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From Generation
to Generation
by Arthur Kurzweil
Foreword by Elie Wiesel
Since it was first published in 1980, From Generation to Generation has
inspired thousands to pursue the unique challenge and rewards of Jewish genealogy. More than 40,000 copies of previous
editions of this book have been sold. Written by a pioneer of Jewish genealogy,
this new version is a major rewrite of previous editions. There are now chapters on how Jewish genealogy is different
from other genealogy, Internet resources, names, Holocaust research, immigration, research in the Old Country and
cemeteries. Kurzweil interviewed some of the specialists in Jewish genealogical research and includes a number
of "A Conversation With..." sections.
6" x 9" 392 pages(est) hardcover $24.95 Special price $17.00
No longer offerred by Avotaynu
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Contents
Acknowledgments xv
Foreword xix
Elie Wiesel
Introduction xxi
CHAPTER ONE: Climbing Up My Family Tree: Jewish Genealogy as a Spiritual Pilgrimage 1
CHAPTER TWO: Getting Started: How to Begin Your Research
First Steps 38
Gathering Your History: Collecting Stories 44
Family Legends: Are They True? 45
Ten Common Family Myths-or Truths! 47
What Questions Should You Ask? 50
Tips on Interviewing Relatives 53
Observations on People Who Don't Appreciate Genealogy 54
Following Leads Like a Detective 55
Taking Notes 55
Visiting Relatives and Others 56
Family Photographs 57
Writing Letters 58
Final Tips on How to Begin 59
CHAPTER THREE: Are You Ready to Check the Records? 61
Prepare Yourself 61
Telephone Books 62
Vital Records 64
Federal Census Records 65
State Census Records 70
Tips on Dealing with Government Agencies 70
City Directories 71
Synagogue Records 72
The National Archives 73
What If You Were Adopted? 74
Canadian Research 75
A Few Important Canadian Resources 76
Cardinal Rules When Dealing with Libraries, Archives, and Other Institutions 77
Tips on Dealing with Librarians 78
Publishing Your Family History 79
CHAPTER FOUR: How Is Jewish Genealogy Different from All Other Genealogy? 81
Memorial Books (Yizkor Books) 85
Are There Memorial Books for Your Towns? 87
The Yizkor Book Project 96
Other Places to Look for Yizkor Books 97
How to Obtain Copies for Yourself 98
The Yizkor Book Special Interest Group (SIG) 99
Two Traditional Sources: Mohel Books and Ketubot 99
Archives, Libraries, and Organizations 100
American Jewish Archives 100
The Center for Jewish History 100
A Conversation with Robert Friedman 103
YIVO Institute for Jewish Research 107
A Conversation with Zachary Baker 108
The Leo Baeck Institute 111
American Jewish Historical Society 113
Jewish Historical Societies Around the World 114
The Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People 120
A Conversation with Sallyann Amdur Sack 121
Jewish Genealogical Societies Around the World 127
The Douglas E. Goldman Jewish Genealogy Center 140
LDS Family History Library 141
Other Valuable Jewish Sources 144
Toledot: The Journal of Jewish Genealogy 144
The Encyclopedia of Jewish Genealogy 145
Encyclopedia Judaica 145
First American Jewish Families 146
My Generations: A Jewish Genealogical Textbook 147
Other Jewish Genealogical Publications 149
Professional Genealogical Assistance 150
A Conversation with Ladislau Gyemant 151
A Conversation with Miriam Weiner 153
Ten Commandments for Jewish Genealogists 161
CHAPTER FIVE: Avotaynu: The Premier Publisher in the World of Jewish Genealogy 162
Avotaynu: The International Review of Jewish Genealogy 162
What Will You Find in Avotaynu: The International Review of Jewish Genealogy? 163
Avotaynu Back Issues on CD-ROM (1985-2002) 165
Books from Avotaynu 166
A Conversation with Gary Mokotoff 170
CHAPTER SIX JewishGen.org: Jewish Genealogy in Cyberspace 173
A Few Basics 173
A Guide to the Site 174
Learn 175
Research 178
