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Conference taveng::bagels

Title:BAGELS and other things of Jewish interest
Notice:1.0 policy, 280.0 directory, 32.0 registration
Moderator:SMURF::FENSTER
Created:Mon Feb 03 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1524
Total number of notes:18709

618.0. "Searching For Jewish Roots" by ABE::STARIN () Wed Jan 11 1989 17:17

    This is the first time I have accessed this conference (although
    I do read and contribute to the scj newsgroup).
    
    My family name was not always "Starin". Somewhere along the line
    it was changed from "Ster" (Dutch for "Star") or "Stern" (German
    for "Star") to "Starin" or "Staring" depending. The name is given
    as "Ster" in one version of the family geneaology and "Stern" in
    another.
    
    Questions:
    
    1. Anybody out there familiar enough with Judaism in the Netherlands to
    fill me in on whether I might have Jewish roots?
    
    2. Anybody else out there with a family name of "Starin" or "Ster"?
    
    Appreciate any and all assistance.
    
    Mark
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
618.1Not trivial!SUTRA::LEHKYI'm phlegmatic, and that's coolThu Jan 12 1989 04:406
    I do know both Jewish and non-Jewish "Stern" families. Sorry, but you
    might have to start a genealogy search, probably, to really find out. 
    
    Unhelpfully yours,
    
    Chris
618.2See note 611VAXWRK::ZAITCHIKVAXworkers of the World Unite!Thu Jan 12 1989 10:273
Did you see note 611 ? It gives some pointers on starting a geneology
search.
-Zaitch
618.3611 - CheckABE::STARINThu Jan 12 1989 11:3617
    Re: .2
    
    Thanks for that lead. I checked it out and will follow-up on it.
    Last year I checked the Encyclopedia Judaica for information about
    Jews in the Netherlands and found some circumstantial evidence but
    not much else (my family came from the Province of Guelderland which
    borders on Germany where there was a fairly large Jewish population
    at one time).
    
    If my search turns up positive results, it probably won't change
    anything because my mother is not Jewish (that I know of - her maiden
    name was Irvine and her mother's maiden name was Boeggeman (sp?))
    but it would at least close some gaps.
    
    Thanks again.
    
    Mark
618.4Another possible SourceSTEREO::LEVINEThu Jan 12 1989 21:0015
    re:.0 &.3
    
    Mark, if you are TRULY interested, (and not just curious) you might
    want to contact the Associated Synagogues (Bet Din) on Tremont St.
    in Boston.  Depending on why you are searching they can be very
    helpful in helping you locate your true identity.  There is someone
    I knew that knew only that he was Jewish, but had not had any
    education, was about to marry a kohan's daughter, and needed to
    know.  They took what he knew of his ancestry, traced it further
    than he knew existed, and then informed him that he was of the tribe
    of Levy.  He went on to study, be Bar Mitzvah, and he, his wife
    anda children are very frum..almost Lubavitcher!
    
    Good Luck.
    
618.5No lnger on Tremont Street - moved someplaceCADSYS::RICHARDSONFri Jan 13 1989 12:304
    re .-1
    The Associated Synagogues moved from Tremont Street, but I am not sure
    where (Newton? Needham?  Some such place - I haven't needed anything
    fromthem for several years).  Anyone have the latest address?
618.6Another lead?BIGMAC::KURFri Jan 13 1989 12:454
    
    Another lead might be the Mormons.  They have reams of geneology
    info that goes way back, and covers all races, religions and countries.
    
618.7Follow that lead....CSSPRT::STARINFri Jan 13 1989 14:0511
    Re: .4
    
    Thanks. I'll follow-up on the Associated Synagogues lead. Actually
    I've not really thought about what I would do if the results were
    positive. I've read so much in the Usenet about the correct definition of a
    Jew that I'm not sure how I would fit in. We'll cross that bridge
    when we come to it I guess.
    
    Thanks again for all the assistance.
    
    Mark