Television: Friday night at the Goodmans

It's not quite "Who Do You Think You Are" but "Friday Night Dinner" may strike some familiar chords with Tracing the Tribe's readers.

The new UK series will premiere on BBC America tonight (Saturday, July 30).

Read an interview on Collider.com with actor Simon Bird and creator/producer Robert Popper as they describe their own childhoods and the differences between American and UK Jewish families.

According to the interview, there's a creepy neighbor, a grandmother in a bikini, embarassing parents and more.

Here's one bit offered by Bird who plays one of the two brothers who get together with their family every Shabbat evening.

"I don’t think Robert is out to specifically write a Jewish sitcom. I think he wanted to write a sitcom about his family, and his family just happens to be Jewish, but they’re quite relaxed Jews. Some of the Jewish customs don’t really come into it, just because they’re not a big deal for Robert’s family. But, I’m a massive fan of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm. I don’t know if they’re over-the-top, though. On Seinfeld, Judaism didn’t really come up much. It does more in Curb, only for the occasional storyline, here and there. In America, you’ve had decades of humor being fused with Jewish humor. In England, we just don’t have that. Our humor is not infused with Jewish humor. It’s completely different. So, whenever I see Jewish people depicted, they’ve always been done in either an over-the-top way, or a sentimental way. This family is Jewish, and they meet on Friday night. Their candles are lit, but they’re not going to do the whole thing. The way they talk is modern British. It’s second generation and third generation Jewish people. Jewish people will recognize they’re Jewish, but non-Jewish people might not. They might, if they know some Jewish people, but it’s not an issue. If you get it, you get it. If you don’t, you just enjoy it.

Read the rest of the interview at the link above.
There's another short review here.

Geneabloggers: 19 new blogs

Thomas MacEntee of Geneabloggers.com has located another 19 newly-discovered genealogy and family-history related blogs, bringing the geneablog total to 1,929 genealogy blogs at the site.

Here are the highlights of the new list. Read more here.

This week's collection offers blogs focused on individual family histories, Australia, UK, professional genealogists, genealogy conferences, African-American, genealogy education, Florida, genealogy society, genealogy industry and surnames.

The list includes a Jewish family history blog:

Everything I Know About Hyman Victor
Individual family (VICTOR), Jewish genealogy

Everything I Know is a repository for information about the life of my late great grandfather Hyman Victor, a Jewish immigrant who came to America in 1913. The exhibits at left tell the story of his life, through the vital records, photos, and oral history he left behind.

The other new blogs are

Claiming Kin
African-American, individual family history

Marlive Taylor-Harris has been hooked on genealogy since her son, now with children of his own, brought home an ancestral chart to complete for his “All About Me” project in third grade.

Diggin for Family
Individual family (SHAW, CANTER, LUCAS, PAKLEDINAZ)

Florida State Genealogical Society Blog
Florida, Genealogy society

Founded in 1977 to promote the study and research of genealogy and local history, the society publishes source materials and family history, encourages seminars, workshops and similar educational meetings and - since 1978 - has held an annual conference with well-known speakers.

Forget-Me-Not Ancestry
Professional genealogist

... I love the detective work ~ the sleuthing ~ involved in genealogy research. I know how to find the sources that provide clues and answers to ancestry questions, and more importantly I know how to analyze the data. I have a gift for seeing relationships and noticing bits of information that many others do not. ...

GenieAusEvents
Australia, Genealogy conferences

Events of interest to Australian genealogists including conferences, excursions, family reunions, lectures, open days and seminars. ... Readers are encouraged to submit details of events for publishing on this blog.

Green Eyed Look-a-Like
Individual family history

Jottings, Journeys and Genealogy
Australia, Individual family history

Online Gen Guy
Genealogy industry

Author Mark Olsen is a genealogist and an online marketer. "As the current affiliate program manager at FamilyLink.com and WorldVitalRecords.com and the former affiliate manager of Ancestry.com I have some great experience helping people make a lot of money in Genealogy Affiliate Programs. Here I will talk affiliate stuff, blogging, genealogy."

Onwards to Our Past
Individual family history

A genealogy blog focused on Bohemia, Czech community of Cleveland, Cornwall in the UK, Italy and Italian immigration all with a good dose of fun!

Search Tip of the Day
Genealogy education

This is my newest “tip of the day” blog–geared towards online sites, not Ancestry.com, but any online database site (fee and otherwise) that genealogists use. Every day we will have a search tip for using a site or a database.

Reflecting on Genealogy
Genealogy education, Genealogy industry

Steers ONS (One Name Study)
Surname blog (STEERS), UK

For those of you who are not aware of the concept of a One Name Study may I suggest that you head over to the Guild of One Name Studies homepage for a breakdown of what they do. ...

The Heritage Files
Individual family history

Authored by a 30-something daughter of a long-time genealogy researcher, recently bitten by the genealogy bug, who thought it would be fun, and perhaps even helpful, to write about her discoveries, frustrations, insights, and adventures. ...

The Leaves on the Trudgian Tree
Individual family history (TRUDGIAN)

Exploring the lives of one Trudgian family in Galena, Illinois through the eyes of their daughter, Lillian, from 1913-1931. Lillian’s diary entries explore the family, neighbors, what is happening in Galena, national events, the weather and the crops!

Theories of Relativity
Individual family history

Updates Genie
Australia, Genealogy industry

Tips and news from all over the world (Australia, UK, Ireland, NZ, Canada, USA etc), about indexes, Web sites, publications and other resources, discounts, events etc. There are also links to longer articles on ‘Queensland Genealogy’, ‘UK/Australia Genealogy’ and ‘Genealogy Leftovers’.

Weeks Family Research
Individual family history (WEEKS)

Will the real Ursula Wright please stand up!
Individual family history (WRIGHT)

Click on the Geneablogger link above to read Thomas' complete post on the new blogs. You might find something of interest in this week's list.

