JewishGen: Museum of Jewish Heritage statement

JewishGen's home page today includes a message from the Museum of Jewish Heritage's director Dr. David G. Marwell concerning changes at the genealogy site.

As most Genners know, JewishGen has been a Museum affiliate since 2003.

A Message from the Museum of Jewish Heritage

Dear Friends:

After more than two decades of extraordinary leadership, Susan King’s tenure as Managing Director of JewishGen has come to an end. Susan’s vision and dedication saw JewishGen develop from a bulletin board in the early Internet era to the premier online resource for Jewish genealogy today.

Perhaps more than any other person, Susan, through JewishGen, has changed the way research on Jewish family history is conducted. Her inspiration has not only provided missing branches for family trees, but has also brought long separated families together. She has left a profound mark on a pioneering institution. The JewishGen family owes Susan a substantial debt of gratitude, and we wish her the very best for the future.

David G. Marwell, Ph.D.
Director
Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust

His message leads to a Museum press release:

Susan King, A Revolutionary in the World of Jewish Genealogy, To Leave JewishGen

NEW YORK, NY – Susan King, the founder of JewishGen, the primary Internet source connecting Jewish genealogy researchers from around the world, is leaving the organization after 21 years.

“Susan King’s tenure as Managing Director of JewishGen has ended after more than two decades of extraordinary leadership of that pioneering institution,” announced Dr. David G. Marwell, director of the Museum of Jewish Heritage--A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in New York City, which oversees JewishGen. “Susan’s vision and dedication saw JewishGen develop from a bulletin board in the early Internet era to the premier online resource for Jewish genealogy today.”

Dr. Marwell also announced the appointment of Warren Blatt, currently the Editor-in-Chief of JewishGen, to serve as JewishGen's new Managing Director. Mr. Blatt, who has been actively involved with JewishGen since 1990, was awarded the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies' Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. “Warren Blatt brings great skill and experience to his new position, and we look forward to working with him,” Dr. Marwell said.

In an email to the JewishGen community, Susan King wrote, “We can all take enormous pride in what we have established collectively. There is nothing better than knowing that you have fulfilled a dream and to know you have made a difference in so many lives. Even though I may be moving forward, please know that JewishGen will remain in my heart forever.”

Founded by Ms. King in 1987, JewishGen is the principal Internet source connecting Jewish genealogy researchers from around the world. With more than 300,000 registered users, its most popular features are the JewishGen Discussion Group, the JewishGen Family Finder, ShtetLinks sites for more than 200 communities, Yizkor Book translations, and databases containing more than 13 million genealogical records.

Created to assist those interested in researching their Jewish ancestry, JewishGen, Inc. is staffed primarily by volunteers. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit corporation relying on the generosity of its users to ensure continued growth. JewishGen has been an affiliate of the Museum of Jewish Heritage since 2003.

The Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust educates people of all ages and backgrounds about the rich tapestry of Jewish life over the past century — before, during, and after the Holocaust. Current special exhibitions include Daring to Resist: Jewish Defiance in the Holocaust; Sosúa: A Refuge for Jews in the Dominican Republic; and “To Return to the Land…” Paul Goldman’s Photographs of the Birth of Israel. The Museum offers visitors a vibrant public program schedule in its Edmond J. Safra Hall and is home to Andy Goldsworthy’s memorial Garden of Stones, as well as James Carpenter’s Reflection Passage, Gift of The Gruss Lipper Foundation. The Museum receives general operating support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and is a founding member of the Museums of Lower Manhattan.