The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) is proud to announce the outstanding individuals and projects recognized at the 44th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy. These awards celebrate the dedication, innovation, and impact of those who have significantly contributed to the Jewish genealogy community.
Lifetime Achievement Award 2024: Renée Steinig
Renée Steinig was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her decades of service to the Jewish genealogy community. A charter member of the JGS of Long Island (JGSLI), Renée has served on its board since its founding in 1985, including as President from 1995 to 1997. Known as JGSLI's unofficial "Research Maven," she has also been integral to the success of Gesher Galicia as a board member. Renee is a member of the JGS (NY), the Association of Professional Genealogists, and currently serves as Secretary of the Genealogy Federation of Long Island. A prolific writer on genealogy, her notable achievements include uncovering the Jewish roots of the late Catholic Archbishop of New York, John Cardinal O’Connor. Renée's dedication to promoting family history, IAJGS, its member societies, and advocating for public records preservation is exemplary.
Outstanding Resource Award: Miriam Weiner
Miriam Weiner was honored for her outstanding work in expanding and improving the Routes to Roots Foundation (RTRF) website. Renowned as a unique resource for Jewish genealogy, RTRF provides invaluable information about Jewish records from archives across Eastern Europe. Miriam's recent efforts reflect her lifelong passion for uncovering and sharing unique Jewish family history resources. She has significantly diversified RTRF's offerings, adding a wide array of maps, lists, articles, and documents from various locations and time periods. With over three million records, RTRF now offers researchers both information and context to better understand their ancestors' lives.
Nolan Altman Volunteer of the Year 2024: Jerry Scherer
Jerry Scherer received the Volunteer of the Year award in recognition of his commitment to the pursuit of Jewish genealogy in Toronto. Since 2013, when he joined JGS Toronto, and 2018, when he became a board member, Jerry has spearheaded numerous innovative projects. His notable contributions include leading classes on artificial intelligence, creating the Virtual Memorial Plaques Project, and fostering education partnerships with various local entities. Jerry has also played a crucial role in redesigning and expanding the JGS Toronto website, managing the events calendar, and collaborating with social media and technology teams. His dedication has significantly enhanced the visibility and reach of JGS Toronto both locally and internationally.
John Stedman Memorial Grant: Sephardic Heritage Project
The Sephardic Heritage Project received the John Stedman Memorial Grant for its work on the "Syrian Persecution and Escape Project." This grant will accelerate and support the completion of a book documenting the stories of Syrian Jews who escaped between 1948 and 1993. The project seeks to write and record the stories of refugees, the context of their lives and troubles, as well as how and by whom they were aided in their exodus. The book will be published sold to the public, made available at no cost to libraries, and may be posted on an IAJGS website.
Rabbi Malcolm Stern Grant: Gesher Galicia
Gesher Galicia was awarded the Rabbi Malcolm Stern Grant for its NKVD Files Project (1939-1941). The goal of the project is to extract essential genealogical information from over 12,000 criminal case files, most of which are cases against Jewish people, in the L'viv archive. These online records will be indexed by expert indexers. Most of the results will be posted into the All Galicia Database and made freely available via the Gesher Galicia website and JewishGen.
Salute! Award: Ellen Stepak
Ellen Stepak was honored for her exceptional volunteer work with the Israel Genealogy Research Association (IGRA) since its founding in 2012. Ellen has served on the Executive Committee, as secretary, and on the Board, chairing various committees. She significantly contributed to the Memorials to Vanished Communities (MVC) database and continues to update it. Ellen has written numerous genealogical articles, authored four family history books, and documented old Jewish cemeteries in Europe. Her dedication and efforts have greatly advanced IGRA's mission.
Salute! Award: Georg Gaugusch
Georg Gaugusch received recognition for his extraordinary accomplishment in completing the 4-volume, 5,480-page masterpiece, Wer Einmal War, detailing meticulous genealogies for 685 prominent Viennese Jewish families. Over twenty years of dedication resulted in a work unparalleled in accuracy and completeness, setting a new standard for genealogical publications. Each family chapter includes detailed histories, genealogical connections, and extensive references, making this an invaluable resource for genealogists. Georg's remarkable contribution to Jewish genealogy is celebrated and deeply appreciated.
Certificate of Appreciation: Eli Rabinowitz
Eli Rabinowitz was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for his dedicated service as a director on the IAJGS Board of Directors. His commitment to the organization's mission and his contributions to the community are greatly valued.
Join Us in Celebrating These Achievements
We congratulate all the recipients of this year's awards for their remarkable contributions to Jewish genealogy. Their dedication and hard work continue to inspire and enrich our community. To learn more about each of these individuals and organizations, connect with the community by liking and following us on our Facebook Page.