Looking for a blog covering a specific geographical location or topic? Check out the previous weekly editions of Thomas' discoveries as well as the categories for the nearly 2,000 genealogy blogs at the site.

Three conferences in 10 days!

Tracing the Tribe has just arrived home after speaking at three conferences in two countries in 10 days!

Each was very different in format and topics addressed, and Internet access - on a personal level - varied, significantly curtailing communications. Jet lag, surprisingly, wasn't an issue on this trip. Along with the events themselves, Tracing the Tribe also connected with family, old and new friends.

The Society of Genealogists' Centenary Conference (London, UK; Saturday, May 7), was followed by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain's Northern Regional Conference (Manchester, UK; Sunday, May 8). Just two days later, I flew to the exciting National Genealogical Society's event in Charleston, South Carolina.

At the SOG and NGS, my topic was the IberianAshkenaz DNA Study as a case study - administered by Judy Simon of New York and myself - at FamilyTreeDNA.com. Each time this topic is presented, there is more to update on results and participants. It aways changes.

In Manchester, I spoke on social media for 21st-century genealogists, also an evolving topic.

At SOG and NGS, DNA was an interesting topic as the number of Jewish attendees is traditionally rather small, although there were more who had Jewish ancestry, some recently discovered. It was a different audience, with different questions, and we believe that these two opportunities helped to raise awareness of genetic genealogy - and FamilyTreeDNA.com.

From questions asked in session Q&As to those fielded during the rest of the events (and later emails), it was obvious that people are fascinated by this rather amazing tool available to us. The presentation includes the nuts and bolts of creating a DNA project applicable to any ethnicity, religion or geographic region.

At the JGSGB event - with some really excellent topics presented - it was a privilege to help explain how genealogists (as well as genealogy societies and other institutions) can benefit from today's social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs and more.

Watch for separate posts on each conference.

Now back home in New Mexico, I still have a few weeks before the Southern California Genealogical Society's Jamboree 2011 (speaking on creating online ancestral communities) and the Association of Jewish Libraries' event in Montreal (speaking on Sephardic research) soon after.

What do I do when at home, other than reading accumulated email, getting some needed sleep and generally not travel farther than the supermarket? Well, there are articles to write, a stack of books to review, and local genealogy goings-on, including genealogy presentations at local senior centers.

The schedule includes even more as I am genealogy co-chair of the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society, and involved in the creation and organization of the new general Sandoval County Genealogical Society.

Tracing the Tribe firmly believes that all Jewish historical societies should join the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS), as the NMJHS has recently done. It always seems that genealogists understand the connection between what we do and history, but that historical societies don't always see that essential connection. More cooperation between local genealogical and historical societies provides more learning opportunities for members of both.

What's on the menu for these two societies? We'll soon begin working on the new program year for both groups and contacting prospective speakers.

The Sandoval County society will be meeting the first Saturday of each month, from 10am-12.30pm, and we are working on the timing for the NMJHS events, which will be on Sundays (to be scheduled) at the Albuquerque JCC.

Back to email!

Southern California: 'Jews of the Pacific Coast,' April 3

Dr. Ava F. Kahn will present "Jews of the Pacific Coast," at the next meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of the Conejo Valley and Ventura County (JGSCV), in conjunction with the Western States Jewish History Journal, on Sunday, April 3.

The meeting runs from 1.30-3.30pm, at Temple Adat Elohim, 2420 E. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, which also co-sponsors JGSCV meetings. There is no admission fee.

From the California Gold Rush of 1849 to the explosion of population centers in the Southwest in the 1980s, Jews have played a significant role in shaping the Pacific West.

In the process, they have reshaped themselves as individuals and as communities. Through their mercantile networks and cultural innovations, their philanthropic institutions and political leadership, western Jews created a distinctive identity.

Using historical photographs from her new co-authored book Jews of the Pacific Coast: Reinventing Community at America's Edge Ava F. Kahn will explore the nature of the Jewish experience in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland and the small towns of the West. She will explain the important differences among these cities, as well as highlighting the ways in which the western Jewish experience has echoed and deviated from the familiar story of American Jewish history.

Speaker Ava F. Kahn, PhD, is affiliated with the California Studies Center, University of California, Berkeley. She has published numerous articles and books on Jews in the West including: "Jewish Voices of the California Gold Rush," "Jewish Life in the American West and California Jews." There will be a book-signing following the meeting.

Western States Jewish History Journal is a quarterly journal dedicated to discovering, chronicling, and making available to the general public information on the Jewish participation in the pioneering and development of the American West, Canada, Mexico, and the Pacific Rim.

For more information, click on the JGSCV website, or send an email.

Knowles Collection: 55,000 records just added

Many of Tracing the Tribe's readers know about Todd Knowles' collection of Jewish records. Yesterday, 55,000 records were added, bringing the total to 195,000 people.

In September 2010, the Knowles Collection contained 140,000 records. And, when it was first introduced, the information included fewer than 7,000 people nearly all from the British Isles. Today more than 60 countries are represented and some 10,000 records are added monthly.

It links together - into family groups - thousands of individual Jews. Until now, these records were available only at the Family History Library, or from private archives or individuals.

The five separate databases in the collection are:

-- Jews of the British Isles: 104,100 people
-- Jews of the Americas: 53,000 people
-- Jews of Europe: 33,200 people
-- Jews of the Caribbean: 4,500 people
-- Jews of Africa and the Orient: 800 people

Records contain (where available): Surnames and given names, links to ancestors, dates, places, source citations and notes.

The collection is free and accessible to all. Those interested can download the data as a Gedcom or do an individual search. Find the links here at the The Knowles Collection wiki page at the Family Search Wiki.

Tracing the Tribe is now going to the Family History Library to meet with Todd.

A blog: Jewish Maritime Historical Society

Tracing the Tribe discovered the blog of the Jewish Maritime Historical Society, billed as being
"dedicated to Jewish captains, pirates, sailors and all seafaring people."

