Clay in My Boots: A Romp Through My Genealogical Past

Happy New Year to my Family,   For this year's Genealogy update, again I choose to focus on the towns of Birzia in Lithuania and Kremenets in Ukraine.   Last year, I talked about Birzia from the perspective of Charles Highstein as well as Helen, and their Aunt Hannah Sandler and Uncle Morris Highstein. Hannah Gnendel (née Chait) Sandler took on a special meaning for me this past year. Her great-great granddaughter, Melanie is a fellow genealogist. Melanie organized a get together in Bethesda with me, her sister Allison, her Uncle Marc and his kids. We had a wonderful time chatting about family relationships and comparing some family lore. I am so excited that there are a number of young people including Melanie, that have taken an interest in the Mitzvah of remembering our ancestors ( http://www.zchor.org/KURZ.HTM ).   Hannah Sandler also brings special meaning to me this year, because of the birth of Hannah Jane, my grand-niece (b.  11/21/2019 ), who I've been told ...

Just extended my Grandma Lena's family back an additional 3 generations to about 1750. (Yes, multiple sources) Thanks to finding her Grandfather's headstone. I knew of these people, but now I know they are mine. Found in Pakruojis, Lithuania records: 3rd-Great Grandfather:   Peisakh Bashes 1813 - 22 May 1887 3rd-Great Grandmother:   Tsipa Bashes 1813 - 1 Feb 1882 4th-Great Grandfather:   Abram Bashes b 1773 4th-Great Grandmother:   Enta Bashes b 1776   5th-Great Grandfather: Peisakh Bashes b ~1750

I attended the Kremenets Birds-of-a-Feather meeting during the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS). I'm so excited to have been chosen to serve as the newest member of the Board of Directors for the Kremenets District Research Group (KDRG) a 501(c)(3) organization. KDRG volunteers maintain the Kremenets Shtetl CO-OP pages on Google  https://sites.google.com/site/kdrgcontributors/   and the   https://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/Kremenets/web-pages/about-kremenets.html   Kremenets Kehilalinks on JewishGen  and most importantly collect, translate and organize records collected from the Kremenets District for use in Genealogical research. KDRG has a number of ambitious projects that are also of great interest to me and the community. We are going to build a District family tree based on vital and other records collected over the years. Although not everyone from Kremenets is "related" there are connections through marriage and ass...

Last night the a group gathered for the annual  group of Jewish Researchers in Volynia Ukraine at Bold Food & Drink www.boldfoodanddrink.com The New American restaurant had choices for all from Ohio Steak, Scottish Salmond, Walleye, to A variety’s for Vegetarian options. The Peach Pecan Bread-pudding was also a sweet end to a wonderful meal. We did all introduce our research families and shtetls/towns/villages/places to the group which fostered some possible connections. Personally I’m going to continue researching my Oks connection to Irina’s family that we started last year. Many others walked away with research ideas and connections. I also had the pleasure of talking more about the relaunch of the Kremenets Cemetery Project with Alan. A grand time was had by all the Volynians.

After my 2nd full day at the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS), I’m thinking back on all the sessions I attended and the people I’ve met. Bloggers It’s fun sitting at a meal or in the meeting spaces sharing trips we took to Eastern Europe, last year and comparing notes on what we saw, experienced, and the emotions we felt. We talk about plans to engage in cemetery cleanup, erecting / replacing monuments at killing fields, and going back with other family members. We also get an opportunity to share pictures of the places we visited and compare notes on tour guides we used and stories we heard. It a great opportunity to relive these important moments. Shared Jewish Landmark in  Siauliai (shall-ay) Status of Cemeteries Cemetery Cleanup Sessions of note include Lara Diamond’s talk on endogamy https://larasgenealogy.blogspot.com/2017/03/endogamy-in-practice-updated.html?m=1 ;  Amy Wach’s talk on migration patterns; Janette Silverman’s ta...

Volynia Dinner - Wednesday 31st 6:30pm Bold Food & Drink 1121 W 10th St, Cleveland, OH 44113 New American Cuisine  Lots of vegetarian options if required. After dinner, 1 block to water front .. bars, games,  water taxi, and more. A short walk (less then to RR Hall of Fame) from Hilton.  Head opposite direction on Lakeside, towards river stay on left side of road. Right on 9th St under the Freeway Immediate left on Main On corner of Main and 10th before transit tracks. Text or call me with RSVP ... late additions OK 240-821-7195 Michael Snyder  

In 2018, when I did my tour of Ukraine and Lithuania following the IAJGS conference. I toured Ukraine and Lithuania to visit ~19 sites were I had ancestors. Sites excluded because of brick-walls were birthplaces of my Paternal Grandmother's family and my Mother's Maternal Grandfather's family. Although we visited 30 places I kept a blog focusing on ancestral sites with a very few exceptions. This blog became a ppt presentation. One of the few exception sites included was the refurbished Synagogue in Pakruojis Lithuania because of its beauty and workmanship. Three months later through an Ancestry inquiry and DNA confirmation I discovered that my Grandmother's older sister was married in that Synagogue ... smashing that brick wall and bringing new meaning to prominent photos from my travels.