Tag Archives: AJGS

Eastern Suburbs Workshop – Feb 17, 2019

Cemeteries and Symbols – Understanding Jewish cemeteries and burial records

  • Ever wondered about the symbolism or Hebrew writing on your ancestor’s headstone?
  • In small cemeteries, why do some graves appear to be located apart from the rest?
  • Do you know where to look for your great-grandparents’ burials?

This talk by Robyn Dryen will help you navigate the customs and practice of Jewish burials, and identify likely sources of burial records for your ancestors.

When: Sunday, 17 February 2019
Time: 2pm – 4.45pm
Where: Theatrette, Waverley Library,
32-48 Denison Street, Bondi Junction

The talk will begin at 2.30 and will last approximately 1 hour.
It will be followed by time for questions , queries and research help between 3.30pm and 4.30pm

This is a free event. All are welcome but please RSVP to society@ajgs.org.au by 14 February

WELCOME THE NEW KOSHER KOALA

Click on the cover to download the PDF.

New look, new editor, same bear!! Kosher Koala has had a facelift but we hope you’ll find the same fascinating features, interesting interviews and non-stop news, views, tips and tricks to guide you along your genealogical journey.

In this issue… We say farewell to outgoing editor Robyn Dryen (don’t worry, she’s still President!!), welcome new editor Dani Haski, Sunny Gold reviews Peter Nash’s memoir Escape from Berlin: A refugee flees anti-Semitism and the Holocaust of WWII to Shanghai and then Australia and we explore a fascinating collection of stories about cemeteries. We have updates on the 2018 AIJGS conference in Poland, a new column, Sledgehammer, for people to share brick wall breakthroughs and information on special events and workshops for 2018.

We love our members contributing stories to Kosher Koala. If you have any stories you’d like to share email them to me at ed@ajgs.org.au

Enjoy the issue!

Guest Speaker: Dr Andrew Zalewski

The Great War (1914-18): Jewish Lives in Galicia

 

 

 

Sunday January 21, 2018

2:00PM-4:30PM

Join us as Dr Andrew Zalewski intertwines his own genealogical discoveries with the broader historical context of Jewish Galicia. He will focus on World War I and the eastern front in Galicia, which was home to the largest Jewish community in Austro-Hungary. Uncovering his ancestors’ individual stories, Andrew follows waves of Russian offensives and Central Powers counteroffensives which swept through Galicia. He describes dramatic events in small and large cities (Lwów, Przemyśl, Kraków), which impacted many Jewish lives. His talk covers the Great War (World War I) through to its climactic end in 1918. In Galicia, in contrast to the Western front, the conflict did not end with the disintegration of Austro-Hungary.

This talk is based on the archival records and historic newspaper research conducted for Andrew’s book Galician Portraits: In Search of Jewish Roots, and is illustrated with pictures, historical and unique archival documents, and old maps of Galicia.

Download the event flyer

Download the event flyer

Date: Sunday January 21, 2018
Time: 2.00PM - 4:30PM
Cost: Members: Free | Non-Members: $10.00
(NB: This is a cash only event. There will be no facility for credit or debit cards available)
Light refreshments will be served.
RSVP society@ajgs.org.au by January 18, 2018

Dr Andrew Zalewski is a physician and former Professor of Medicine at Jefferson University, Philadelphia. Among his non-medical pursuits, Andrew has developed an extensive interest in the history of Austrian Galicia (1772– 1918) and its Jewish community. Several generations of his Jewish and Christian ancestors traced their roots to this former province of the Austrian and Austro-Hungarian Empire. His books: Galician Trails: The Forgotten Story of One Family and Galician Portraits: In Search of Jewish Roots are available through online booksellers. Andrew serves on the Board of Directors of Gesher Galicia, Inc. He is also Executive Editor of the Galitzianer, the organization's quarterly research journal.

Eastern Suburbs Workshop – October 29th

The next AJGS Eastern Suburbs workshop will be held on Sunday, 29 October 2017 from 2pm to 5pm at Waverley Library – 1st Floor Theory Room (32/48 Denison St, Bondi Junction).