Unfortunately, it now seems defunct with the most recent post in November 2009. Its posts covered personalities, historical events, maritime instruments like astrolabes, archaeological evidence and more. The articles come from major and minor websites and publications.

Posts that Tracing the Tribe found interesting: Jews and Navigation, First Hero of the Portuguese Discoveries and Jewish Traders of the Diaspora. In these days, when immigration issues are part of the conversation, read  Aaron Lopez's Struggle for Citizenship.  For parts farther afield, there's an article on the Jews of Cochin.

If this area of Jewish history interests you, or if you had ancestors who sailed the seven seas, take a look.

Geneabloggers: 35 new genealogy, family history blogs!

Geneabloggers.com's Thomas MacEntee has discovered 35 new genealogy and family history blogs, bringing the total to 1,695.

Topics this week include: US Civil War, African-American, individual family history, Polish, Italian, German, Scottish, UK, North Carolina, education, technology, Massachusetts, genealogy industry, genealogy podcasts, Australia, South Africa, Iowa, surname, Midwest, Wisconsin, Japanese, professional genealogist, Virginia, cemetery and Indiana.

In addition to spotlighting the new Geneabloggers Radio, this batch includes several focusing on a topic dear to Tracing the Tribe's heart - genealogy education - so do check those out.

For more on each blog, click on Thomas' post.

About Our Freedom
African-American genealogy, US Civil War blogs

...To help people break free from the limitations which stem from lack of knowledge, misconceptions, and distractions in order to experience freedom to the fullest extent and to leave a legacy for future posterity. ...

Abruzzo Journal
Individual family history, Italian genealogy, Polish genealogy

... Abruzzo region of southern Italy, including Serramonocesca, San Salvo and Popoli. ... Podlachia region of Polond, including Bialystok, Knyszyn, Penskie, Dlugoleka, and the Podkarpackie region, including Brzyska Wola.

Bayern Roots
German genealogy, Individual family history

Beaudoin-Laroche
Individual family history (BEAUDOIN-LAROCHE)

Borders Family History Society
Genealogy society blogs, Scottish genealogy, UK genealogy

... Border counties (Berwickshire, Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire) of Scotland; adjacent counties of England and Scotland.

Civil War Emancipation Blog
African-American genealogy, US Civil War blogs

... a blog on emancipation...At its heart, slavery caused the Civil War and emancipation was its most important result. ...

Conner Trails of North Carolina
Individual family history (CONNER), North Carolina genealogy

Cudmore Family History
Individual family history (CUDMORE)

Deal With Your Past
Individual family history

Family Cherished
Individual family history

Family Folklore Blog
Individual family history

Family History and IT Tips
Genealogy education blogs, Technology blogs

Ge-ne-al-o-gy 101
Genealogy education

This blog site is intended for those who have started thinking about or have just started doing genealogy. The word genealogy comes from the Greek genea which means “race”, “family”. It is added to the Greek logia which means “akin”. Thus the akin family! It is an account of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor.

Genealogy for Kids
Genealogy education

...a professional genealogist, genealogy educator and author living in the Chicagoland area. ... I made the move from hobbyist to professional genealogist in 2010 and am expanding my genealogy business to include the education of children. ...Children stay engaged in genealogy and family history as long as the activities are fun and keep their attention. I believe they must be challenging, hands on, and include some history. I also believe we must incorporate history into our family stories and view our families within their historical context, not ours.

Genealogy Ink
Genealogy education, Massachusetts genealogy, New England genealogy

... longtime member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, the National Genealogy Society, the Genealogical Society of New Jersey, and the USGenWeb. She’s also a freelance writer, editor, and researcher.

GeneaBloggers Radio
Genealogy industry blog, Genealogy podcasts

GeneaBloggers takes to the airwaves with its new radio show! GeneaBloggers is a community of genealogists and family historians who augment their passion for genealogy by blogging. We currently have over 1,600 genealogy blogs listed in our blogroll from around the world and have a vibrant and vocal group of people seeking to define what it is to be a genealogist in the 21st century.

Gerke Family Tree
Individual family history (GERKE)

Grow Your Family History
Australian genealogy, Individual family history

Hedding Family Tree – Africa/Australia
Australian genealogy, Individual family history (HEDDING), South African genealogy

Hollins Family History
Individual family history (HOLLINS, HOLLAND)

Hyde Cheshire
UK genealogy

Iowa Wisconsin Brassfield Genealogy
Individual family history (BRASSFIELD), Iowa genealogy, Surname blog, Midwest genealogy, Wisconsin genealogy

Japanese Genealogy Blog
Japanese genealogy

Kendall Family History Services
Professional genealogist, UK genealogy

Lesher Genealogy
Individual family history (LESHER)

Musings of a Genealogy Nut
Individual family history

Our Family Line
Individual family history (MATHIS)

Peg’s and MJ’s Genealogy Exchange
Genealogy education blog

Prince William County Genealogy
Virginia genealogy

Searchin’ for Kinfolk
Individual family history (GILL, HENDRICKSON)

Seeber-Wright Family Tree
Individual family tree (SEEBER, WRIGHT)

Shively Family Genealogy
Individual family history (SHIVELY)

Stone Gardens
Cemetery blog (mostly Texas)

Tangled Roots and Other Histories
Individual family history

Totally Related
Individual family history

White River Township
Indiana genealogy

To see the logos for each blog and read more about the authors and their goals, click on the Geneabloggers.com post link above.

Thank you, Thomas, for this interesting weekly roundup.

Geneabloggers.com: 33 more blogs revealed!

Here are another 33 blogs focused on genealogy and family history just discovered by Geneabloggers.com's Thomas MacEntee. There are now 1,662 genealogy blogs on the site.

This week's varied topic crop includes individual family history, UK, photography, US, Poland, Canada, Sweden, Hawaii, education, vendor, roots travel, Civil War, military, African-American, cemetery, library, Georgia, Australia, surname, Minnesota, Pacific Island, Kentucky, diary and crafts.

