Interviewing Bubbe*

*bubbe (Yid.) grandmother

For those looking to get started in researching your Jewish genealogy there are many ways to get started.  From experience, I have learned that the best place to start is in talking with the oldest generations of your Jewish family.  My grandmother was one of those rare people who wrote down her memories for posterity’s sake.  As a result, I had a great document to refer to whenever I got stuck.  Not everyone is as fortunate.  So, my recommendation to you is to start by interviewing your oldest living Jewish relatives.

Sometimes older relatives may feel self-conscious or suspicious about your reasons for asking so many questions.   Be sure to explain to them that you are trying to learn about your family’s history and that you want to know more about what their life experiences have been.  Tell them that you will share your genealogical findings with them and usually this will be enough to open them up to being interviewed.   If not, sometimes you can get someone to open up by simply interviewing someone else in front of them.  Before long they will be throwing in their two cents as well!

You may find that you will have so many questions that you want to interview them several times.   This is a good thing because often, once you get your relative to think about the past… new stories will come up in subsequent meetings.

There are a number of items I would suggest you take with you in preparation:

1. A recording device.
   Whether it’s a video camera or some kind of audio recorder it doesn’t matter.  I find that audio tends to be less obtrusive and easier for your relative to deal with.  However, if you can get a video camera the result could become something priceless for future generations to see your relative share their stories.  Regardless, I would strongly recommend that you record the conversation in some way so that you won’t have to take a lot of notes.  Being more present in the conversation will help you to draw your relative in and ask supplementary questions that may occur to you as you talk.  I have a great little device called the Blue Microphone Mikey that I can attach to my iPod that records easily and is down-loadable into iTunes for my use later.  If your relative doesn’t want you to record it, I recommend typing up your notes as soon after the interview as possible.  It’s easy to forget things weeks later!
2. Bring a list of questions.
   There are many great lists of questions available online.  In particular, you might want to look at the JewishGen InfoFiles page which has an extensive list of questions.  You might want to ask about your relatives’ memories of certain holidays like Hanukkah, Passover, or Purim.   Memories of family weddings, bat/bar mitzvahs, and funerals may also yield some interesting tales.  A wonderful book by Arthur Kurzweil, “From Generation to Generation” has some great questions within it as well.
3. Bring photographs that you may have.
   Sometimes a great way to break the ice is to look through old family photos.  You may hear stories of Great Aunt Beulah that you’d never heard before.  Perhaps you’ll discover that you’re relatives used to get together every year at Thanksgiving and have potlucks and talent shows.  You just never know!  Plus, you may be able to better identify who is in that picture that you didn’t know before.  Write on the back of the picture or on a post-it (in pencil!) who everyone is, rough time period, and what was going on if they can remember.  These are priceless bits of information you can refer to later in your research.
4. Bring a digital camera or scanner in case your relative digs out some documents or photos you’ve never seen before.
   Take a picture of family heirlooms that may be around the house too.  Ask if there are candlesticks, kiddush cups, ketubah, letters, immigration papers, passports, and recipes that you could see.
5. Ask who else in the family might have information to share.
6. Finally, try your best not to ask “Yes” or “No” questions.
   You want to get them talking and telling stories!

My last bit of advice on this is to be proud of yourself for trying to do this.  It’s not easy to sit down with older relatives sometimes. There are generational barriers that may make you hesitant to ask personal questions.  But remember, your interest in their life and their stories is something that can be passed on to future generations.

“If you don’t recount your family history, it will be lost. Honor your own stories and tell them too. The tales may not seem very important, but they are what binds families and makes each of us who we are.” – Madeleine L’Engle

 

This blog entry was originally written for “The In-Depth Genealogist”.

