lay terms the current state of DNA research and how DNA in mitochondria – which follows the female line – and DNA in the Y chromosome – which follows the male line – can be used to trace Jewish populations and migrations. At the end of the meeting, those present will be able to discuss the possibility of having their own DNA sampled for genealogical purposes.

Admission is free for members, $3 for non-members. Refreshments will be served. Society resources will be available for research after the talk.

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.


JGSGB Night at the Boston Public Library

April 10, 2002 — 7:00-9:00pm
Boston Public Library, Copley Square, Boston

Members will meet at the Mezzanine Conference Room, which can be accessed via the stairs or elevator in the entrance hall of the new (Johnson) building. Henry Scannell, Curator of Microtext and Newspapers of the Boston Public Library, will give an introductory talk and then lead a tour of the library’s resources for genealogical research. Carol Clingan and David Rosen will assist members with the tour.


Patterns of European Jewish Migration  flyer     

Prof. Antony Polonsky

Sunday, March 3, 2002 — 1:30-4:30pm
Temple Reyim, West Newton

Have you ever wondered how your ancestors happened to come to Central or Eastern Europe, where they came from, why they migrated at a particular time? Ever wondered how many of us are descended from the Khazars, who converted to Judaism in the 8th century? Professor Antony Polonsky, a well-known East European scholar at Brandeis, will attempt to answer some of these questions.

Admission is free for members, $3 for non-members. Refreshments will be served. Society resources will be available for research after the talk.

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.


Using Genealogy Software to Organize Your Data: Tips and Techniques

Jay Sage, David Kanter, & Jim Byram

Sunday, February 10, 2002 — 1:30-4:30pm
Temple Reyim, West Newton

This program will use three programs (two for Windows and one for Macintosh computers) to illustrate techniques for using genealogical software.

Jay Sage will give a general presentation about using genealogy software programs and then describe “Family Origins for Windows,” an inexpensive, easy-to-use program that fulfills needs of most amateur genealogists. “Reunion,” an excellent program available for the Macintosh, will be presented by David Kanter, followed by a hands-on session for Mac users in another room. Finally, Jim Byram will present “The Master Genealogist,” the most sophisticated program available.

Admission is free for members, $3 for non-members. Refreshments will be served. Society resources will be available for research after the talk.

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.


Ethics in Genealogy: Do You or Don’t You Tell    flyer    

Stuart Kaufman

Sunday, January 6, 2002

Stuart Kaufman will discuss ethical issues that arise in the course of genealogical research, especially the issue of how to treat sensitive information that you uncover.