Israel: IGS holds elections

The Israel Genealogical Society held its annual general meeting, including elections, on December 22, 2010.

The elected officers are President Garri Regev, Secretary Susan Edel and Treasurer Chana Furman.

Michael Goldstein (who is the IAJGS president) and Dr. Lea Haber Gedalia completed their terms.

The Executive Committee includes Regev, Edel and Furman, as well as Shaul Hollander and Daniel Horowitz as representatives.

The 2014 International Conference on Jewish Genealogy will be held in Israel.

For more information on the IGS, click here.

Virginia: George Allen to discuss Jewish heritage

Tracing the Tribe's readers may remember former Senator George Allen's refusal to admit his Jewish background during his failed 2006 election campaign in Virginia.

Sephardic researchers immediately recognized his grandfather's surname - LUMBROSO - as Jewish.

On Thursday, August 19, he'll speak publicly for the first time about his mother's and grandfather's heritage, as he delivers the keynote address to some 600 attendees at The National Jewish Retreat in Reston, Virginia.

According to the San Francisco Examiner story:

Allen's Jewish grandfather, Felix Lumbroso, was a resistance fighter in French Tunisia whom the Nazis imprisoned during World War II. Allen's middle name, Felix, honors his grandfather.

Allen's father, the late George H. Allen was a Hall of Famer coach of the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins. Allen's brother is now general manager of the Redskins. Allen and his siblings were raised as Christians.

During 2006, he told a questioner that his mother was French-Italian with a little Spanish blood. He's admitted errors since then and said that after his defeat he had learned about his mother's ancestry.

It had never occurred to him that his grandfather Lumbroso was Jewish, although he noted his concentration camp internment.

In 2006, his mother Henriette "Etty" Lumbroso said she kept her ancestry secret from her children as she was afraid they would be persecuted. She told her son in August 2006, before the debate, and swore him to secrecy, even from his siblings, wife and children.

Read more here.

LitvakSIG: Election results

LitvakSIG held elections - with voting by email and in person at the recent LA 2010 conference - for its board of directors.

New directors are Judy Baston, David Hoffman and Eden Joachim.

According to the report by election committee chair Charles B. Nam, the special interest group has 529 members.

Congratulations to Judy, David and Eden.

If your ancestors lived in Lithuania, you will find much information at the group's website, which offers many resources. Read about these in more detail here.

IAJGS 2010: Achievement Awards

The annual IAJGS awards banquet was held last night.

Actor and singer Mitch Smolkin, accompanied by the masterful Nina Shapilsky, provided a nostalgic look back at the "Yiddish Frank Sinatra" - Samuel Rexite - who translated the Great American Song Book into mame loshn.

Following elections, the 2010-2012 IAJGS board includes:

President Michael Goldstein (Israel)
Vice President Michael Brenner (Nevada)
Secretary Joel Spector (New Jersey)
Treasurer Paul Silverstone (New York)

Directors at large:
Jan Meisels Allen (California)
Nolan Altman (New York)
Daniel Horowitz (Israel)
Kahlile Mehr (Utah)
Jackye Sullins (California)
Jay Sage (Massachusetts)

The Achievement Awards:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Hal Bookbinder (California)

Outstanding Contribution to Jewish Genealogy via the Internet, Print or Electronic Product:Judith Frazin (Illinois), for her Polish translation book.

Outstanding Program or Project that Advances the Objectives of Jewish Genealogy:"Philadelphia-area Jewish Genealogical Resource Guide" - JGS of Greater Philadelphia

Outstanding Publication by a Member Organization of IAJGS: "RootsKey" - JGS of Los Angeles

Stern Grant:Israel Genealogical Society

International Jewish Genealogy Month Poster:Jen Lowe, JGS of Colorado

This year's host society, the Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles, is to be congratulated on producing an excellent event. It could not have been done without the leadership of co-chairs Sandy Malek, Lois Rosen and Pamela Weisberger and their legion of dedicated volunteers.

We're already looking forward to 2011, which will be hosted by the Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington, August 14-18, in Washington DC. A preview of next year's conference will be held this morning.