Technorati Tags: Jewish,history,genealogy,interview,stories

Passover Memories

Last weekend was one with two different celebrations- Easter and Passover.  While the Easter celebrations were being prepared for some…  there were many Jews planning their Passover Seder.  Growing up I always marked this time of year by the television showing of “The Ten Commandments” and the story of the Jews escaping Egypt.  There is nothing like Charlton Heston, as Moses, declaring, “Thus sayeth the Lord God of Israel: Let my people go.” 
Over the years, the Passover Seder has had an increasing meaning for me.  Part of that is due to the fact that I do not get home to spend time with my family as much as I would like.  Also, as I have learned more about my family’s history I have an increased appreciation for how the Jewish people have survived and held onto their beliefs.  I have a lot of respect for those with strong beliefs- whatever they may be.
Anyway, for those not familiar with Passover (or Pesach) I thought I’d share some of the things that my family and I do when we celebrate.  I can’t speak for all Jews (and wouldn’t want to!), but I really love the time we have together as a family.  A few years ago I found some hilarious finger puppets to use in the telling of the story of Passover.  Check them out in the pictures below.

Mom always makes a great spread with all the representative foods used during the night.  She has spent a lot of time putting together a special series of readings from several different Haggadahs.  We all take turns reading from the books and say the blessings for the wine with Mom’s guidance.   We talk about the symbolism of the various food on the seder plate.









Greens/ Karpas represent the initial flourishing of the Jews in Egypt.  The salt water represents the tears shed by the Jews.  Haroset is a mix of fruit, nuts, and wine and represents the mortar used to build the pyramid.  Bitter Herbs (usually horseradish is used) allow us to taste the bitterness of slavery.  The lamb shank bone represents the sacrifice of a lamb made at the Temple for a special Passover offering.  The egg shows the circle of life. 




The youngest child, Kait, asks the four questions and notes what is different about the night’s celebration.
1. On all other nights we eat bread or matzo, while on this night we eat only matzo.
2. On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables and herbs, but on this night we have to eat bitter herbs.
3. On all other nights we don't dip our vegetables in salt water, but on this night we dip them twice.
4. On all other nights we eat while sitting upright, but on this night we eat reclining.






There is always an extra place  setting for Elijah and the door is kept open in case he should appear.  (Yes, that’s right, the Jews are still waiting for their Messiah.) 

















As we tell the story of the Exodus we talk about the ten plagues that occurred.





















The ten plagues brought on Egypt were:
1. Water to Blood
2.  Frogs
3.  Gnats or Lice
4.  Livestock Diseased/ Cattle Plague
5.  Flies










6.  Boils
7.  Thunder and Hail
8.  Locusts
9.  Darkness






10. Death of the Firstborn





 

By the time we’ve made it through all the stories, reflections, and blessings we are usually so full that we hardly make a dent on the delicious meal that Mom has made.  On the bright side, the leftovers are great!

Technorati Tags: jewish,passover,pesach,plagues,moses,egypt,exodus

An Introduction

Over the past five years I have learned more about my Jewish roots than I had in the thirty-some before that.  I have always been fascinated with the history of the Jewish people, but until my maternal grandmother, Shirley Krueger Morse passed away, I didn’t realize how little I really knew.  After experiencing the loss of such an influence in my life, it took a while before I could even delve into the things she left behind.  One of the greatest things she did in her life was writing her biography which included a lot of personal stories of her childhood and information she had found in her own research of her family tree.  This document has been a treasure in my research.  Some of it may not be 100% accurate, but most of it has hints of new avenues to pursue in my hunt.

I have been fortunate enough to have photographs of these great grandparents and stories that were handed down by my maternal grandmother, Shirley Krueger.  Many people are not that fortunate- whether they are Jewish or not.  My Jewish roots extend back to Belarus and Slovakia in the late 1800's. Within this journal I will write about how I have gradually uncovered information on my Jewish family both here in the United States and in Europe.   For now, I will share some photographs of my ancestors for your enjoyment.

 

Most recently I received a copy of this photograph of my great great grandmother, Zipe (Sophia) Soloman Krueger from my dear cousin, Marcia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some other wonderful photographs of my ancestors that were given to me.  I count myself lucky to have them! 

 

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: jewish,genealogy,Krueger,Engel,Morse