Ainscough Family History-Mawdesley
Individual family history, UK genealogy

Belden Family Alliances: From Then Til Now
Individual family history

Bigger Families, Faces from the Past
Photography blog

Blundering Blindly Backwards
Individual family history, UK genealogy

Byron City Cemetery, Peach County, Georgia
Cemetery blog, Georgia genealogy

Campaspe Genealogy
Australian genealogy, Genealogy library blog

Census Junkie
Genealogy education, Individual family history

Climbing the Genealogy Tree
Genealogy education

Families of Old Hawaii
Hawaiian genealogy, Individual family history, Pacific Islander genealogy

Hawaiian genealogy sure has come a long way from the days when I 1st started searching the web back in 1998. There were a handful of personal sites with info on Hawaiian genealogy back then and some are still around, the same site from the nineties frozen in time. Some are updated and some vanished never to be seen again. Here’s a list of the personal pages (now called blogs?) I have bookmarked, that are still around…

Family History Alive
Individual family history

Finding the Feitner Family
Individual family history (FEITNER, Germany->NY)

A Forest of Oakes
Individual family history (OAKES)

Hearts Turned
Individual family history (LAMOREAUX, HOLLADAY, CLUFF)

The author just turned 19 and says "Too often our generation procrastinates this great work or puts it on others’ shoulders, but there is much we can be doing now. It is our responsibility just as much, if not more, than the older generations."

Heritage Heart
Crafts blog, Genealogy education, Individual family history

Family history can be exciting for today’s generations and it is my quest to offer ideas and solutions for making it fun! No more boring facts, but great stories and ideas for incorporating family heritage into our personal spaces as a reflection of who we are today.

Highland Experience SCOTLAND
Genealogy vendor, Scottish genealogy

The author (now living in New York) runs a custom tour company - Highland Experience Tours USA - focusing on Scottish roots.

Kendricks of San Francisco
California genealogy, Individual family history (KENDRICK)

Kentucky Kinfolks
Individual family history, Kentucky genealogy

Let Freedom Ring!
African-American genealogy blog, Individual family history, US Civil War blog

150th Year anniversary of the American Civil War ~ a blog documenting my personal journey and research riscoveries of the people, places, events, and other things related to the Civil War era.

May Hill’s WWII Diaries
Diary blog, UK genealogy

Blog editor Tom Ambridge is the grandson of May Hill, an English seaside villager who wrote wonderful diaries and poetry during WWII. Her diary began November 27, 1940. Each entry appears exactly 70 years after the original was written.

Minnesota Native Daughter
Individual family history, Minnesota genealogy

My Genealogy Obsession
Individual family history

My Journey Back
Canadian genealogy, Individual family history

My Savage Family
Individual family history (SAVAGE, UK->US)

Ontario Genealogist
Canadian genealogy, Individual family history

Polish families from Żywiec-Zabłocie, Polska
Individual family history, Polish genealogy

My Polish great grandpa was orphaned during the Chicago flu epidemic of 1918 & spent his life looking for all of his siblings. Some family stayed in Chicago & some returned to Poland. Some family was Catholic, & some are believed to be Jewish.

Prairie Bluestem
Individual family history

Saint Cross Upheaval
Individual family history

Stray Bones
Individual family history

Tipton Tales and Trails
Individual family history (TIPTON)

Vintage Aerial Blog
Genealogy vendor blog

Vintage Aerial connects personal memories and family history to photos of the places where the memories were made and the history took place. ... Our collection of over 25 million photographs spans the second half of the 20th century, documenting a time in American history when life revolved around rural communities and small farms. ... It uses the latest in digital imaging and data storage technology to preserve these heirlooms. We are saving yesterday’s memories with today’s technology, for the tomorrows to come.

Whispers From The Past/Tales Told
Individual family history (TOMLINSON-HEPWORTH-KIDGELL-CASHMORE-BURNS-MACDUFF-PERRINS-PHIPPEN-HUDSON, etc.)

Witch Genealogist with a Black Cat
Individual family history, Swedish genealogy

WorldFamilies.Net
DNA genealogy, Genealogy vendor blog, Surname blog (BARTON)

One of the largest Surname DNA Projects (250+ members) in the world, as well as a Barton family-wide historical society, newsletter, database, website. Evolved into World Families Network (2004) to help other Surname Projects by sharing learning and providing general information. ...

Read much more about each blog here at Geneabloggers.com, or visit those in which you may have an interest.

MyHeritage.com: Reuniting a family after 70 years

Here's a great story of Jewish family connections linking branches in Russia and the US some 70 years after all communication had ended.

It gives hope to all families impacted by history

David Greenberg and Grigori Yafet/Jafet were reconnected using the MyHeritage.com Smart Match feature. Ancestral towns mentioned are Kaunas (Kovno), Kedainai (Kedain), families are RUBENSHTEYN, RELKIN, GREENBERG, JAFET/YAFET,

David Greenberg has been researching his family history for nearly 40 years, all this time believing that a large part of his family had perished during the Holocaust. So you can imagine how David was ‘‘flat out speechless’’ to discover otherwise, thanks to a Smart Match on MyHeritage.com.

This is a tale of how fate divided a family, and how MyHeritage helped reunite it.

Read the complete story here and see some wonderful photographs.

A reunion is planned in March in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Sacramento: Immigration and naturalization records, Jan. 16

Immigration and naturalization records are on the program at the next meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Sacramento on Sunday, January 6.

The meeting begins at 10am at the Albert Einstein Residence Center, 1935 Wright Street, Sacramento.

Speaker Lynn Brown will discuss how to determine when your ancestor immigrated, what records are available and how to locate them. Learn what organization has replaced the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and how this may impact your efforts to uncover relevant records.

