News About Jewish Genealogy, Jewish History, and Jewish Culture
Editor: Phil Goldfarb, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Have you heard of Metrical Books? Metrical books are records that were kept by the various religions according to the mandates of the Russian Empire’s government. The books were designed to include birth, marriage, divorce (applicable to Jews and Muslims only) and death records. The name “metrical books” comes from the way that the books were designed to take the measurements or metrics of the Russian Empire’s population. Read more about them: Russian: Metrical Books (byu.edu)
- New Jewish Military Record Transcription Project -The Israel Genealogy Research Association (IGRA) adds numerous records on its website, usually accompanied by the scans. Go to: Israel Genealogy Research Association They include: Detainees And Prisoners (2,071), Etzel Service Card Applications 1949-1953 (2,265), Hagenah Platoon Commander Course (1,721), Home Guard (2,302), Israel Defense Forces (3,806), Jewish Volunteers International Brigade (4,694), Medals and Awards (1,601), Military British 1915-1922 Jewish Legion (2,643), Military British 1939-1947 (33,819), Military Polish (624), Military Turkish (100), Military Turkish 1917 (62), POW 1914-1915, 1942, 1948 (13,578), Palestine Volunteers in the Spanish Civil War (501), Volunteers from Palestine for the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939, Sherut Leumi-National Service (603)
- Batch 22 of Vilnius household registers are now available. The registers were created between 1919 and 1940 when Wilno (Vilnius) city and Wilno voivodeship were part of Poland. The registers contain detailed information about everyone who lived in Wilno at that time, including children, as well as information about visitors. This can include refugees fleeing the Nazis toward Vilnius in autumn of 1939. More information about the Vilnius household registers can be found on the VHR home page, https:com/VHR-Homeand in more detail at https://www.jewishgen.org/databases/Lithuania/VilniusHouseholdRegisters.html
- Ancestors from Romania? If so, check out the History of the Romanian Jews and their podcasts here: Podcast Home – (historyofromanianjews.com)
- More From Romania…Painstaking restoration work on the historic Cetate (Citadel) synagogue in Timisoara, Romania progressing well. The Citadel Synagogue was built between 1863 – 1865 in an eclectic style, with Moorish-style features, two side towers and an imposing facade that resembles a fortress. Read more from Jewish Heritage Europe: https://jewish-heritage-europe.eu/2024/08/02/romania-update-cetate/
- The Jews of Iran: 10 Amazing Facts. Dive into the rich and surprising history of the Jews of Iran as Jews Have Lived in Modern-Day Iran for Almost 3,000 Years. Read the story from Aish: The Jews of Iran: 10 Amazing Facts – Aish.com
- Decades after Holocaust, Romani community struggles for recognition of its genocide. While Nazi murder of the Jews in the Shoah is widely commemorated, relatively few countries mark the Aug. 2 memorial day of Samudaripen. Activists are working to change that. Read more from the Times of Israel: Decades after Holocaust, Romani community struggles for recognition of its genocide | The Times of Israel
- Another Nazi-looted Schiele painting has been returned to heirs of ‘Cabaret’ inspiration Fritz Grünbaum. In an ironic twist of fate, the most recent owners of the Nazi-looted drawing by Egon Schiele were a prominent family of Nazi refugees in the United States. Read the story from The Forward: Another Nazi-looted Schiele painting has been returned – The Forward
- Willesden becomes first Jewish cemetery on international culture app. A number of prominent Jewish figures are buried in the north-west London grounds. The graveyard will join over 500 museums, galleries, sculpture parks and gardens on Bloomberg Connects, which offers online access to exhibitions and collections. Read more from The Jewish Chronicle: Willesden becomes first Jewish cemetery on international culture app – The Jewish Chronicle (thejc.com)
- Speaking of a Cemetery…Why Jews Put Stones on Graves. Although the custom of placing them on a grave probably draws upon pagan customs, the stones also symbolize the permanence of memory. Read the story from My Jewish Learning: Why Jews Put Stones on Graves | My Jewish Learning
- Israeli Archaeologists Reveal Huge Stone Quarry in Jerusalem From King Herod’s Time. Dated to the Late Second Temple period, the quarry at Har Hahotzvim may have produced the slabs used in the Temple and ancient Jerusalem’s streets, archaeologists say. Buildings in Jerusalem, both ancient and modern, are famously made of creamy-hued stone blocks carved out of the local limestone, itself created over 200 million years ago, when the area was under the sea. Read more from Haaretz: Israeli Archaeologists Reveal Huge Stone Quarry in Jerusalem From King Herod’s Time – Archaeology – Haaretz.com
- Poland marks 80th anniversary of Warsaw Uprising, honoring heroes of doomed fight for freedom. The Polish capital came to a standstill Thursday on the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising, an ill-fated revolt against Nazi German forces during World War II. Sirens wailed, church bells rang and people stopped in their tracks, some stepping out of their cars to pay their tribute to the fallen heroes. Read more from AP News: Poland marks 80th anniversary of Warsaw Uprising, honoring heroes of doomed fight for freedom | AP News
- These Are the Most Popular Hebrew Baby Names in Israel. The Israeli Bureau of Statistics recently released the most popular names in Israel for 2023. Read the story and see the names from Kveller: These Are the Most Popular Hebrew Baby Names in Israel – Kveller
- Significant Numbers in Judaism. A look at some numbers, from seven to 18 to 613 that have Jewish significance. Jews have always enjoyed finding meaning and significance in special numbers, perhaps most intensively through the practice of gematria, ascribing numerical values to letters and words that are said to reveal mystical connections. Read the story from My Jewish Learning: Significant Numbers in Judaism | My Jewish Learning
- The Jewish Woman who Revolutionized Emergency Medicine. Dr. Nancy Caroline was a trailblazing Jewish woman who revolutionized emergency medical care in the US and Israel. Read her amazing story from Aish: The Jewish Woman who Revolutionized Emergency Medicine – Aish.com
- These 10 Jewish Olympians Made History. Aly Raisman, Sue Bird and Mark Spitz are just a few of the Jewish athletes who have made their mark on the Olympic Games. Jewish athletes have competed in every edition of the modern Olympic Games since 1896 and have won at least 459 medals. Read the story from Hey Alma: These 10 Jewish Olympians Made History – Hey Alma
- Mel Brooks Talks About His Days Working in the Borscht Belt. The comedian recently shared some delightful anecdotes about the Jewish resort haven, which indelibly shaped his career. Read his story from Kveller: Mel Brooks Talks About His Days Working in the Borscht Belt – Kveller
- Inside ‘A Complete Unknown’: How Timothée Chalamet Became Bob Dylan. A Complete Unknown doesn’t have an official release date yet, but its first teaser trailer dropped today: A COMPLETE UNKNOWN | Official Teaser | Searchlight Pictures (youtube.com) and it could come out as soon as December. The film’s story begins with Dylan’s arrival in New York in 1961 and ends shortly after his history-making electric performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. Read more from the Rolling Stone: Inside ‘A Complete Unknown’: How Timothée Chalamet Became Bob Dylan (rollingstone.com)
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About The Weekly News Nosh
The Weekly News Nosh contains news about Jewish Genealogy, Jewish History and Jewish Culture. The Nosh is published on Sundays and distributed by the L’Dor V’Dor Foundation on its website and social media platforms. “A Family Without The Understanding Of Their Past History, Foundation And Ethnicity Is Like A Tree Without Roots.” Subscribe to receive future announcements.