2024, 44th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy, PHILADELPHIA, August 18-22

Related to: General Bessarabia, 

 

Welcome to the Bessarabia Corner at Philadelphia Conference!

Please join Bessarabia SIG RD at the 44th Jewish Genealogy conference in Philadelphia.

Here are sessions and events related to Bessarabia. Last updated at July 2024.

SHARE Fair - Sunday, August 18, 10 am - 1 pm.
Unfortunately time for the event was changed and I am not going to be at the Bessarabia table. If anyone at the conference needs help for their Bessarabia research and want to meet with me, please email me (yefimk@verizon.net) and I will find time on Monday afternoon, or Tuesday to meet with you.

This is the place where every region (SIG RD) has a table and people asking questions, getting a sense about the regions, where our ancestors lived. Also there are several companies, museums, archives who can help in genealogical research.

Bessarabia/Moldova Jewish Cemeteries Project - Tuesday, August 20, 8:30 am - 9:30AM. Yefim Kogan.
This is the most important project for several reasons. First, the cemeteries and stones are disappearing. Some were destroyed in the 19th century, others during the Soviets in the 20th century. Many tombstones are broken, lying on the ground, or crushed by trees. Second, most cemeteries are in a very poor condition, including Kishinev Jewish Cemetery. So, to photograph every tombstone, the project must include clearing paths in many cemeteries. Third, inscriptions in Bessarabia cemeteries are written in Russian, Romanian, or Hebrew. To make them accessible, inscriptions must be translated into English and together with tombstone images added to JOWBR database. During the presentation we will discuss our progress and what we are planning to do this year and in the future.
Full presentation in pdf format.

Bessarabia SIG RD Meeting - Tuesday, August 20, 9:45am-10:45am, Yefim Kogan - Leader and Coordinator of JewishGen Bessarabia SIG.
The meeting is open to anyone with roots or interest in the region historically known as Bessarabia, an area now comprising the Moldova Republic and parts of Ukraine. We also researching Transnistria, a breakaway republic from Moldova. It used to be part of Kherson and Podolia gubernias. At the end of the 19th century and before the War, Bessarabia had significant Jewish presence. The Bessarabia SIG was organized at the end of 2011 to help people in their Bessarabian genealogical research.
Full presentation in pdf format.

Two more presentations from our Bessarabia volunteers, even if they are not specifically on Bessarabia, but I would suggest all volunteers and researchers to read both of these presentations, it will help you:

Translating Russian Documents for the non-Russian speaker by Alan Levine. Full presentation in pdf format.

Russian Language Internet Resources for Jewish Genealogy by Sammy Lerner. Handout of the presentation in pdf format.

Comments, suggestions and feedback for the conference. I am collecting your feedback and soon it will be on this page. You can still write to me (yefimk@verizon.net).

Here are personal opinions of several of our members.
Sammy Lerner
The 2024 IAJGS Conference was the first IAJGS Conference that I have been too. I thought one of the most special aspects of the conference was meeting in person people that I have communicated with virtually about genealogy and catching up. It was great being able to share information with people about resources I have consulted when doing genealogy, and it has been great asking people about genealogical resources.

Alan Levine
The conference was well-organized and informative. I went to about 10 talks, including both Yefim Kogan's talks and Sammy Lerner's, all of which were well done. I had a good turnout for my talk on translating Russian documents.
My only complaint was that the mentor/translator room was not organized. No one seemed to be in charge and the app didn't allow for people to make appointments.

Judith R. Gibber
While there was so much I learned in Philadelphia at my first IAJGS conference, I want to particularly commend the presentations of Samuel Lerner and Alan Levine, who inspired me with their claim that the Russian alphabet is simple to learn. Over Labor Day, I studied the alphabet, then yesterday I went to the New York Public Library to stare at fuzzy microfilms of Minskie gubernskie vedomosti. Amazingly, after just an hour, I was able to pick out the name of my great grandfather on a list of draft evaders! Especially exciting as it's the first document I've seen with his prior surname, supporting the story that he changed it to avoid conscription. Thanks so much!

Yefim Kogan
This was my second IAJGS conference in Philadelphia, the first was in 2009. For me the best thing at the conference was to meet people. You cannot have that in an online conference. Also, I asked our members to contact me and schedule meetings if they have questions or issues. Several people communicated to me, and we found a place at the conference and had productive conversations.
My complaint is that for many our members, the cost to come to the conference was very high (Registration, Hotel).