A family historian for more than 35 years, Brown has an extensive background in computer and genealogy research. She is a Sacramento Regional Family History Center volunteer and recently retired from teaching genealogy research skills in several local school districts. She has lectured throughout the Central Valley and owns Family-Quest.com, a genealogical counseling business.

For more information, click here. 

Oregon: Jews of the Pacific Coast, January 23

Since the Gold Rush in 1849, the Pacific Coast  has attracted Jews who have shaped this geographical region.

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon will present "Jews of the Pacific Coast," with Professor Ellen Eisenberg, at its next meeting on Sunday, January 23.

The program begins at 1pm at Congregation Ahavath Achim, 3225 SW Barbur Blvd., Portland. Admission: Members, free; others, $5.

From the California Gold Rush of 1849 to the explosion of population centers in the Southwest in the 1980s, Jews have played a significant role in shaping the Pacific West. In the process, they have reshaped themselves, as individuals and as communities. Through their mercantile networks and cultural innovations, their philanthropic institutions and political leadership, western Jews created a distinctive identity.

Using historical photographs from her new book, Ellen Eisenberg will explore the nature of the Jewish experience in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and the small towns of the West. She will explain the important differences among these cities, as well as highlighting the ways in which the western Jewish experience has echoed and deviated from the familiar story of American Jewish history.

Since 1990, Eisenberg has taught history at Willamette University, and was named the Lear Professor of America History in 2003. She holds a BA in American Studies (Carleton College) and a PhD in History (University of Pennsylvania). Her research focuses on Jews in the Pacific West and their relationships with other ethnic groups.

Her publications include Jewish Agricultural Colonies in New Jersey,1882-1920; chapters in the anthologies Jewish Life in the American West and California Jews, and journal articles and monographs.  The First to Cry Down Injustice?  Western Jews and Japanese Removal during WWII was a National Jewish Book Award finalist.  Jews of the Pacific Coast: Reinventing Community on America’s Edge, co-authored with Ava Kahn and Bill Toll, was released by the University of Washington Press earlier this year.

For more information, click here.

Geneabloggers: 27 new blogs discovered!

Among the newest 27 genealogy blogs just discovered by Thomas MacEntee of Geneabloggers.com, Tracing the Tribe readers will be interested to find a Sephardic one.

To read more about each of the new blogs in this post, click here. The new crop includes blogs devoted to Jewish, Portuguese, Sephardic, individual family history, professional genealogists, Massachusetts, New England, West Virginia, crafts, Maine, technology, Indiana, Midwest US, Irish, Canada, southeastern Massachusetts cemeteries, Mississippi, Civil War, Acadian, French Canadian,

Of course, here's my favorite of this bunch:

Maduro Family Branches
Individual family history, Jewish genealogy, Portuguese genealogy

Welcome to my blog about branches on the Maduro family tree. This blog is about the Maduro family and associated families. Some of these include Brandon, Cardoze, de Castro, Delvalle, Fidanque, Halman, de Leon, de Lima, Lindo, Piza, Robles, Sasso, de Sola, and Toledano.

Over the years I’ve collected genealogical information about the Levy Maduro family of Amsterdam, their Portuguese ancestors, and their Maduro descendants around the world. In this blog I’ll describe the Maduro connection to some of those other families.

Click on Thomas' post above to read more about each of the rest. Visit the blogs and welcome them.

A Couple of Whiles
Individual family history

4 Hall Cousins
Individual family history, Massachusetts genealogy, New England genealogy
African-American Genealogy – West Virginia
African-American genealogy, West Virginia genealogy

Ann’s Scraps of Time
Craft blogs, Individual family history

Demarais Fish on Genealogy
Individual family history

Downeast Ancestors
Individual family history, Maine genealogy, New England genealogy

Easter Family Genealogy Blog
Individual family history, UK genealogy

Family History Across the Seas
Australian genealogy, Individual family history

Family Tree Rings: An Ancestral Birthday Blog
Individual family history

GenealogyNext
Technology blog

Gol Gol Girl
Individual family history

Hunting Ancestors
Australian genealogy, Individual family history

Indiana Dillmans
Indiana genealogy, Individual family history, Midwest genealogy

Irish Genealogy News
Irish genealogy

Accompanying blog to the Irish Genealogy Toolkit - a free online guide to Irish family history research, including news about latest record releases, occasional features and interviews with genealogy specialists, along with tips and hints.

Kathryn’s Quest
Individual family history

My interest in family history has spanned almost 30 years and I thought I would share some tips through this medium to my friends of how to enjoy the thrill of the chase of those elusive ancestors.  Starting week one of 2011, I will share ideas and tips of how to start your family history and to record it.  This knowledge is all self-taught by experiencing the journey myself. ...

Leaves of Heritage
Professional genealogist

Letters from Home
Individual family history

No More Wriggling Out of Writing Woman ...
Individual family history, UK genealogy

Norma Jean’s Genealogy
Canadian genealogy, Individual family history (BENOY)

The Genealogy Dude
Professional genealogist

The Old Colony Graveyard Rabbit
Cemetery blog, Massachusetts genealogy, New England genealogy

A blog devoted mainly to the cemeteries of Southeastern Massachusetts with occasional forays elsewhere in New England. A member of the Association of Graveyard Rabbits.

The Sand Creek Sentinel Oktibbeha County Genealogy
African-American genealogy, Mississippi genealogy

The USCT Chronicle
African-American genealogy

Tomorrow’s Memories
Individual family history

Whispers Through the Willows
Acadian genealogy, Canadian genealogy, Cemetery blogs, French-Canadian genealogy, Individual family history, Massachusetts genealogy, New England genealogy; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Massachusetts cemeteries.

Yankee Cousin’s Adventures in Ancestry
Individual family history

If any of these blogs coincide with your own research interests, do visit them.

Thanks, Thomas, for another great list!

Telling African American Civil War Stories, of Soldiers, Civilians, Contrabands, First Days of Freedom, and the Events that led to Freedom.

