14 November 2010

Where in the world is Schelly?

Readers have been wondering why Tracing the Tribe has been so quiet for the past week or so.

We have just transplanted back to the US - to New Mexico, known as the Land of Enchantment.

What is it like here in mid-November? Beautiful blue skies, bright sunshine, clean clear air, a bit nippy during the day, but comfortable! This was the view from our living room about five minutes ago.

We've spent the past few days getting settled in our new place and restocking with the essentials of life.

Everyone we've met has been very friendly and interested in the fact that we moved here from Israel. Everyone has a story of a connection, either because of their own family history (Sephardic, Converso) or their support for Israel. I've met such interesting people in just the first few days.

For a genealogist - and a Jewish genealogist in particular - meeting our next door neighbor was fortuitous. This isn't New York City, where even the Italians are Jewish (or so we used to say!), and the Jewish population is spread out across the city, so it was quite a surprise to meet our MOT neighbor.

She has roots in Nesvizh, Belarus. Their name, she reported, was Odiansky, changed to Gordon at Ellis Island (NOT!), and that she can't find information because everything over there was destroyed (NOT!). We plan to sit down this week and see what we can find in the Belarus and other records. She also has distant cousins in Ramat Gan (adjacent to Tel Aviv).

We haven't had too much time yet for touristy things, but hope to get to some places next week.

Now that our internet, cable and phones are connected, Tracing the Tribe can get back to work.

I'm also really looking forward to meeting everyone at the New Mexico Genealogy Society and the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society.

9 comments:

  1. Congratulations and I am glad the move went well! And it sounds like you've wasted no time in getting settled and meeting the neighbors!

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  2. Anonymous3:38 PM

    Missed your blog; best wishes with your new home. NM is great.

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  3. Anonymous9:05 PM

    Schelly -- welcome to New Mexico! As president of the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society I invite you to contact me, Dorothy Corner Amsden, Los Alamos, dca@unmalumni.com.

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  4. So glad to hear that Carmen Sandiego Talalay is now in Albuquerque! Wishing you health and happiness in your new home, and lots of fun and friends.
    Judy

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  5. Welcome to New Mexico, Shelly! Please get in touch with me. Dorothy Amsden, president, New Mexico Jewish Historical Society.

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  6. Welcome back to the States, at long last. Best of luck getting settled in your new home.

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  7. Anonymous8:28 PM

    Mazal Tov Schelly!
    Much success in your new home and environment.
    AlexandraG

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  8. Best wishes...
    Your blog rocks...

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  9. Welcome to El Burque Schelly,

    Hope to meet you soon,

    Mida

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