24th IAJGS International
Conference on Jewish Genealogy
Renaissance Jerusalem Hotel, Israel, July 4-9, 2004
Hosted by the Israel Genealogical Society
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
Dear Friends and Fellow Genealogists,
The Israel Genealogical Society (IGS) is delighted to invite you to the 24th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy, which will be held in Jerusalem on July 4 – 9, 2004. The capital of Israel is a treasure trove of unique archival and family history resources unavailable anywhere else in the world! To walk over the very ground where it all began, to visit archeological sites unique to the Bible, to visit areas where your own ancestors might have lived, to meet with your Israeli cousins, is an experience you will not want to miss!
The Organizing Committee has spared no effort to make this event a resounding success. The Conference will provide an ideal stage for exchanging information and ideas regarding the ever-increasing influence and role of genealogical research in our time.
The Israel Genealogical Society, with the cooperation of Yad Vashem and scholars from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has prepared a rich and varied program of about 150 lectures, computer workshops, discussion panels and computer-run (PowerPoint) presentations.
Come and take advantage of Jerusalem’s unique collection of repositories such as Yad Vashem, the Jewish National and University Library, the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People, and the Central Zionist Archives. During the week of the Conference, most of these archives will be open to the participants for extended hours. Their Chief archivists will introduce you to their treasures. IGS Volunteers will assist you with languages. The GenealogyBus shuttle will get you there and back to the hotel. To prepare for your research, Yad Vashem staff present at the Hotel will identify the relevant items to be looked up in their Archives.
Come take a sneak preview tour of Yad Vashem’s soon to be opened Historical Museum and Hall of Names.
To help locate your Israeli relatives, The Voice of Israel will dedicate its well-known, daily radio program “Searching for your Relatives”, to selected Conference requests! Send us in advance complete details about the individuals or families you are searching for.
Participants will be able to Ask the Experts in short face-to-face consultations. Bookings for these sessions will be done at the hotel on a first-come first-served basis for the following day.
On-line registration is now open! Carefully read the conference information before proceeding to registration. The first 100 full-week registrants will be offered and shipped, free of charge, the Guide To Jewish Genealogical Research In Israel, courtesy of Avotaynu, Inc. (one book per family).
We wish to offer you and your family this unique opportunity to join us in Israel in July 2004. Be sure to check out the pre-Conference tour to the North and the special post-Conference genealogical tour to Safed!
Visit www.ortra.com/jgen2004 as additional details become available. We also recommend that you subscribe to the Jerusalem 2004 Discussion Group.
Sincerely,
The co-chairs
Jean-Pierre Stroweis
Eitan Shilo
Professor H. Daniel Wagner
Organizing Committee
Rose FELDMAN
Chana FURMAN
Alon GINZBERG
Batya GUTTMAN
Meriam HARINGMAN
Joe ISAACS
Amb. Neville LAMDAN
Rose LERER COHEN
Dr. Martha LEVINSON LEV-ZION
Reuven NAFTALI
Avraham SFADIA
Eitan SHILO, co-Chair
Barbara SIEGEL
Billie STEIN
Jean-Pierre STROWEIS, co-Chair
Mathilde TAGGER
Leah TEICHER
Prof. H. Daniel WAGNER, co-Chair
Conference Secretariat:
ORTRA Ltd
1 Nirim St., P.O. Box 9352
Tel-Aviv 61092, ISRAEL
Tel: +972-3-6384444
Fax: +972-3-6384455
E-mail:
Web site: http://www.ortra.com/jgen2004
About the Program
The program is comprised of plenary and parallel sessions, consisting of lectures, computer workshops, discussion panels and Self-running (PowerPoint) presentations with about 150 lectures by leading Israeli and international experts.
A wide range of Conference topics include Jewish communities from around the world; Jewish onomastics; Solitreo and other archaic scripts to help you unlock the secrets of original sources; demography; historical forces and patterns of migration; aliyah to Israel; genetics and genealogy; unusual sources for genealogy ranging from Rabbinic writings to the internet, from Gubernskie Vedomosti to the Russian Encyclopedia; special workshops extending from beginners classes to how to publish your own family history.
Focused sessions will be dedicated to Holocaust research at Yad Vashem.
Special sessions are planned in collaboration with scholars from the Hebrew University.
A new feature at this conference – Self-running (PowerPoint) genealogical presentations - will be screened continuously.
Documentaries of Jewish interest and with a genealogical flavor will be shown in the Video Room.