The Four Hall Cousins blog has been created to present the history of Edward Hall of Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, formerly of Henbury, Gloucestershire, England, who arrived in Plymouth about 1636/37. ... We hope that this blog will provide additional information to those researching these families, as well as allied families and other branches and stimulate productive discussions; we hope also that it will attract new cousins who will help add to our information base.

Geneabloggers: 41 new blogs?

As readers know, Tracing the Tribe often lets them know about the new blogs discovered by Thomas MacEntee at Geneabloggers.

Although he recently posted 11 new blogs, he did post another, listing 41 new blogs on December 4.

One never knows how a particular blog might help you in your own quest, so check these out and you might receive some help for some aspect of your search. I've written only smatterings of the blog descriptions, so if you want more, see the link above, or click on each individual blog URL.

All About GEN
Individual family history

Ancestor Search
Australia genealogy, Individual family history

Anderson / Spence / McKenney, 1800’s
Individual family history

Annapolis Royal Heritage
Canadian genealogy

• Author is a museum director in Annapolis Royal, and will try to feature some interesting artifacts and archival resources in the collections.

Are My Roots Showing?
Individual family history

Arkansas Roots: The Stories of My Family
Arkansas genealogy, Individual family history

•  SMITH, SLOAN, HAWKINS & PATTILLO, Dallas County, Arkansas; POOLE, Union & Hemstead Counties.

Barnett Family Genealogy
Individual family history

• Barnetts of Parker County, Texas.

Borreson Cousins
Individual family history

• Norwegian immigrants Emil Borresen and Gina Estensen married in 1899 in Pigeon Falls, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, had 10 children and 29 grandchildren. Author is one of the grandchildren.

Butler Cemetery
African-American genealogy, Cemetery blog, New Jersey genealogy

• Butler Cemetery (established c1867 by Dempsey Daniel Butler, prominent businessman, real estate entrepreneur, and more. When he died in January 1900, he was noted as the wealthiest African American in New Jersey.

Digging Under My Family Tree
Individual family history

Dr D Digs Up Ancestors
Genealogy education

Exile’s Return
Individual family history

Fiji Genealogy
Fiji genealogy,

• Many resources and ideas for tracing your family tree and researching your family’s history in Fiji. Whether your ancestor was a temporary visitor who married or died in Fiji, or whether you are descended from a long line of settlers or natives, you will find something here to help you...lists of websites, books, and repositories of records and microfilmed records to help you...

Genealogie Blog
French genealogy

• Author is professional genealogist Stéphane Cosson.

Genealogy Dragnet
Individual family history

Genealogy of Oldendorf, und Nahrendorf
German genealogy

• Regional villages: Dannenberg area, Uelzen,Elbe region, Goehrde and Bleckede area.

Genealogy Quest
Individual family history

Geoff’s Genealogy
Individual family history, UK genealogy

Glasgow Ancestry
Scottish genealogy

Gregory Fearon’s Family History Blog
Individual family history

Glimpsing the Past
Individual family history, UK genealogy

Grow Your Own Family Tree
Genealogy industry blog, Irish genealogy, UK genealogy

• Author Alan Stewart writes regularly for UK magazines Practical Family History and Family Tree Magazine, and for North American-based Internet Genealogy and Discovering Family History, among others..

In Our Hearts: A Family Tribute & Scrapbook
African-American genealogy, Alabama genealogy, Individual family history

• Ford, Martin, Morton, Green(e)

Jen’s Genealogy Pages
Canadian genealogy, Individual family history

• St. John, Coulman, Fee, Hunter – and other associated families (including Davey, Summerville, Lusty, Salter, Thomas, Ansted, Burton, Doan and Oakley)...Ontario and Quebec in the 1800s...England, Ireland and Palatine Germany in the 1800s and earlier.

Jones Family Matters
Individual family history

• Jones, Ryan, von der Heide, Cronin, Probert, Dailey, Wainright, Reed and Hellmann.

Marilyn’s Family History News
California genealogy, Genealogy industry

Murmurd’s Franco-American and Quebec Genealogy
Canadian genealogy, French-Canadian genealogy

NGS Family History Conference Blog
Genealogy conference blog, Genealogical society blog

• Hello and welcome to the home of the NGS 2011 official conference blog. We are thrilled that you will be joining us in Charleston, South Carolina and hope to make this an interactive and fun experience leading up to the event... Stay tuned for updates on presenters, vendors, sponsors, registration, accommodations, local sites, and much more.

Our Family Quilt
Individual family history

Peter’s Family History Blog
Genealogy education

Pursuits of a Desperate Genie
Individual family history

• Brookyn, NY is exploding with history and the passion I have for preserving our heritage has overwhelmed my life. My family and friends have had their fair share of “Did you know…!” I love researching, googling for hours, visiting cemeteries, learning new technology and connecting with others to share stories and information. Whenever I hit roadblocks I start quizzing the next person I’m with and before you know it I am writing out their family tree!

Roots and Stones: A Canadian Girl’s Genealogy Diary
Canadian genealogy, Individual family history

• A 6th-generation Canadian, who has been hunting for her roots for the past decade-ish.

Seattle Genealogical Society
Genealogical society, Washington genealogy

• Welcome to the SGS President’s blog.

Smiddy Family Genealogy
Surname blog

Tattered Past
Individual family history

The Bowdens of Popes Creek
African-American genealogy, Individual family history, Virginia genealogy

• Four generations of (Mulatto) Indentured Servants to the Monroe & Washington Family.

The Historian’s Family
Individual family history,

• The author is an instructor at a community college in the Midwest, who completed a PhD in history at the University of Glasgow with a specialization in Scottish migration; also interested in the bridging the gap between academic and “armchair” historians.

They Came to Montana
Individual family history, Montana genealogy

TMG Sydney
Australian genealogy, Genealogical society blog, Technology blog

• This blog is authored by Carole Riley, whom I met on my trip to Australia last spring.

