The results from Scribes of the Cairo Geniza have the potential to rewrite the history of the premodern Middle East, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean trade, and the Jewish diaspora. Until now, most of the information has remained locked away in undeciphered manuscript fragments; less than one third of the 350,000 items have been catalogued in the years that the cache has been known to exist. Virtually all scholars who have studied these texts have come away with a transformed sense of the history of the region and the long ties of intimacy among its people. Students and the general public will have the opportunity to benefit from encountering these fragments online and from learning how to sort and eventually transcribe them as members of a citizen scientist community. This project is a way for people with shared interests and different skill levels from around the world to meet in a common endeavor and unlock this storage chamber of ancient fragments.
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If you or a relative spent any time in Kitchener Camp, a Jewish refugee camp in Sandwich, Kent, United Kingdom, immediately before or during World War II, the organizers of a site are seeking photos, memories, etc. The intention is to establish the site and then find an institution to maintain it as a memorial. More information can be found on the Web site, http://www.kitchenercamp.co.uk/.
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| Marching Soldiers, 1916 |
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Judith Ellen Elam is in charge of bringing an exhibit titled "The German Roots of Zionism" to Maui, Hawaii. It will be on display for three months at the local Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, probably starting in August 2018. Her group is trying to tie the exhibit in with a Hawaiian-Japanese theme as well. The 522nd Field Artillery Battalion was activated February 1, 1943 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi as part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The unit was composed of both mainland and Hawaiian Japanese-Americans. It is best known for liberating some of the Dachau subcamps.
Judith would like to make contact with anyone who has personal information (documents, photos, testimonials, etc.) about Jews liberated from Dachau subcamps by the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion. The group would like to showcase the personal items in a display for the duration of the exhibit. Please contact Judith at elamj@hawaii.rr.com if you can assist her.
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The Columbus (Ohio) Jewish Historical Society is collecting the names of Jewish central Ohio World War I veterans who served in the United States armed forces, as well as those who served in other countries but had a link to central Ohio. If your family had Jewish WWI veterans with a link to central Ohio, please contact Toby Brief at tbrief@hotmail.com or history@tcjf.org. The society has collected more than 230 names so far and knows that there are more to be added.
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| Australian soldiers in France, 1917 |
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Arizona State University has received a grant that will permit it to hold workshops over the next three years to teach state residents how to care for their fragile family heirlooms and artifacts. People will be able to digitize documents and will help build the state's community archive in the process. A specific effort is being made to reach out to the Latino, Asian, black, and LGBTQ communities to make sure their stories are saved.
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David Sandler is working on a book about South African landsmanschaftn (sick and benefit societies) which will incorporate all brochures and booklets of societies he can obtain. So far he has booklets from Keidan, Krakenowo, Ponevez and Malat and Districts. Many associations were active in South Africa over the years, including ones related to Anykster, Birzer, Dwinsk, Keidan, Kelmer, Kovno, Krakinover, Kroze, Kupisker, Kurland and Riga, Lutzin, Minsk, Ponevez, Poswohl, Plungian, Rakishok, Schavlaner, Schawler, Shater, Tels, Utianer, Wilner, and Zagare. The SAJBD archives at Beyachad are assisting David, but he is appealing to everyone for any publications from any of these South African societies. You can contact him at sedsand@iinet.net.au. Approximately 95% of the proceeds from David's books go to Arcadia (the JHB Chevra Kadisha) and the balance to Oranjia (CT) and the JDC.
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Filmoteka Narodowa has restored 75% of Polish feature films made between 1930 and 1939. Besides films, it has extensive collections of promotional materials, books, posters, stills, and other materials related to films. It makes its items available in its library; though movie showings, festivals, and lending; and though the production of print and digital media. For example, it has published a DVD containing six restored shorts and an introduction about the early days of World War II for Poland, especially Warsaw; the DVD includes an English version with subtitles.
Agata’s primary interest at Filmoteka Narodowa is in finding missing Polish films. Although it has become harder and harder to find films, and in many ways it is a race against time, Filmoteka Narodowa keeps turning up a gem here and there. There is no telling where a film — full-length, documentary, or short — may be found. For instance, in the late 1990's, a 1929 film was found in the Royal Archives in Brussels, and in 2003 a 1914 film was purchased from Filmmuseum in Amsterdam. Others have been found in private collections stored away in attics and forgotten.
If you have any materials that would be of interest to Filmoteka Narodowa or know where any are or might be, please contact Abbey H. Brewer or Agata Zalewska.
Abbey H. Brewer
1422 E. Brooklake Drive
Houston, Texas 77077
USA
ahbrew1422@yahoo.com
(713) 882-7229
Agata Zalewska
Filmoteka Narodowa
ul. Puławska 61
00-975 Warszawa
POLAND
azalewska@fn.org.pl
(This information appeared in Gen Dobry! Volume XVIII, Number 5, May 2017.)
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