Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay

Deciphering Jewish Tombstones
Presentation by Robin Meltzer
Sunday, May 16, 2021

     Because of the continuing COVID-19 epidemic, This meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay will be a virtual meeting (Webinar) held online using Zoom.

Reservation requests should be emailed to jgstb-res@jewishvets.org
 

     Date:         Sunday, May 16, 2020
     Time:        Zoom sign in 1:30-2:00 PM

     Program - 2:00 PM
     Place:       Zoom website – RSVP to jgstb-res@jewishvets.org to receive sign-in instructions.
     Program (Zoom Meeting): Deciphering Jewish Tombstones

     Speaker:  Robin Meltzer
 

Jewish tombstones are an invaluable source of genealogic information.  Tombstone inscriptions can provide the deceased's Jewish religious (Hebrew) name(s), original or alternate versions of family surnames, maiden surnames, the names of the deceased’s parents, his or her place of birth, age, profession, rabbinic lineage, community activities, even the names of living family members.  But there are common problems that make it difficult for researchers to accurately translate and interpret Jewish tombstone inscriptions.  Using examples from Jewish tombstones, the presentation will focus on building skills in understanding an inscription's context, determining the accuracy of the information presented, Jewish naming conventions, recognizing Kohain and Levite status and symbols, identifying rabbinic status, interpreting honorifics, and understanding Hebrew calendar dates and abbreviations.  The presentation will also suggest best practices for on-site cemetery visits and tombstone photography. 

Robin Meltzer, an attorney and genealogist, assists families in obtaining legal records, discovering nontraditional information sources and interpreting documentary evidence.  Robin is an administrator of “Tracing the Tribe: Jewish Genealogy on Facebook,” co-founder of the Jewish Community of the 15th Ward, Syracuse New York Facebook group, Associate Producer of the documentary films “Stories from the Syracuse Jewish Community” and “People and Places of the Syracuse Jewish Community,” and a former vice-president of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington (JGSGW).  She lectures on topics in Jewish genealogy and research methodology and has appeared on the cable television program “Tracing Your Family Roots.”  Robin has written articles on Jewish genealogy and local history appearing in several publications, including Avotaynu, Mishpacha, The Galitzianer, and the Jewish Observer of Central New York.

For further information about this program and how to attend it, contact Chris Burklund by email at jgstb-res@jewishvets.org.  An RSVP is required for security purposes to receive sign-in instructions.