We’ll be looking at Really Useful Websites for Jewish Genealogy

  • Not sure what the surname was?
  • Can’t work out what name Yankel or Sora used when they landed in London? or New York? or Sydney?
  • Beyond Yad Vashem, what websites are there for Holocaust research?
  • Where can I look for Sephardic records? Dutch records? English records?
  • Looking for vital records but don’t have a subscription to paid sites?
  • Looking for overseas newspapers?

This workshop will explore sites which offer handy tools for Jewish genealogical research so bring along your “Where do I find ….????” questions.

All welcome but please RSVP to: society@ajgs.org.au by 27 October

Kosher Koala has landed!

It’s been a while since our last issue of Kosher Koala but it’s finally here… and worth the wait.

Society President, Robyn Dryen, gives her ‘State of the Society’ report, outlining the various successes and challenges faced by AJGS last year. Di Edelman outlines a fascinating family story in The WACHMANs – three Lithuanian Jewish families – obviously connected but how? Can you help solve this family mystery? Evelyn Frybort shares her experience of touring China, with a distinctly Jewish flavour; and Dianne Johnstone recounts the moving experience of “hearing the voice” of her 3rd great grandfather, Barnet Lazer, when she had the chance to view original letters written over a century ago.

This edition is the final issue under the editorship Robyn Dryen, and is jam packed with fascinating stories, useful information and handy links to help you on your genealogical journey. Just click on the cover image above to read the latest edition.

Rookwood Database Update

Ever since the Jewish Cemetery Trust (JCT) merged into the Rookwood Cemetery Trust there have been concerns about the fate of the wonderful resource that is the JCT database. The good news is that the database continues to be maintained and new burial details are uploaded weekly. This will continue until such time as the other denominations update and upgrade their data capture to the same standard as the Jewish database. The JCT website will only be merged into a general Rookwood cemetery database when it can be demonstrated that it provides the same access to data as currently exists.

IAJGS Orlando Conference is in full swing

The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) 37th Annual Conference on Jewish Genealogy is in full swing at the Disney Swan resort in Orlando Florida.

Lots of participants are blogging their conference experience – Extra Yad are posting a running compendium of daily blogs on their own blog.

The conference is also running an interactive webcast program called IAJGS Live! with live and on-demand sessions. A subscription costs US$149.00. However, given the time difference between Australia and Orlando, Australians are at a disadvantage for the live broadcasts.

You’ll find the program of IAJGS Live! HERE

Successful Waverley Workshop

AJGS ran a hugely successful Sunday workshop on July 23rd at Waverley Library. Over 20 people attended. AJGS president Robyn Dryen gave a hugely informative talk on getting the most out of Jewishgen.

AJGS and Waverley Library are keen to run more workshops in the Eastern Suburbs so keep an eye out for further announcements. The next scheduled Eastern Suburbs workshop is October 29.

If there are any particular subjects you would like us to organise a talk on please comment below.

AJGS Heads East – July 23rd Eastern Suburbs Workshop

On July 23rd, AJGS will hold a workshop at Waverley Library – 32/48 Denison St, Bondi Junction NSW 2022 – in the 1st floor theory room – from 2pm-5pm

Between 3pm and 4pm there will be an exploration of the many and varied facets of JewishGen, one of the most comprehensive Jewish Genealogical websites. If you have any questions about navigating or getting the most out of this resource here’s your chance to ask them.

Before and after this talk you can get help and explore our resources. If you have any particular resources you’d like brought over from Lindfield email us at society@ajgs.org.au.

Another Eastern Suburbs workshop will be held at Waverley Library on October 29.

So we know how many people may be coming along please RSVP for the July workshop to society@ajgs.org.au

Welcome to the AJGS Newsfeed!

The AJGS Newsfeed will promote the Australian Jewish Genealogical Society and highlight interesting stories, links and discoveries from the world of Jewish Genealogy.

This newsfeed will NOT replace our Kosher Koala Newsletter. We hope the newsfeed and the newsletter will work together to help us help you with your genealogical detective work by sharing the most interesting and useful stories from around the world in a timely manner.

To read the latest issue of Kosher Koala: CLICK HERE
To read back issues of Kosher Koala: CLICK HERE

If you have any news, a great success story or an exciting new link you would like to share please email us at ed@ajgs.org.au

Please enjoy your new AJGS Blog.