Tracing the Tribe is leaving for El Paso (Texas) this morning for the 6th Sephardic Bnai Anousim Conference.

IAJGS 2010: IAJGS business meeting, elections

The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies held its annual business meeting and elections Wednesday afternoon, July 14.

Several announcements were made:

-- The group is considering and investigating an Eastern European conference that could serve as a springboard for researchers to travel to ancestral towns after the event.

-- A review is being made of the IAJGS Mission Statement. A hefty packet was provided with information on the deliberations of the committee involving the statement, membership expansion and benefits and services for members.

-- Elections were held. Members of the board of directors, elected for a two-year term, are Jan Meisels Allen, Nolan Altman, Daniel Horowitz, Khalil Mehr, Jay Sage and Jackye Sullins. Directors are elected in even years, officers in odd years.

More information will be available on the IAJGS website.

Ohio: Bravo to Bravo!

Attorney Kenneth A. Bravo is the new president of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Cleveland.

A partner with Ulmer & Berne, he has extensive experience in both business litigation and white-collar criminal defense, holding a J.D. cum laude (Ohio State University Moritz College of Law) and BA (Rutgers University).

The nonprofit JGSC was formed in 1982 and is dedicated to encouraging local Jewish family history and genealogical research.

The society maintains a research library, encourages the collection of genealogical material and family histories, and its meetings are free and open to the public.

The society's next meeting (Sunday, February 7) will provide information on and a demonstration of the Cleveland Jewish News digitized collection, such as the Jewish Independent Obituary Index.

Click here to go to the Index search tool; read the notes to understand what is included in this index. Tracing the Tribe has previously reported on the CJN's digital archives and has a personal connection (TAYLOR/TALALAY) to the city.

For more information on the group and its future programs, click here.

APG: Election congrats to familiar faces

Some very familiar faces - from New Hampshire, Florida, Utah, New York and Israel - were among the 17 individuals recently elected to the Association of Professional Genealogists board.

Special congratulations from Tracing the Tribe go to the following:

Laura G. Prescott of Brookline, New Hampshire was elected president.

Andrew M. “Drew” Smith of Odessa, Florida, was elected secretary. Drew is the Florida Genealogical Society of Tampa president, and co-hosts (with George Morgan), the Genealogy Guys Podcast.

Among elected regional directors:

West Region: Suzanne Russo Adams AG of Utah, is a specialist in Italian research and employee of Ancestry.com.

I've known Suzanne for what seems like years and she was my host when I visited Ancestry's Provo headquarters a few years ago. We meet at the Southern California Genealogical Society's annual Jamborees as well as the annual IAJGS international Jewish genealogy conferences, where she is usually an Ancestry.com speaker.

Northeast Region: Debra Braverman of New York, is a national speaker and forensic genealogist who regularly testifies as an expert witness.

She is a JGS of New York member; we meet at the annual IAJGS conferences.

International Regions: Michael Goldstein of Israel, traces roots worldwide, specializing in family reunification, heir searches and Holocaust research.

Well-known to all genealogists in Israel, Michael wears several hats as president of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) and president of the Israel Genealogical Society. He speaks at Jewish genealogical societies in North America and at IAJGS conferences.

The Association of Professional Genealogists, established in 1979, represents nearly 2,000 genealogists, librarians, writers, editors, historians, instructors, booksellers, publishers, and others involved in genealogy-related businesses. APG encourages genealogical excellence, ethical practice, mentoring, and education. The organization also supports the preservation and accessibility of records useful to the fields of genealogy, local, and social history. Its members represent all 50 states, Canada, and 30 other countries.

Congratulations to everyone elected this year!

IAJGS: New officers elected

Tracing the Tribe congratulates Michael Goldstein of Israel on his election to the helm of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Associations, the umbrella group for some 75 worldwide societies.

I have spent quite some time meeting with and speaking with Michael over this past year and in Chicago at the conference. I believe that his election will assuredly breathe new life into this group - something that has been sorely needed for a number of years.

He brings a wide world view of Jewish genealogy over its many diverse aspects and understands organizational dynamics, as well as what must be done to revitalize the organization.

