Autumn 2013 Vol. 22 No. 3 November “Myth and Counter-Myth: The Shtetl ” Instead of our usual meeting, we at- wrong was that Jewish males were sub- tended a presentation at the Siegal Facil- ject to conscription into the Tsar’s army ity on Shaker Blvd. in Beachwood. Ste- for twenty-five years. He told us that par- ven Zipperstein , Professor in Jewish ticular law was not in force at the end of Culture and History at Stanford Univer- the 19th and beginning of the 20th cen- sity, spoke. He asserted that our ances- tury. tors left Europe for economic reasons, Following is an article about the con- not because of pogroms or mandatory scription law that was in force. military conscription. A myth he said was Russian military conscription documents in 1888 Saul Issroff , who lives in London, count of his grandfather Yudel Issroff's UK, gave us permission to reprint his ac- enrolment in Ligum / Legumiai (Lithu- ania) in November 1888, and sent us additional material. “The late Prof. John Klier (University College, London) told me that he had never seen a similar document in many years of research in Soviet Mili- tary Archives. After the Military reforms of 1874 in the Russian Empire all male citizens of whatever class were eligible for Conscription cont’d p. 10 Saul sent a photo of the actual document. (If you want to read the image, increase the zoom level on your electronic copy.) Index to this issue on p. 21 From President Helen Wolf It is hard to believe two meetings as required by the State of Ohio in years have gone by case we are ever audited. It doesn’t sound too since I was elected. I difficult but it is an important job. Thanks, had big shoes to fill Pete. I turned to our treasurer, Chuck Lis- since I followed Ken sauer , many times to help with an issue I Bravo who was and is wasn’t sure of or something that came from an amazing, knowl- the State of Ohio that had to be filled out and edgeable genealogist. filed with the state. Chuck has had the job of The two years maintaining the checkbook, keeping track of have been very inter- the bank accounts, and filing the official pa- esting for me and I pers with the State of Ohio to maintain our hope for you. My Program Vice President, non-profit 501-C3 status. Chuck has done a Shelly Baskin , provided a variety of pro- wonderful job with the group’s funds. Thanks, grams; hopefully you found the programs in- Chuck. The Kol , our newsletter has been pub- teresting and informative. He varied the pro- lished regularly by our editor Cynthia Spikell . grams so that they would interest everyone if She has done a wonderful job writing articles, not each time, most of the time. I think my fa- photographing speakers, reminding people vorite one was a year ago when Rabbi that their articles are due and in return, has Machol, aka Nate Arnold visited us and we the admiration of everyone who reads The heard about his life and the life of the congre- Kol . I was recognized at a meeting out of town gation. He made the history of our community because an editor from another society reads come alive for me. I also enjoyed when we our newsletter and saw my photo. She com- had Jean Hoffman from the Cuyahoga County plemented Cyndy on the wonderful publication Lineage Society come and talk about doing she produces. Thank you on behalf of the the research to enroll our ancestors and our- group, Cyndy. Our Trustees, Richard Spec- selves in the group. It gave me the momentum tor , Sylvia Abrams and Jerry Kliot have to do it. Just a short time ago, Marilyn Baskin been invaluable to the group and myself. The presented the program about the software, first year of my presidency, Phyllis Wachs Picasa. I definitely learned something that was a Trustee and I thank her for her efforts night and I hope you did too. Thank you Shelly on the group’s behalf. Whenever there have for the variety of programs you presented to been issues that I needed advice about and I the group. Phyllis Bravo , our membership wrote to our Board of Trustees, Richard and Vice President, had a hard job collecting not Sylvia were the first to respond. They were the only the dues each year but also the informa- conscience of the group. I thank them for their tion for the directory. She did a great job keep- hard work and the interesting comments. ing track of who was a paid member and who If you have been on the website, you know it thought they were a paid-up member. is up-to-date and has lots of interesting web- Throughout the year, she would meet some- sites and information