Ron Doctor and I would like to update you on the progress of the Kremenets
Shtetl CO-OP and to appeal to you for a renewed push of volunteerism and
donations. As you know from our February update, we successfully arranged with
the LDS and the Ukraine National Archives to digitize all the vital records
of
Kremenets that the Mormons have microfilmed (1870-1907). The LDS provided us
with these digitized records on a set of 7 cd-roms. This substantially
reduces our costs, since we no longer have to make and mail paper copies to
our translators. Instead we can just send our translators a copy of the cd-rom
that
contains the records they are transliterating. In return we will provide the
church with copies of our English transliterations. As they become available,
we will
post the completed transliterations in a searchable database on the JRI-Poland
website (http://www.jewishgen.org/jri-pl/)
for free use by all. Our Agreement with
th LDS requires us to complete the translations within two years.
A number of our members have volunteered their time and energy to work out
a system for transliterating the records and templates to record the findings.
They
also have completed transliterations of the 1870 Birth records and 1870-1872
Death records. For their volunteer efforts in these activities we owe our thanks
to Al Bell, Adam Bronstein, Yael Driver, David Dubin, Gary Khusidman, Rick Liftig,
Peggy Pearlstein and Alan Shuchat.
Recognizing that we need to accelerate our translation efforts, a couple of
months ago I posted an inquiry on JewishGen seeking bids from professional
translators and skilled nonprofessionals, who would be interested in continuing
the work our volunteer translators began. Based on estimates that I have
received so far it looks as if it will cost us about $5000 to complete the transliterations
within our two-year time frame. This is an approximate amount as the
records also contain paragraphs and notes that need to be translated. In addition,
we will need to set aside about $2,500 to edit and proofread the transliterated
records. Through your generosity, we already have raised $1,508. So, we need
an additional $6,000 to be assured of completing the transliterations.
At this time I ask for your help. If you possess the skills to transliterate
Russian or Hebrew/Yiddish and would like to volunteer to help translated the
records
it would help us reduce the cost of hiring professionals. If you don’t
possess that wonderful skill, we want you to know that this would be a great
time to
consider making a financial donation to the Kremenets Shtetl CO-OP. The speed
with which we get this project done depends on our success in raising money
for professional translators, and in finding volunteer translators. Ron and
I wish to offer some incentives to encourage you to make a donation to this
very
worthy cause:
The spreadsheets will be sent to our donors as each is completed, edited and
proofread. Keep in mind that all data will continue to be available free on-line,
but
only in a searchable format. That is, you will see the data that satisfy your
search criteria, but you will not be able to see the entire set of data at once.
By
making an appropriate donation, you will be able to see all the data in the
spreadsheet and to browse through it at your leisure. If you have already donated
to
this effort, your past donations will be credited toward the incentives noted
above.
All donations are tax deductible in the U.S., since the Kremenets Shtetl CO-OP
is part of JRI-Poland, a 501(c)(3) organization. None of the individuals
involved in coordinating the CO-OP will handle the money that is donated, and
none will benefit financially from the money you donate. ALL of your donation
will be used to pay professional translators for their work on our records.
How to donate?
Make your donation to JRI-Poland and specify that it is for the Kremenets Shtetl
CO-OP. Your donation can be by check, bank draft, money order, or Visa
Card. See http://www.jewishgen.org/jri-pl/visa.htm
for additional information.
Checks should be made out to “Jewish Records Indexing - Poland,”
and you should write “Kremenets Shtetl CO-OP” on the check. Send your
contributions,
or address your questions concerning donations, to:
Jewish Records Indexing, Inc.
c/o Sheila Salo, Treasurer
5607 Greenleaf Road
Cheverly, MD 20785 USA
Telephone / Fax: (301) 341-1261
E-Mail: ssalo@capaccess.org
Visa contributions also may be telephoned to Sheila Salo. (Only between the hours of 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Daylight/Standard Time, please).
Remember, Jewish Records Indexing - Poland, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
The Employer Identification Number for JRI-Poland is 52-2101869.
Contributions to Jewish Records Indexing - Poland are tax-deductible in the
U.S. to the extent permitted by law.
Let me remind you again to specify that your donation is for the Kremenets
Shtetl CO-OP. Otherwise Sheila Salo, JRI-Poland’s Treasurer, will not know
that
the money is earmarked for our use. Also, to enable us to rack contributions,
please send me an e-mail message at ssroth@pacbell.net or to
rondoctor@earthlink.net,or a letter
telling me how much you have donated.