Virtual Tombstone Biographer
Cemetery blogs

Yesterday’s Girl
Individual family history (Engand, Ireand, Newfoundand, Boston)

For more information, see Thomas' original post (link above) or click on each blog.

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.

Arizona: Historic Jewish time capsule opened

The Jewish History Museum in Tucson, Arizona, opened its century-old time capsule.

The Arizona Jewish Post covered the event that attracted hundreds of people.

The capsule was placed under the building's cornerstone - then the Stone Avenue Temple - when it was built in 1910. It was the first home of Temple Emanu-El.

It was removed and opened by US Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (photo right. Credit: Marilyn Friedman/Jewish History Museum). Her father, Spencer Giffords, became a bar mitzvah in the synagogue.

The small metal box contained coins, a Masonic medal, old documents and newspapers from June 1910, including the Tucson Citizen and Arizona Daily Star, announcing that a bill for Arizona statehood (admitted February 1912) had been passed.

Speaking to the crowd before the box was chiseled out from beneath the cornerstone, Giffords noted that not only were Jews present in Arizona prior to statehood, they were involved in business, politics, education and “caring for the community.” Along with many of the other speakers, she remarked on the diversity of the Tucson community, noting particularly the participation of the Grand Lodge of Arizona Free and Accepted Masons — whose forebears had helped lay the cornerstone — in the day’s ceremonies.

Giffords wondered what Tucson would be like 100 years in the future.

When built, the structure cost less than $5,000, but more than $600,000 was spent to protect and preserve it. The building was effectively abandoned in 1999, prior to restoration efforts.
A new time capsule included histories of the Jewish community, and three congregations which began life in that building, a history of Southern Arizona's Holocaust Survivors, 2010 coins, copies of the Arizona Jewish Post and Arizona Daily Star, a flag of Israel, a US 48-star flag carried in the city on Arizona Statehood Day in 1912, and a copy of the day's events.

The cornerstone was rededicated by the Masons, who poured “the corn of nourishment, the wine of refreshment and the oil of joy” into the cavity.

For more information, click here.

Global Day of Jewish Learning, Nov. 7

Did you know that the Global Day of Jewish Learning is Sunday, November 7?

The day honors the achievement of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz's five-decades project of translating the Talmud and encouraging people to join together for study.

It brings together Jewish communities around the world in a historic celebration.

Find out more here about Rabbi Steinsaltz, the day, and click here for more than 250 events as well as online opportunities.

Columbia University: $4 million for Jewish Studies

New Yorkers interested in all aspects of Jewish studies will have something new to access for information.

The Columbia University Libraries have received a gift of $4 million to establish the Norman E. Alexander Library for Jewish Studies. It will fund endowments for a Jewish Studies librarian, the General Jewish Studies Collection and Special Collections in Judaica.

Michelle Chesner is the new Librarian for Jewish Studies is Michelle Chesner. Previously she was at the University of Pennsylvania as an archivist and Judaica Public Services Librarian at the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies. Her research interests include 15th century Jewish history and early Hebrew books.

Special collections at the Jewish Studies library include 29 Hebrew incunabula, more than 30016th-century printed books, and nearly 1,500 Hebrew manuscripts, plus extensive archival collections related to Jewish life and culture, and Jewish individuals in all fields of study and work.

Key components were acquired in 1947 (the Oko-Gebhardt Spinoza Collection, nearly 4,000 books by and about the Dutch Jewish philosopher) and in 2009 (the papers of Yosef Yerushalmi, Columbia faculty member and scholar of Jewish history). New endowment funds will be used initially to catalog the Hebrew manuscripts, the second largest such collection in North America.

Jewish Studies collections at Columbia offer more than 100,000 monograph volumes, 1,000 current and historical periodical titles, about 60,000 Hebrew and Yiddish titles and large holdings of Jewish scholarly works in Western and Slavic languages. It also subscribes to relevant electronic titles, ebooks and databases. It is the only New York City repository for the Visual History Archive of the Shoah Foundation.

Read more here about Norman E. Alexander and the endowments. Learn more about the Columbia University Libraries/Information Services here.

Family Tree Magazine: Best state websites for 2010

Location, location, location! A new best-of list hits the newsstand and cyberspace, covering every US state from Alabama to Wyoming.

Family Tree Magazine has published its 2010 list of best US state sites for genealogy, with 75 sites and at least one from every state.

There are vital records, archives, museums, state encyclopedias, databases, historic newspapers, state libraries, memory projects, digital libraries, special collections, county clerk databases, historical societies, obituary indexes, genealogical societies, military sites, public health sites and more.

State-level government resources offer vital records, wills and probate records, court records, military records; early land records, legislative and other government records; records of orphanages, asylums, prisons and other state institutions; state censuses, and naturalization records, while non-governmental resources may include old newspapers, city directories, biographies, historical maps and photos and oral histories. 

Click the link above to access each of the sites and see what you can find.

Click to your roots from Alabama to Wyoming on these 75 stellar state-focused websites. In genealogy, as in real estate, it’s all about location, location, location. Finding where your ancestors lived is the first step in identifying records about them. Fortunately, the internet-ization of America also has swept over the nation’s state archives, historical and genealogical societies, libraries, vital-records offices and other keepers of genealogical gold. Many of the resources that once gathered dust in various statewide repositories now can be accessed without changing your own location—in front of your computer, that is.

Arizona: Jewish centenary, time capsule contest

The Tucson Jewish community will hold its centennial celebration and time-capsule opening on October 24.

The Centennial Exhibit opened in mid-August and will run through December 23. Below see a 1914 postcard of the first synagogue in Arizona, termed by the card's publisher (Kressge) the "Jewish Church." The synagogue is now the Jewish History Museum, the only one in Arizona.

In conjunction with the celebration is the Jewish History Museum's "Be a Part of History" contest.

