Jan 23 2005 Mtg

Polish-Jewish Genealogical Research

SPEAKER: WARREN BLATT

Warren Blatt is the editor-in-chief of JewishGen, a division of the Museum of Jewish Heritage-A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, in New York City. Mr. Blatt has over 25 years of research experience with Russian and Polish Jewish records. An avid writer, he is the author of Resources for Jewish Genealogy in the Boston Area and co-author of Getting Started in Jewish Genealogy. He is Editor of the Kielce-Radom Special Interest Group Journal. In 2004, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies.

PROGRAM

Mr. Blatt will give a general overview of researching your Polish-Jewish ancestry, including the history of Polish border changes, geography and place-name changes; how to identify and locate your ancestral shtetl and historical information about your town; the vital records-keeping system in Poland and how to find and translate birth, marriage and death records. He will also discuss Polish-Jewish surnames, given names, language, spelling and grammar issues; Yizkor books and landsmanschaftn; business directories; Polish Archives and Civil Registration Offices; using Mormon microfilms, Internet sources, and Special Interest Groups (SIGs) for Jewish genealogical research in Poland.

LOCATION

University Synagogue – Klein Hall, 11960 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA. From the Valley and North: take the 405 south to Sunset Blvd. Exit at Sunset; the first light is the off ramp; make a left then go to Sunset and turn right on Sunset, heading west. Go one mile on Sunset to Saltair. Go left at light and parking lot is on the left. The synagogue is on corner of Saltair and Sunset. From the south: Take 405 going north and get off at Sunset Blvd. Turn left (west) onto Sunset and follow directions above. Guests are welcome at no charge.

MORE INFORMATION

Contact Jan Allen, Program Chair at 818/889-6616.