Happy New Year - and thank you!

As we enter the Jewish New Year, I wish each of you a sweet, happy, healthy and prosperous year, filled with everything good for you and your extended families. May this year bring great genealogical achievements and major research breakthroughs.

At this season, as families gather, take this opportunity to share your family's unique history with older and younger relatives. Ask questions of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives. Make sure that younger relatives hear these conversations. Perhaps one may become inspired and set out on his or her own quest for information.

Tracing the Tribe recently completed its first year and I sincerely want to thank readers and genea-blogger colleagues for their public and private support and encouragement. Nearly 44,000 readers have read more than 74,000 page-views of 660-plus posts. Google "Jewish genealogy blog" and Tracing the Tribe is at the top of the list.

When Tracing the Tribe went live, we expected readers from the US, UK, Israel, Canada and Europe. There are also Eastern European readers and those from the Caribbean, Central and South America; Africa, Australia and New Zealand; the Middle East, Asia and the Far East.

Along the way, we've addressed Jewish history and many international communities, pointed to relevant news stories, new databases, important events and much more. If there is a topic you'd like to see, let me know.

Tracing the Tribe is here because JTA saw the importance and value of our mutual passion - Jewish genealogy - and made it possible. You may know JTA as the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, which has brought Jewish news to the world for more than a century. JTA's vision and support are deeply appreciated.

With best wishes - Shana Tovah and Hatima Tovah!

Schelly