On exhibit: The history of the Southwest Jewish Pioneers ~ 1860 to present day • Photos taken by Jewish Pioneer Leo Goldschmidt ~ 1870-1890 • Photos and historic newsletter from early Temple Emanu-El • Red White and Blue Dress worn on July 4, 1876 • Statehood Dress worn February 14, 1912 • The Life Cycle Journal of Rabbi Marcus Breger, Anshei Israel • Holocaust Surviving Torah • Southern Arizona Holocaust Survivors Memorial Quilt.

Readers can enter to win their own personal time capsule and to participate in the removal of the original century-old capsule from the building's cornerstone.

The day starts at noon with a live music street festival from Klezmer and everything else!

At 2pm, the cornerstone placed by Jewish pioneers in the foundation of Arizona's historic first synagogue building will be opened.

Following the opening of the old capsule, the new 2010 capsule will be placed and sealed until the 2110 bicentennial event. Five winners will have a chance to win a personal time capsule and help remove the old one. The new capsule will be returned to the winner's descendants in 2110.

Readers can also become a part of the first synagogue and the only Jewish History Museum in Arizona. by having your name and message engraved on a 12-inch x 12-inch granite stone to be permanently installed in the Centennial Courtyard of the museum.

They'd also like you to tell them what should be placed in the new capsule. All suggested items will be submitted to the Museum Board for consideration.

The Jewish History Museum is housed in the oldest synagogue building in Arizona. Built in 1910 it was the home of Temple Emanu-El from 1910 to 1949. Saved from the wrecking ball in 1999, the historic structure has been completely restored and today is the home of the only Jewish History Museum in the Southwest.

For more information on the event and exhibit, click the museum link above.

The Jews of southern Arizona began gathering in the 1880s. In 1884, the Hebrew Ladies Benevolent Society was formed. Twenty years later, they took up the challenge to aise funds for a permanent synagogue. Jewish settlers in other communities, such as Globe, Bisbee and Nogales also contributed.

On June 20, 1910, the grand lodge of Arizona Masons laid the Temple’s cornerstone. The first services were held on Rosh HaShanah, October 3, 1910. Built before Arizona achieved statehood, the synagogue served as an important center of Jewish community for the entire Southwest US. Temple Emanu-El grew significantly and moved from Stone Avenue in September 1949. Over the years, the original building was used for other purposes.

In 1982, the Temple reclaimed its roots at a ceremony sponsored by the Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission, the Arizona Heritage Center, and the southern Arizona chapter of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society.

Books: Jewish community histories

Hollander Books (San Francisco, California) has a stock of Jewish community histories by Arcadia Publishing, and is offering them at a 20% discount (see details below).

Histories of communities are invaluable for genealogists and family history researchers. In general, they provide the development of a community in which your ancestors may have lived. And, if you are really lucky, your ancestors might even be named in the pages.

The book may explain why Jews migrated there, whether it included people from certain towns in the old country, how the community contributed to the development of the geographic location and more.

Visit Hollander Books online for more information.

Tracing the Tribe learned about this collection from a posting by Harry Hollander on the Association of Jewish Libraries list.

Many of you are familiar with the sepia toned covers of Arcadia Publishings books on local communities. There are now quite a few on Jewish communities.

Fred Isaac recently published a volume in the series, "Jews of Oakland and Berkeley," and feels that these are good solid books for Jewish libraries. At his urging I attempted to exhibit them at the AJL conference in Seattle. However, a number of snafus with the publisher at the time sunk that plan.

In my experience, people get very excited about these books. They not only identify with the place where they live, but also places where they and members of their families have lived, making it worthwhile to include communities outside of your local area in your collection.

Below is a list of the volumes that Hollander currently stocks. He's offering a 20% discount off the listed retail prices. US shipping: $2 for one book, and free for two or more titles. International shipping is at cost. Go to the website link for more information.

CALIFORNIA
Isaac, Frederick. "Jews of Oakland and Berkeley." $21.99
Los Angeles's Boyle Heights. $21.99

COLORADO
Jewish Denver 1859-1960. $19.99

CONNECTICUT
The Jewish Communities of Greater Stamford. $21.99

WASHINGTON, DC
The Jewish Community of Washington, D.C. $19.99

FLORIDA
Jews of Greater Miami. $21.99

ILLINOIS
Chicago's Jewish West Side. $21.99
Jewish Chicago: A Pictorial History. $21.99
Skokie. (Chicago Suburbs) $21.99
Chicago's Forgotten Synagogues. $19.99

LOUISIANA
The Jewish Community of New Orleans. $21.99

MASSACHUSETTS
The Jewish Community of the North Shore. (outside Boston) $19.99
MARYLAND
The Jewish Community of Baltimore. $19.99

MAINE
Maine's Jewish Heritage. $19.99

MICHIGAN
Jewish Ann Arbor. $10.00
The Jewish Community of Metro Detroit 1945-2005. $19.99

MINNESOTA
Reform Jews of Minneapolis. $19.99

NEBRASKA
Jewish Life in Omaha and Lincoln: A Photographic History. $19.99
NEW JERSEY
Jews of Morris County. (New Jersey) $19.99
Jews of Weequahic. $21.99
Jewish South Jersey. $19.99

NEW YORK
Star Lake.(Jews in the Adirondacks - Jewish Hotel, etc.)$19.99
Sullivan County Borscht Belt. (Catskills) $19.99
The Jewish Community of Staten Island. $19.95

OHIO
Jewish Life in Akron. $19.95
Jews of Cincinnati. $19.99
Cleveland Heights Congregations. $21.99

PENNSYLVANIA
The Jewish Community Around North Broad Street. (Philadelphia) $19.99
The Jewish Community of South Philadelphia. $19.99
Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Philadelphia. $19.99
Squirrel Hill. (Pittsburgh) $21.99
The Jewish Community Under the Frankford El. $19.99

TENNESSEE
The Jewish Community of Chattanooga. $19.99
Nashville's Jewish Community. $21.99

Hollander also has a related blog or email him for more information.