News About Jewish Genealogy, Jewish History, and Jewish Culture
Editor: Phil Goldfarb, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
A Happy, Healthy, and Sweet Passover to all! Lots of stories to “nosh” on this week!… Phil Goldfarb
- From RootsWeb: “JCat and More – Innovative Tools for Jewish Ancestral Discovery.” Initiated by the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) as a big, bold, and urgent project, Documentation of Jewish Records Worldwide (DoJR) is documenting Jewish records worldwide and building JCat, the most comprehensive catalog of historical documents of Jewish lives. To read more, go to: https://cms-z-assets.familysearch.org/52/e9/b5d9669440df88bfdc881b3f5450/syllabus-jcat-and-more-innovative-tools-for-jewish-ancestral-discovery.pdf EDITOR’S NOTE: Please listen to this wonderful video clip from the host of PBS Finding Your Roots, Henry Louis Gates, Jr regarding Jewish culture and the L’Dor v’Dor Foundation: Keep Remembering. Also, in a surprise episode, Henry Louis Gates Jr. Goes From Host to Guest on PBS’ ‘Finding Your Roots’ this past week: Finding Your Roots | Finding My Roots | Season 11 | Episode 10 | PBS
- MyHeritage Publishes United States, World War II Draft Registrations, 1940–1947. This collection includes 42 million records of men who registered with the Selective Service System during and immediately following World War II, between 1940 and 1947. The records span multiple draft registration rounds and include men aged 18 to 64 across 33 states and D.C., offering personal details like addresses, occupations, next of kin, and even physical descriptions. Read more from their blog and explore: MyHeritage Publishes United States, World War II Draft Registrations, 1940–1947 – MyHeritage Blog
- The massive WWII database for the former USSR grows by another 4.6 million records. The newest additions are 2.5 million personnel records, 1.8 million injury records, 150,000 death records and 143,000 burial records. That boosts the database to a collection of more than 110 million pages of scanned WWII records. Some of the pages on soldiers have photos. More information from Lost Russian Family: The massive WWII database for the former USSR grows by another 4.6 million records – Find Lost Russian & Ukrainian Family
- Yad Vashem brings to life 5,000 Jewish communities lost in the Holocaust. The installation, a joint initiative between museum and EU, projects light, sound and animation onto the Valley of the Communities’ walls, telling story of more than 5,000 communities that existed before the Holocaust. Read the story from Y Net News: Yad Vashem brings to life 5,000 Jewish communities lost in the Holocaust
- Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day 2025. Out of the Depths: The Anguish of Liberation and Rebirth: Marking 80 Years since the Defeat of Nazi Germany. Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day 2025 will be on Thursday, April 24th. Read the story from Yad Vashem: Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day 2025
- With ‘engaging’ approach to Holocaust storytelling, Yad Vashem targets next generation. A new audiovisual experience and live theater at the national museum and memorial raise questions about Shoah education after survivors pass on. Read the story from The Times of Israel: With ‘engaging’ approach to Holocaust storytelling, Yad Vashem targets next generation | The Times of Israel
- Old School vs. New Tech: The Genealogy Methods That Define Generations. Nothing reveals the gulf between generations quite like watching a Boomer and a Zoomer tackle the same family mystery with tools from entirely different centuries. Read the story from Genealogy Explained: Old School vs. New Tech: The Genealogy Methods That Define Generations – Genealogy Explained
- Breakthrough in restitution of stolen property to descendants of Hungarian Jews. A senior Israeli official said that the government is engaged in advanced negotiations with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to achieve justice for Holocaust victims by returning their property to Hungarian Holocaust survivors who are still alive. Read the story from JNS: Breakthrough in restitution of stolen property to descendants of Hungarian Jews – JNS.org
- In search of Greece’s once-great Jewish city. Thessaloniki was once considered an epicenter of Jewish culture, one of the only cities in Europe where Jews were the majority. Known as Salonika at the time, it was part of the Ottoman Empire until 1912. The Ottoman Empire allowed Jews escaping the Spanish Inquisition in the 15th Century to settle there for hundreds of years. Read more from the BBC: In search of Greece’s once-great Jewish city
- Maria the Jewess and the Dawn of Chemistry. Shrouded in mystery and brilliance, Maria the Jewess was a trailblazing alchemist whose groundbreaking inventions and enigmatic philosophies bridged the gap between science and mysticism. Read her story from Aish: Maria the Jewess and the Dawn of Chemistry | Aish
- Did your European immigrant ancestors change their names? A well-established myth in the USA says that your European family members had their last name changed by a bumbling immigration official at Ellis Island. In reality, name changes occurred either before sailing, or after arrival. There is a long history of surnames changing over borders, in Europe and elsewhere — here is an overview! From Geneanet: Did your European immigrant ancestors change their names? – Geneanet
