Have you ever wondered why some people invest so much time and effort into tracing their family roots? The answer lies in the integral connection between our identity and our ancestral past. In fact, genealogy is not only a pursuit of personal curiosity but also a way to understand our place in the world, forge connections with our relatives, and, sometimes, gain a sense of belonging.
The significance of genealogy
can be found in the Torah. It repeatedly emphasizes the importance of
understanding our lineage, exemplified by the stories of our ancestors. Take,
for instance, the tale of Rus and Dovid Hamelech, which beautifully illustrates
the profound connection between individuals across generations.
Similarly, our own quest to
uncover even the smallest link to our relatives can bring us comfort, strength,
and a sense of continuity. Knowing the details and stories of our ancestors can
show us that we are not alone, that other family members have gone through the
same challenges that we ourselves are experiencing. Sometimes, their words can
pierce through the generations and provide guidance.
I Start the Journey
My personal fascination with
genealogy can be traced to my childhood, when I observed others in the
community celebrating and discussing their yichus
(family history). Sadly, my family had often told me that no one knew anything
about our ancestors. The family history and stories were lost because anyone
who knew anything had already passed away. According to the tale, our family,
living somewhere in Russia, sent their children to the United States to start
anew, leaving behind a void of knowledge.
Provided with whatever meager
resources my parents could remember, along with my insatiable curiosity, I
embarked on a quest to uncover the truth. Turning to online genealogy platforms,
like Ancestry.com, I scoured their databases. I unearthed scarce documents and
pieced together a list of a mere 100 family members. Then, I was faced with a
seemingly insurmountable roadblock. Not having the names, birthdates, or
locations of any of my great-grandparents, I was afraid my search had come to
an end. The prospect of finding traces of the past or links to living relatives
seemed like an unattainable dream.
However, my life took an
unexpected turn when, after my father’s passing in 2008, I received a few
fragile pages from a family newsletter dating back to the 1930s. It was then
that my exploration truly began. I stumbled upon a treasure trove: the “Sussman
News” newsletter. This bi-monthly family newsletter, which circulated between
1934 through 1940, held invaluable information about our family’s history, yahrzeits, and tidbits of life in Kovno
and Ponedel, Lithuania. As I delved deeper into this goldmine, I discovered
unfamiliar names alongside a few that resonated with my memories. Despite my
skepticism regarding the accuracy of records from so long ago, determination
and curiosity fueled my research.
Remarkably, within a month, I
made contact with relatives who possessed more editions of the newsletter,
propelling me forward in my journey to locate those who survived the Holocaust.
Over the years, my family tree grew exponentially, expanding to include over
20,000 relatives (now surpassing 40,000) and counting. It astonished me to
discover that some of my newfound relatives had lived just blocks away from
where I grew up in Philadelphia, as well as in South Africa, Israel,
California, and even Maryland.
Helping Others
Recognizing my passion for
genealogy, I decided to pursue it professionally, assisting others to connect
with their ancestors and locate or reunite with living relatives. I even had
the privilege of serving as the president of the Jewish Genealogy Society of
Maryland for several years. With the guidance of Hashem, I have researched
countless families, uncovering their stories and witnessing the transformative
power of familial connections. In fact, I have personally experienced the joy
of organizing family reunions and witnessed the incredible bonds formed among
relatives who once felt adrift without a family to call their own.
I have been blessed with
wonderful gifts that come with locating relatives, although there has been an
occasional pitfall as well. You never know if a revelation will be positive or
negative, so I am careful to be as respectful as possible. When researching for
others, I maintain the privacy of the client, with the understanding that
financial issues will not be shared in any way. That is for the benefit of all
parties involved.
In one interesting episode, I
took a chance and typed some unique names into Facebook in hopes of locating
living relatives. For example, my grandfather was one of nine children. Through
Facebook, I was able to locate one of his descendants, and it was amazing. Out
of all nine children, this cousin (and his family) and I are the only ones who
are Orthodox. To this day, my son meets up with him regularly on Shabbos in
Israel. All thanks to Hashem (and Facebook).
Getting Started
Recently, I have the chance to
embark on setting up a new genealogy organization geared toward young people.