that can help you with one who she knew meant to pay but it had just your searches. Our webmaster, Paul Wolf , slipped their mind, and she would gently re- has done an excellent job maintaining the site mind them that we live on dues and dona- as well as consolidating all the various mailing tions. Our membership increased due to her lists so that we have a central mailing list and diligence. Thanks, Phyllis. I know you will be emails can be sent easily to all our members glad to turn the files over to your successor in and those who want to be on our mailing list good shape. The official record of every meet- but have not joined officially yet. Thank you, ing is kept by our secretary, Pete Fredrix. He Paul. not only kept the official record but would send Throughout the year, we get requests for me a copy monthly so I too knew what was help finding a Cleveland relative and the per- being recorded. In addition, Pete keeps the son is out of options in their personal search. minutes and attendance records of all our President’s report cont’d p. 4 The Kol 2 Autumn 2013 December through March we meet at our winter location -- Anshe Chesed - Fairmount Temple -- 23737 Fairmount Boulevard in Beachwood -- in the Lelyveld Library -- Enter through the second set of doors (beyond the main entrance). Sunday, January 5 , 2014; 1:30 p.m. Our guest speaker will be Kevin Adelstein , Publisher and CEO of the Cleveland Jewish News, presenting “Perspectives from the Publisher: Thoughts and Insights into The Cleveland Jewish News Today and into the Future” At our January 5 meeting there will be a drawing of three names from the paid members for 2014 for each to win a three-month subscription to Ancestry.com. Sunday, February 2 , 2014; 1:30 p.m. Our speaker will be member Sally Wertheim presenting "Glimpses of Cleveland's Jewish History." Sunday, March 2 , 2014; 1:30 p.m. Our trustee Sylvia Abrams will speak. Come early at 1 p.m. if you would like some help from board members on using our library. At the Hilton Center Hotel at a special conference rate. To learn more about the conference and sign up for the conference blog and/or discussion forum, visit www.iajgs2014.org. Registration will open by the end of December. 2014 -- April 30 to May 3 -- Ohio Ge- Do you like to plan ahead? nealogical Society 2015 -- Jerusalem -- 35th IAJGS Conference Conference “Gene- 2016 -- Seattle -- 36th IAJGS Conference co- alogical Expedition” hosted by Seattle IAJGS, JGS of Washington State at the Kalahari Re- and JGS of Oregon sort and Convention Center in Sandusky, 2017 IAJGS Conference To be announced Ohio. Ken Bravo is 2018 IAJGS Conference Eastern Europe scheduled to present (Tentative) a session . The Kol 3 Autumn 2013 2014 officers elected in December President -- Charles Lissauer 1st V.P. ~ Programming -- Richard Spector 2nd V.P. ~ Membership -- Peter Fredrix Treasurer -- Amy Wachs Secretary -- Adelle Gloger Trustee term ending December 2016 -- Becky Werman Trustee term ending December 2014 -- Stewart Hoicowitz (to fill Richard Spector’s term) Sylvia Abrams will continue as a trustee with her term ending December 2015. Past presidents also serve on the board -- Helen Wolf not shown below.. After the election, we managed to corral some of the incoming officers for a photo. From left, Ken Bravo , a past president; Stewart Hoicowitz, Sylvia Abrams, Peter Fredrix, Becky Werman, and Richard Spector , 1st V.P. and a past president. President’s report cont’d from p. 2 We have a form they can fill out and submit on who died in August. We are grateful to her son for line. This form is the result of Adelle Gloger all the materials he has donated to the group that nudging me so look-ups aren’t duplicated by our were used by Arlene when she was able to do her researchers. Adelle and Paul Klein are two research. There are many books on the shelf that amazing people who I have been able to count on came from the Rich home and I am grateful to to find the information the inquirer needs and they Cynthia Spikell for sorting through them and help- do it usually within a few hours of receiving the ing Julie Moss , the Fairmount Temple librarian email. Thank you, Adelle, for all the late-night re- process them for the group. searching and solutions you send to those seek- Speaking of books, there are books on the ing information. back table that have been taken out of circulation We have had a good two years with lots of and are available to any member who might interesting programs and the move to Anshe Che- want them.