- The soldiers of color who freed concentration camps 80 years ago. U.S. forces liberated Nazi concentration camps 80 years ago this month. Among the liberators were Black, Latino, Asian American and Native American soldiers whose actions today are often forgotten. Read the story from Axios: The soldiers of color who freed concentration camps 80 years ago
- ‘Holy’ work: Stars of David replace crosses on stones of two WWI soldiers at national cemetery. “We have a sense, I think, of paying a long overdue debt to these men,” Shalom Lamm, the chief historian of Operation Benjamin, told attendees about Pfc. Adolph Hanf and Pvt. David Moser. Read the story from JNS: ‘Holy’ work: Stars of David replace crosses on stones of two WWI soldiers at national cemetery – JNS.org
- In a related Story: Senators Introduce Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act. An estimated 600 American-Jewish servicemembers remain improperly buried under Latin Cross, not Star of David. Read more: Senators Moran, Rosen and Reps. Wasserman Schultz, Max Miller Introduce Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act | U.S. House of Representatives
- Noah Wyle, star of HBO’s ‘The Pitt,’ recites Shema on screen. The Jewish actor tapped his father’s Russian-Jewish heritage in the creation of his character, known as “Dr. Robby.” Read the story from JTA: Noah Wyle, star of HBO’s ‘The Pitt,’ recites Shema on screen – Jewish Telegraphic Agency
- Irmgard Furchner, convicted in 2022 of complicity in Nazi crimes, dies at 99. Furchner is likely the last person to be convicted of direct complicity in the Holocaust, which ended 80 years ago. Read more from The Forward: Irmgard Furchner, convicted in 2022 of complicity in Nazi crimes, dies at 99 – The Forward
- Brooklyn street gets co-named for late Chabad rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Lubavitcher Rebbe Way was unveiled on President Street in Crown Heights. Read more from NY Jewish Week: A Brooklyn street gets co-named for late Chabad rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson – New York Jewish Week
- Iconic gold-encrusted Haggadah goes on display in Jerusalem for the first time. Original manuscript of the renowned Passover text created by artist David Moss is exhibited at the National Library of Israel. Read about it from The Times of Israel: Iconic gold-encrusted Haggadah goes on display in Jerusalem for the first time | The Times of Israel
- Archives reveal 50 years of Passover traditions in Israel. Newly uncovered KKL-JNF images trace nearly five (spanning 1935 to 1971) of Passover celebrations, capturing cherished rituals and forgotten traditions. From Jewish News UK: IN PICTURES: Archives reveal 50 years of Passover traditions in Israel – Jewish News
- Four Alternate Names for Passover. The Jewish festival of freedom and unleavened bread goes by many names. Read about them from My Jewish Learning: Four Alternate Names for Passover | My Jewish Learning
- Slave-owning Jewish Confederate woman documents wartime Passover in newly published diary. Seen in their entirety for the first time, Emma Mordecai’s US Civil War writings paint a seemingly contradictory picture of an anti-emancipation woman who was herself a minority. Read more from The Times of Israel: Slave-owning Jewish Confederate woman documents wartime Passover in newly published diary | The Times of Israel
- Just In Time For Passover: The Matzah Queen of New York. Long before American women could be found in corporate boardrooms, Regina Margareten led a major US company and transformed kosher food. Read her story from Aish: The Matzah Queen of New York | Aish
- How your matzah gets made: A peek inside the Streit’s factory. Born on the Lower East Side, the Jewish family-run business celebrates their 100th anniversary this year. Read more from NY Jewish Week: How your matzah gets made: A peek inside the Streit’s factory – New York Jewish Week
- 123 orphan boys celebrate their bar mitzvah at the Western Wall. The annual event—organized and sponsored by Colel Chabad, Israel’s longest continuously operating charitable organization founded by the first Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1788—is designed to ensure that the boys get to celebrate the coming-of-age ceremony in a truly special way, despite the financial and practical challenges many of these family’s face. Read their story from JNS: 123 orphan boys celebrate their bar mitzvah at the Western Wall – JNS.org
- This New Sitcom from the Makers of ‘Will & Grace’ Is Super Jewish and Utterly Delightful. Linda Lavin, Nathan Lane and Pamela Adlon play a Jewish family in Hulu’s “Mid-Century Modern.” Read more about it from Kveller: This New Sitcom from the Makers of ‘Will & Grace’ Is Super Jewish and Utterly Delightful – Kveller
- Florida’s Todd Golden becomes first Jewish coach to win March Madness since 1988.Golden, 39, is also the youngest coach to win it all since the tournament expanded into its current structure in 1985. Read his story from JTA: Florida’s Todd Golden becomes first Jewish coach to win March Madness since 1988 – Jewish Telegraphic Agency
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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.