Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay

Using Immigrant Aid Society Records for Genealogical Research

Presentation by Avrohom Krauss

Sunday, March 12, 2023

 

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay’s March 12, 2023, meeting will be held in person and via Zoom.

         • Date:               Sunday, March 12, 2023

• Time:               Social with refreshments begins at 1:30 p.m.; Program – 2 p.m.

• Place:              In Person: Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, 14041 Icot Blvd.,                                    Clearwater, FL33760

                                  Online: Zoom (RSVP information below)

      • Program:             Using Immigrant Aid Society Records for Genealogical Research

 • Speaker:             Avrohom Krauss, educator and genealogist

Landsmanshaftn or immigrant mutual aid societies were organizations formed by immigrants from a common ancestral location. They provided to their members social benefits, raised funds for the needy back home and memorialized their towns after the Shoah. These “shtetl satellites" flourished wherever immigrants were found, especially in North America and Israel but also in Argentina, South Africa and Australia. Their study is an essential part of ancestral town research. Records kept by these organizations often reveal genealogical information about relatives or landsleit (compatriots) not found elsewhere. One may learn about the activities and life of an ancestor or discover a lost or unknown branch of a family tree. This session will examine landsmanshaftn and their activities, acquaint the researcher with pertinent resources and demonstrate how to exploit records for genealogical success.

Avrohom Krauss is a veteran educator and genealogist specializing in uniquely Jewish resources. Since 2010, he has presented at International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies conferences, the Israel Genealogical Research Association and various other Jewish genealogical societies. His topics include immigration, landsmanshaftn, relief organizations, methodology, the Hebrew calendar and Jewish culture. Krauss assisted in the original JewishGen Online Education Course. He is a frequent contributor to AVOTAYNU in print and Avotaynu Online. His landsmanshaftn articles offer research guidance in the United States (New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cleveland etc.), Israel and through the internet. He belongs to Gesher Galicia, Litvak SIG, Belaus SIG and is a 30 year member of JGS, Inc. (NYC).  A native of Elizabeth, NJ, Avrohom resides in Telz-Stone, Israel.

In-person attendees can socialize and use JGSTB’s library before watching Krauss together via Zoom. Online attendees must reserve to receive sign-on instructions. You can do this on our Reservation Page. The program is free to members and $5 for non-members. Dues, which will run through 2023, are $25 for single members and $35 for couples/families and can be paid through  our Dues Payment Page.

For specific questions please contact Bruce Hadburg at 727-796-7981, or email him at bhadburg@tampabay.rr.com. For more information about the Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay, go to http://www.jgstb.org/.