Edited by: JV Staff
The Center for Jewish History, New York, was awarded the John Stedman Memorial Grant for its New York Historical Synagogues Map Website Enhancement Project, at the IAJGS (International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies) International Conference on Jewish Genealogy in Cleveland, Ohio, Aug. 1.
Moriah Amit, of New York City is Senior Reference Services Librarian, Genealogy Coordinator, and is the project manager.
The New York Historical Synagogues Map (synagoguemap.cjh.org) is the first digital project dedicated to mapping all known synagogue locations in New York City (NYC) in the early decades of the 20th century (1900-1939), the apex of Jewish religious and cultural life in America. Launched by the Center for Jewish History’s Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute in 2015, this interactive map provides modern American Jews with a new and meaningful way to explore the religious landscape in which their immigrant ancestors tried to find their place in America, from the temporary tenement shteiblach of the Lower East Side to the purposefully-designed majestic synagogues of the Upper East Side.
Currently, the map features over 1000 Manhattan synagogues. The Institute is continuing to add new synagogues and the map will eventually encompass all five NYC boroughs. The Enhancement Project is designed to improve both the website’s ease of use and its functionality.
The ultimate vision is to transform the map into a portal for NYC synagogue research, adding information and links to connect users to the active synagogues and research institutions that maintain historical synagogue records.
“The Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute strives to make family history research accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience. The New York Historical Synagogues Map is just one of the many free resources the Institute offers to assist people in their family history search, which also include a reference library, online databases, research guides, and expert referrals to primary sources at the Center for Jewish History. Find the Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute at the Center for Jewish History at: genealogy.cjh.org.”
The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) is an umbrella organization of more than 85 Jewish genealogical organizations worldwide offering the world of Jewish ancestry where you live. The IAJGS coordinates and organizes activities such as the annual IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy and provides a unified voice as the spokesperson on behalf of its members.
The IAJGS’s vision is of a worldwide network of Jewish genealogical research organizations and partners working together as one coherent, effective and respected community – enabling people to succeed in researching Jewish ancestry and heritage. Find the IAJGS at: www.iajgs.org and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/iajgsjewishgenealogy.
The 40th annual conference will be held in San Diego next year from Aug. 9 – 14.