Preliminary Program:
Sunday, July 4, 2004
13:40 - 18:05 Parallel Sessions
19:30 – 22:00 Get-Together Cocktail, Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address
Monday, July 5, 2004
08:00 – 12:25 Parallel Sessions
12:25 – 13:40 Lunch Break and Transportation to Yad Vashem
13:40 – 14:25 Plenary Session at Yad Vashem
14:35 - 17:10 Parallel Sessions at Yad Vashem
17:15 – 18:00 Preview Tour of Yad Vashem’s new Historical Museum and Hall of Names
18:00 – 22:00 Special evening to Celebrate Yad Vashem’s 50th Anniversary, including light dairy meal (Optional)
Transportation back to the Hotel.
Tuesday, July 6, 2004 (17 Tamuz)
08:00 – 12:25 Parallel Sessions
12:25 – 13:40 Lunch Break
13:40 – 18:05 Parallel Sessions
20:30 Break-the-Fast light Supper (Optional)
21:15 Evening Event
Wednesday, July 7, 2004
08:00 – 12:25 Parallel Sessions
12:25 – 13:40 Lunch Break
13:40 – 18:05 Parallel Sessions
20:00 Evening Event
Thursday, July 8, 2004
08:00 – 12:25 Parallel Sessions
12:25 – 13:40 Lunch Break
13:40 – 18:05 Parallel Sessions
20:30 Banquet, Closing Address, IAJGS Awards Ceremony (Optional)
Friday, July 9, 2004
08:00 – 13:05 Parallel sessions (1 in English, 2 in Hebrew)
Partial List of Speakers:
Dr. Alexander Beider Author of the new Jewish Surnames in Galicia dictionary, France
Rita Bogdanova Archivist at the Latvian Historical Archives in Riga, Latvia
Stanley Diamond Executive Director of Jewish Records Indexing – Poland, Canada
Guilherme Faiguenboim Co-author of the Dictionary of Sephardic Surnames, Brazil
Dr. Stephen Morse Creator of Genealogical Search Tools, U.S.A.
Jürgen Sielemann Archivist of the Hamburg State Archives, Germany
Prof. Karl Skorecki Geneticist, Technion and Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel
Rabbi Meir Wunder Author of the Encyclopedia of Galician Sages, Israel
Preliminary List of Sessions
The program will deal with number of thrilling subjects, as follows:
Beginners' Workshops in English and in Hebrew
Israel's Treasure Trove, with the Chief Archivists of major repositories
Children in the Holocaust
Sephardim and Oriental Jews in the Mediterranean Basin
Names, names and more names (innovations in Onomastics)
Genetics - Cohen, Levi and Israel
Tales, Myths and Family Lore
Cyber-Gen
Combing Rabbinic literature
New Databases from Israel and abroad
Off-the-beaten-track Roots
Tools and Methods revisited
Yad Vashem - Privileged insights
Migrations - Jews on the move
Biographies and Autobiographies (in cooperation with the Hebrew University)
And of course, many lectures on Roots and Research across the Jewish Globe.
Research Opportunities
On the hotel premises, participants will enjoy the Conference Computer Room, Resource Room, and Vendor (Exhibition) Room.
The Israel Genealogical Society is proud to unveil an up-to-date list of the main Archives and Resources in Israel where genealogical material can be found. This list is still being finalized.
Among the databases which institutions agreed to make available to the Conference:
· The Collection of Family Trees from Beit Hatfutzot (The Diaspora Museum) in Tel-Aviv
· Clandestine Immigration Records from The Museum of Illegal Immigration in Atlit
Yad Vashem, repository of the world's largest documentation on the Shoah, has arranged for Conference attendees to research their archives. Among others:
· The Pages of Testimony Database from the Hall of Names, with some three million records
· The Arolsen Master Index, from the International Red Cross, with some fourteen million records
The major Jerusalem burial societies (Hevrot Kadisha) are prepared to help you access their records simply and rapidly.
The Central Zionist Archives will provide some of the services formerly undertaken by the now defunct Jewish Agency’s Search Bureau for Missing Relatives.
IGS volunteers have compiled a number of data repositories and novel databases that will be distributed in a special Genealogy CD to the participants. This CD will include the following:
· The Memorials of Vanished Communities, the first catalog of Israeli memorials of the Jewish Communities destroyed during the Shoah
· 1875 Last Census of the Jewish Population of Eretz Israel, commissioned by Sir Moses Montefiore
· Helkat Mehokek, the translation of Hebrew tombstone inscriptions found on the Mount of Olives
· An Index of the Paul Jacobi Collection of Family Trees
· The Guidebook of Sephardic and Mizrahi Genealogical Research in Israel
· Index of Family and Private Archives at the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People, a collection of private and family archives
· Archives and Archival Material for Genealogical Use in Israel
· Name Changes from the Palestine Gazette (1921-1948)
General Information
Venue
The Conference will be held at the Renaissance Jerusalem Hotel, which is located near the entrance to the city on the main artery leading to every section of Jerusalem. The Hotel is near the Israel Museum, Bible Lands Museum, Science Museum, Jewish National and University Library and its archives, the Israeli Parliament and other places of interest.