Discussion Groups 186
Projects and Activities 189
Hosted Organizations 191
Contributions and Fundraising 195
A Conversation with Warren Blatt 193
CHAPTER SEVEN: Were Your Ancestors Great Rabbis? 196
Rabbinic Dynasties 200
Rabbinic Sources 201
Rabbinic Texts 204
Hebrew Subscription Lists 204
A Conversation with Neil Rosenstein 205
CHAPTER EIGHT: The Names in Your Family 209
A Brief History of Jewish Surnames 209
The Origins of Modern Surnames 213
Patronymics 214
Place Names 214
Vocational Names 215
Descriptive Names 216
Names from Abbreviations 217
Metronymics 217
Some Jewish Surnames and Their Meanings 218
Personal Names 221
For Whom Were You Named? 223
What If Your Name Was Changed? 224
Names as Clues to Dates 225
Last Names from the Maternal Side 226
Hebrew, Yiddish, and English Names 226
Sources for Determining the Meanings of Names 227
Some Additional Research Suggestions 229
Back Issues of Avotaynu 229
The Consolidated Jewish Surname Index (CJSI) 229
Project for the Study of Jewish Names 232
Information on Jewish Names from Jewish Gen. org 233
Some Final Thoughts About Jewish Names 233
A Conversation with Alexander Beider 234
CHAPTER NINE: Holocaust Research: Changing Numbers into Names 243
Holocaust Research: The Search for Victims and Survivors 249
The International Tracing Service 249
The Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center 254
Yad Vashem 258
An Indispensable Guidebook 256
Memorial Books as Sources for Learning About Holocaust Victims 258
Locating Survivors 2S8
Survivor Lists 259
JewishGen.org's Holocaust Database 262
How Can These Lists Serve You? 265
The Jewish Agency Search Bureau for Missing Relatives in Israel 266
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)
Location Services 267
The Benjamin and Vladka Meed Registry of Jewish
Holocaust Survivors 268
Deportations from France During the Holocaust 268
Mauthausen Death Books 270
Other Death Books 270
Pre-Holocaust European Phone Books 271
CHAPTER TEN: Your Immigrant Ancestors 274
Immigration to the United 5tates 275
1654-1825 275
1825-1880 276
1880-1929 277
1929-1945 278
1945 to the Present 279
Immigration to Canada 279
Aliyah to Israel 280
Your Immigrant Ancestors: Who Were They? 282
Landsmanshaftn 286
Tracing Your Journey 287
How to Find the Ship That Brought Your Ancestors to America 288
How to Find Steamship Passenger Lists with Your Ancestors on Them 290
Passenger Lists Online 291
Avotaynu Articles Concerning Immigration Records 292
Canadian Immigration Records 292
How to Obtain Photographs of Your Ancestors' Steamships 293
Naturalization Records: An Important Genealogical Source 293
The Legitimacy of Sending for Family History Documents 300
"These Are the Generations" 301
CHAPTER ELEVEN: Discovering the Old Country 306
Where Once We Walked 306
JewishGen ShtetlSeeker 307
Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People 307
Encyclopedia Judaica 308
Locating Landsmanshaftn 309
Sources for Landsmanshaft Records 311
Your Shtetl or Town During the Holocaust 312
How to Locate Your Shtetl 313
Soundex Systems 314
Genealogical Sources in the Old Country: How to Do
Long-Distance Research 315
Visiting the Old Country 317
How to Plan Your Trip 322
Advice Before Traveling to Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union 325
CHAPTER TWELVE: Jewish Cemeteries: Your History Chiseled in Stone 329)
Cemeteries as Family Bonds 332
A Walk Through a Jewish Cemetery 334
Visiting Jewish Cemeteries 336
Tombstones 336
Cemetery Plots 336
Tombstone Transcribing 337
How to Read a Jewish Tombstone 337
Tombstone Rubbings 340
Photographing Tombstones 340
Locating Cemeteries 342
Death Certificates 342
Wills 343
Obituaries 343
European Jewish Cemeteries 345
Other Valuable Jewish Cemetery Sources 346
APPENDIX Relationship Chart: How Are We Related? 349
The Author 353
Index 355
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