With regards to networking, all sources don't come from books. Some of the best info is patiently residing in the head of the fellow or gal sitting next to you at your genealogy meeting. If you don't open your mouth and ask a question, you'll NEVER learn anything. Whats that? You don't belong to a genealogy society or haven't attended a meeting in months? Well, I suggest you try and adjust your schedule and attend a meeting.

Jewishgenis a great source to help the beginning as well as experienced Jewish genealogist. I have found that that membership in a local genealogy society is also of great benefit. As I already mentioned, ones geographic location heavily influences what sources are, and aren't, easily available. Start your own listing of helpful genealogy colleagues and refer to them when needed. Try and do some genealogy reading and research so you will at least have some type of grasp on what you know, or more likely, what you don't know.

I've just added a "Beginners Help"page for those of you are just starting out. Also, I want to encourage everyone to be NICE and share data. Whether via Jewishgen, local JGS, or private e-mail, the point is that everyone benefits. Part of the impetus behind My webpage and my positive attitude towards sharing data is the direct result of a very friendly first encounter with my local LDS branch and a non-Jewish volunteer. I was made to feel welcomed though I wasn't a Mormon and this unnamed person gave me 100% of their effort. So, if a non- Jewish genealogist can help out, there is no reason why Jewish genealogists can't help out too.

Regarding "networking", I guess I do it so often that I don't even really give it much thought. I keep a e-mail directory and contact people I know when I need some help with something. The term "networking", in the context of genealogy, refers to tapping the brains of the right person. How do you know whom to contact? Well, one of my latest challenges is a family by the name of Lewite who came in 1921 from Peretzie,Poland, to Buffalo, NY. I took a guess and called info looking for a Historical Society. I found one and they were very helpful. I next found 2 Jewish funeral directors, and now have 3 Jewish cemetaries to call. The historical society helped me via their city directiories and even gave me a ward# for the 1925 NY state census. This will make life easier for me when I pull the 1925 census by street address for this family as I have an address of their son who came to meet their ship as stated on their ship manifest. I am going to contact a woman who lives in Buffalo to see if she can give me info on any additional Buffalo contacts. So, I used my brain and the phone.

If you send anyone an e-mail letter, include your city & state as well as e-mail address.Don't ask outlandish or impossible questions. Start out with simple things. Whever someone sends you something, its a good idea to send a "thank-you".