Robin Meltzer – “How Not to Read A Jewish Tombstone”

How Not To Read  A Jewish Tombstone

Did you ever wonder how to interpret symbols or words on a tombstone? Jewish tombstones are a treasure trove of information despite common problems that make it difficult to accurately translate and interpret their inscriptions. Using examples from Jewish tombstones in this presentation, Robin Meltzer will help us build skills to understand an inscription’s context, determine the accuracy of the information presented, understand Jewish naming conventions, recognize Kohen and Levite status and symbols, identify rabbinic status, interpret honorifics, and understand Hebrew calendar dates and abbreviations.  The presentation also suggests best practices for on-site cemetery visits and tombstone photography.  

**As a special part of the presentation, Robin will analyze a few of our members actual tombstones – more info to follow on how to submit a picture.** 

About the Speaker: Robin Meltzer helps families obtain legal records, discover nontraditional information sources, and interpret documentary evidence.  She is an administrator of the Facebook group “Tracing the Tribe”, has produced documentary films about the Jewish community in Syracuse, NY, lectures on topics in Jewish genealogy and research methodology, and has written articles on Jewish genealogy and local history.  Robin is a former vice-president of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington (JGSGW).