Updates on our other projects
Vital Records: CD-Rom Record Number Indexing Project
Thanks to our volunteers Daniel Katz, Michael Port and Celia Starr, we have
completed record number indexing for three of our seven cd-roms. Record
number indexing is in progress for two other cd-roms.
The Yizkor Book Translation Project
Another ongoing project has been the translation of the two Yizkor books and
18 Booklets published by the Organization of Kremenets Emigrants between
1954 and 1982. In total we have about 2,000 pages to translate. (A complete
bibliography is available on our website). Our volunteers have done 110 pages
in
the Stein book so far. Special thanks to Aya Betensky, Shalom Bronstein , David
Dubin, Rabbi and Mrs. Ben Friedman, David Goldman, Rob Goldstein, Sari
Havis, Alan Hirshfeld, Jack Horbal, Peter Kardon, Barbara Lipkin, Thia Persoff,
Elliott Raisen, Aviv Tzur, Steve Wien and David Wilk for their efforts on the
Yizkor Book project.
In addition, as a result of our February 2002 Update, Peggy Pearlstein sent
us copies of the Booklets that the Library of Congress has but that were missing
from our collection. Now we need only one more Booklet to complete our collection.
If any of you have or can locate Booklet #17, published in 1980 or
1981, please let Ron know about it ( rondoctor@earthlink.net
).
Kremenets Cemetery Project
In our February Update, Ron outlined a potential new project to document, restore
and maintain, the Jewish Cemetery of Kremenets. Recall that there are
readable tombstones in that cemetery that date back to the 16th century. Since
then, we have been in contact with Dr. Aliza Cohen-Mushlin, Director of the
Center for Jewish Art (CJA) in Jerusalem. Dr. Cohen arranged to send us samples
of their documentation of the old section of the Kremenets Jewish
Cemetery. Their work is quite impressive. CJA’s documentation includes
a photo of the tombstone, locational information, physical description, the
Hebrew
inscription and an English translation of the inscription. We have asked for
permission to post the samples on our website.
This is a unique and incredibly rich resource for us. However, CJA lacks funds
to complete processing of the documentation they obtained during their 1997
expedition to Kremenets. When funds become available, they will finish processing
and computerizing the tombstone documentation and will make it available.
We are looking into the possibility of applying for a foundation grant to help
CJA complete this work. Carolyn Manosevitz, one of our members, has agreed to
work on the Kremenets Cemetery Project. We need others who can help. We particularly
need volunteers who have the contacts and experience that will help
us obtain a financial grant to get this project completed. Please contact Ron
if you can help.
In addition, Ron has been in telephone contact with the US commission for Preservation
of America’s Heritage Abroad. The Commission will help us in our
efforts to restore and maintain the Kremenets Jewish Cemetery. We’ll have
more to report on this effort in the next update.
As many of you know, Kremenets was a “District Center” during the
19th century. That means that life cycle events for people from other surrounding
towns
were documented in Kremenets. Many of our “Kremenets” families resided
in those surrounding towns. Some of those towns have Jewish cemeteries. So,
another part of our project is to identify the Jewish cemeteries in nearby towns
so that we can include them in our Kremenets cemetery project. We need a
volunteer or two to begin this part of the project.
Other Projects “on the drawing board”
Restoring our Kremenets heritage makes sense not only to remember and honor
our ancestors, but also to help us in our personal family history pursuits.
Her
are some of the other projects we will get underway when volunteers step forward:
22nd IAJGS Conference on Jewish Genealogy
As many of you know the 22nd IAJGS Conference on Jewish Genealogy will be held
in Toronto, Canada on August 4-9. Ron and I are planning to attend and
would like to know if any of you are also planning to attend. If there is enough
interest we would like to arrange for a ‘birds of a feather’ meeting.
It will be a
wonderful opportunity to meet with members of our CO-OP and others interested
in Kremenets and the surrounding towns. We also will have copies of our
Yizkor Book and Vital Records translations available for you to review. Please
contact me if you are planning on being at the conference. For more information
about the conference please see their website at http://www.jgstoronto2002.ca/
.
And finally, let me note that our website (http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Kremenets/)
was recently updated. If you have not visited recently, be sure to have
a look when you get the chance. Material is added regularly.
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Sheree Roth
Co-coordinator Kremenets Shtetl CO-OP