Michael Brenner of Nevada remains as vice president and Joel Spector of New Jersey as secretary. Paul Silverstone of New York moved up from the board to the treasurer's position (congratulations as well to Paul).

This leaves a spot on the board for an appointment by the executive committee to fill that position.

I have no doubt that Michael will ultimately select a person with particular talents and knowledge. As many of us understand, that knowledge, talent and skills will be important in representing, facilitating and opening doors to improvements in contacts with non-Anglo societies in various parts of the world, the Sephardic genealogy world and as a bridge to bringing in younger members. The ultimate appointment will certainly be interesting.

During odd-numbered years, executive officer elections are held; during even-numbered years, board elections are held. Thus, those are scheduled for July 2010 during the 30th IAJGS International Conference of Jewish Genealogy in Los Angeles, hosted by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles.

Now is the time for those who are interested in working on the revitalization of this organization to begin thinking seriously of getting involved. Although I am not at liberty to mention names, there is already one very exciting candidate whom we hope will be running next summer.

Tracing the Tribe wishes Michael well and stands ready to assist in any way that might help him accomplish the goals he will set.

Israel: Jewish pirates on parade, Feb. 24

There will be parrots, [eye] patches and pirates galore at the annual meeting of the branches of the Jewish Family Research Association (JFRA) on Tuesday evening, February 24.

Was your ancestor a Jewish pirate? What were the family names of famous Jewish pirates? Is that a milchig (dairy) or fleischig (meat) knife in the pirate's mouth? For the answers to these and other "biting" questions, come to the meeting.

Dr. Steven Plaut of Haifa University's Graduate School of Business will cover the history of Jewish pirates and the recent plethora of articles and books focusing on this subject.

Recently, in Jamaica, municipal workers uncovered a "pirates' graveyard" where some graves are adorned with - not only a skull and crossbones - but stars of David and Hebrew inscriptions.

Dr. Plaut - a Philadelphia native - will also speak about the Jewish roots of his wife's family - in Gaza City - and we'll end with a comic song about Jewish genealogy.

Along with the festivities, there's also the serious side of an annual business meeting, including elections.

The program is open only to paid-up (2008) JFRA members and to those who pay 2009 dues before the meeting begins. If we wear pirate garb (or bring along a parrot), do we get a discount on dues?

JFRA Ra'anana meets at Beit Fischer, 5 Klausner St. (near Ahuza). Doors open at 6.45pm (come early to pay dues), the business meeting is at 7.15pm, the main program begins at 7.45pm.

For more information, contact JFRA president Ingrid Rockberger.

Chicago 2008: IAJGS awards, elections

At the conference banquet on Thursday evening, the following awards were presented:

Howard Margol (Georgia), Lifetime Achievement;

Award for Outstanding Contribution to Jewish Genealogy via the Internet, Print or Electronic Product: Steve Lasky (New York), The Museum of Family History;

Award for Outstanding Programming or Project That Advances the Objectives of Jewish Genealogy: Petra Laidlaw (UK) for the database documenting Anglo-Jewish residents registered in the 1851 UK Census.

Award for Outstanding Publication by a Member Organization: JGS of Great Britain (UK) for its excellent series of handbooks on a variety of topics.

The Malcolm Stern Grant honors Malcolm H. Stern, widely considered to be the dean of American Jewish genealogy, and his efforts to increase the availability of resources for Jewish genealogical research. The Stern Grant provides funding to encourage institutions to pursue projects, activities and acquisitions that provide new or enhanced resources to benefit Jewish genealogists: The $2,500 grant was given to the Italian Genealogical Group (NY), which has indexed thousands of New York records useful for researchers everywhere, through its army of volunteers. The grant will be used to index Brooklyn Brides, 1910-1930.

On Wednesday, presidents and voting representatives of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies elected the following individuals to the board: Jan Meisels Allen (California), Daniel Horowitz (Israel), Bill Israel (Florida), Kahlile Mehr (Utah), Paul Silverstone (New York), and Jackye Sullins (California).

Congratulations to all the award recipients and elected board members!