Its purpose will be to encourage the next generation to delve beyond what the
records provide and record a personal history of one’s past. Getting started is
the easiest thing to do. Write down relatives’ names (including Hebrew and
nicknames), birth dates, and locations. Even if you don’t have all the
information, write down what you do know.
Then go to one of the many
genealogy sites. Ancestry is a popular online platform that offers access to
extensive databases, historical records, and family trees. One very helpful tip
noted on Ancestry is that when you don’t know the year of someone’s birth,
count backward about 20 years from the birth of that person’s oldest child. For
example, if you are searching for Leib Davis, who was married to Esther, and
all you have is that they were born in Lithuania. They had five children, and
you have all of those birth years. The oldest is Basca who was born around
1909. Since many young people were married and had their first child at around
20 years of age, you can list 1890 as an approximate date for both her parents
with the location Lithuania. (Make sure to make the notation that it was an
educated guess.)
That will give Ancestry a goal
to search for and provides more possibilities to investigate. Hopefully, you
will find records that may add details to help fill in the missing pieces. It
does not always work out perfectly, but it does give you an approximate timeline.
Some ancestry sites are better for
different types of information than others, such as in providing records or DNA
resources. The best thing is that you don’t have to choose just one; you can
use any of the sites for your specific search interest and price point. More
resources are being created every year, so as long as you record what you can,
there is an opportunity to uncover more information in the future.
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Genealogy is a pursuit that encompasses
much more than mere name-searching. Unraveling our family history often
involves delving into the broader context of historical events. For instance, I
encountered a client whose last name was Maddish. He believed that he was
related to the Manischewitz family, because that name appeared in his family
tree. However, research revealed that Manischewitz was not the actual surname
of the famous Jewish family, highlighting the need to explore historical
records and cultural context to reveal the true narrative. In the end, we
uncovered his deep connection to the first settlers of the Philadelphia area, which
continued all the way back to the Plantagenet dynasty in England. And, of
course, he was not even Jewish.
While the
science of DNA is part of genealogy, it is not always the magic puzzle piece we
hope it to be. DNA testing can provide insights into our genetic heritage and
potential connections with distant relatives. However, it is important to
approach DNA testing with an open mind and embrace the potential surprises it
may bring. It is crucial to understand that the information may not always be
completely accurate, and unexpected discoveries may arise. For instance, I once
had a client who discovered that her presumed father was not her biological
father. On the flip side, I’ve also helped individuals find their birth
mothers, uncovering the untold stories of their family history.
Genealogy is a captivating and
rewarding endeavor that can bridge the gap between our present and past. By
understanding our lineage, we gain a profound sense of belonging and a
connection to our ancestors and our family story. We not only discover our
roots but also create a legacy for future generations to cherish and remember. When
we discuss their experiences with our family members, we build bridges with our
relatives both past and present. It grants us the incredible opportunity to
uncover hidden stories, piece together fragmented narratives, and rediscover
the family ties that bind us.
The
remarkable aspect of the genealogical journey is that it never truly ends. Once
you start unraveling the threads of your family history, new relative matches
may emerge, and additional details of the past may be revealed. Genealogy is
not merely about names and dates; it’s about capturing the essence of
individuals, their childhoods, and life experiences. Keeping meticulous notes
becomes invaluable, even for seemingly mundane details. For instance, recording
the reasons behind people’s names or their travel patterns can provide insights
into the motivations and circumstances that shaped their lives. Let me share an
example: In one family I researched, I uncovered the story of a resilient
matriarch who tragically lost her husband and oldest son. Eventually, she made
the decision to relocate to America to be with her remaining children. Along
the way, she visited her eldest daughter in Turkestan, where, unfortunately,
her daughter fell ill and passed away. As the mother was present during this
heartbreaking moment, she took her two oldest granddaughters with her to
Philadelphia, where their descendants continue to thrive to this day. By
preserving such intricate details, we honor the legacies of our ancestors and
ensure their stories are passed down through the generations.
So, grab
your pen, start writing, and embark on a captivating adventure through time as
you uncover the remarkable stories that make up your family’s heritage.