The Renaissance Jerusalem Hotel is glatt-Kosher. It offers a high level of comfort and service with its spacious public facilities including swimming pool and 650 luxurious rooms and suites.
The Organizing Committee has reserved rooms at the Conference venue, which will be offered to the participants at special reduced rates between June 27, 2004 and July 17, 2004 when ordered via the Conference Secretariat, Ortra Ltd.
Language
The official language of the Conference is English. A few lectures will be in Hebrew, with simultaneous translation to English. For Hebrew only speakers, simultaneous translation for selected lectures from English to Hebrew will be provided; some lectures will be presented in both languages.
Travel
The official airline for the conference is El-Al. Participants and accompanying companions will be offered special discounted fares.
Climate and Clothing
Temperatures in Jerusalem in July range between 19 - 28°C/66 - 88°F. Do not expect rain!. Dress will be informal throughout the Conference. In addition, modest dress appropriate for visits to religious sites is recommended.
Pre and Post – Conference Tours
Pre and Post-Conference tours in Israel will be arranged for interested participants. Please see the Travel, Tours and Accommodation Page. Take special note of the genealogical post-Conference tour to Safed.
Currency
The unit of currency in Israel is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS) commonly known as the Shekel. Approximate currency rates as of March 2004 are as follows:
US $ 1 = NIS 4.50 NIS 1 = US $ 0.22
Euro € 1 = NIS 5.50 NIS 1 = Euro € 0.18
There are no restrictions on transfer and use of foreign currencies in Israel.
Most international credit cards are accepted.
Electricity
Electricity in Israel is supplied at 220V, 50Hz and has a three-pin connecting plug.
Value Added Tax Reimbursement
According to the Value Added Tax (VAT) Law, a foreign tourist is able to benefit from a zero rate of VAT on a vast array of services obtained during a stay in Israel. In addition, a special arrangement exists whereby a tourist may also request a VAT refund on purchases made during a stay.
For more details please visit the official website of the Ministry of Finance, Israeli Department of Customs and VAT
More Information about Israel on the Internet see the following web sites:
Ministry of Tourism: http://www.infotour.co.il
Jerusalem’s Official Site: http://www.jerusalem.muni.il
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: http://www.mfa.gov.il
Registration
Individual, Full-Week Registration1 / US$ 210 / US$ 250
Individual and Spouse, Full-Week Registration2 / US$ 340 / US$ 400
Individual, Daily Registration3 / US$ 80 / US$ 80
Speaker, Full-Week Registration1 / US$ 170 / US$ 250
Speaker, Daily Registration3 / US$ 70 / US$ 70
Extra Ticket(s) for Get-Together Cocktail
on Sunday, July 4, 2004 / US$ 25 / US$ 25
Special Evening at Yad Vashem
on Monday, July 5, 2004 / US$ 18 / US$ 18
Break the Fast Supper (17 Tamuz)
on Tuesday, July 6, 2004 / US$ 25 / US$ 25
Banquet on Thursday, July 8, 2004 / US$ 48 / US$ 48
1. Individual/Speaker Full-Week Registration Fees include:
ü Participation in the Conference program
ü Conference Syllabus including lecture abstracts, speakers' biographies and the Conference Family Finder
ü Conference CD including lectures’ handouts
ü IGS Special Conference CD
ü Daily Planner
ü List of Participants
ü Conference Kit (Tote Bag)
ü Name Tag (with information submitted to the Family Finder)
ü Free GenealogyBus rides (Monday-Thursday)
ü Transportation from the hotel to Yad Vashem and back (Monday afternoon and evening)
ü Single entrance to the Conference Get-Together Cocktail on Sunday, July 4, 2004
2. Individual and Spouse Full-Week Registration Fees include:
ü One Individual/Speaker Full-Week Registration package (see #1 above)
ü Spouse gets full conference credentials as described under Individual/Speaker Full-Week Registration package (#1 above) excluding Conference Syllabus, Conference CD, IGS Special Conference CD and Conference Kit.
3. Daily Registration Fees include:
ü Participation in that day’s Conference program
ü Daily Planner
ü Name Tag (without information submitted to the Family Finder)
Please note! If you are a speaker and registering as a couple, please use the individual and spouse discounted rate.
Special Bonus for the First 100 Full-Week Registrants!
"A GUIDE TO JEWISH GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH IN ISRAEL"
Co-authored by Sallyann Amdur Sack and the Israel Genealogical Society
Courtesy of Avotaynu, Inc
The Guide to Jewish Genealogical Research in Israel, (hardcover, 229 pages, Revised Edition, 1995) is a primer for anyone who plans to do genealogical research in Israel. It was the first attempt to produce a comprehensive guide of the genealogical resources available in the country. The Guide is written very clearly and is a very valuable asset for all researchers.