Belgium Civil Registration at FamilySearch

One of the most important records for all family historians has always been the government records of Birth, Marriage and Death. These Civil Registration documents can provide very important information not only for the person of record, but also parents, siblings and spouses.
Now, FamilySearch has just updated some of the Civil Registration records for Belgium. The areas that have been updated and the years covered are;

• Belgium, Antwerp            1609-1909
• Belgium, Brabant             1582-1912
• Belgium, East Flanders    1598-1906
• Belgium, Hainaut             1600-1911
• Belgium, Limburg            1798-1906
• Belgium, Liege                 1621-1910
• Belgium, Luxembourg      1608-1912
• Belgium, Namur                1800-1912
• Belgium, West Flanders    1582-1910

The records can provide a good amount of information. The example below is the death record of Jacob Meyer Cohen, who died on 17 August 1853. This record comes from the Belgium, East Flanders collection. The top image is the index, and the bottom image is the original record. 
 

The records are part of the Historical Collections at www.familysearch.org and are free to all.

IAJGS 2014 Salt Lake City - A Great Hanukkah Gift

With Hanukkah  quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to give those you love a great gift. Help your family members and friends become rededicated to family and give them a trip to Salt Lake City for the 2014 International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) Conference.

Remembering all Veterans

On this day, as we remember all those who have served their countries in hopes that one day peace may be enjoyed everywhere, we say THANKS.

Happy 350th Birthday Touro Synagogue

Much has been written on this blog about the important Jewish history of the Caribbean, both in it's influence throughout the world and in the incredible people who called it home. Another great example of this can be found in Newport, Rhode Island at the Touro Synagogue.
In the 1650's, fifteen families from Barbados became the first Jewish families in Newport. Like so many other Caribbean families they were descended from families who came from Amsterdam and London and had found new homes in places such as Suriname, Jamaica, Barbados and Curacao. They quickly formed  "Yeshuat Israel" the second oldest Jewish congregation in the United States. The congregation prospered and grew, until such time that they built what is today "America's Oldest Synagogue", the Touro Synagogue which was dedicated in 1763. On December 1st of this year, the synagogue will be re-dedicated as part of its 350th birthday celebration.

The incredible history of this treasure can be found at tourosynagogue.org. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOURO SYNAGOGUE