Rabbi Gary Gans was ordained by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. He was rabbi of Congregation Beth Tikvah, Marlton, NJ starting in 1981 and since 2016 Rabbi Emeritus. He earned his Doctorate from Eastern Baptist Theological seminary in Family Counseling, a rare honor for a Jew!
Gans is also a licensed therapist in NJ, specializing in family relationships, grief, and the impact of life-cycle events. He is on the Board of Directors of the Crescent Memorial Cemetery, Pennsauken, NJ and is past-president of the Tri-County Board of Rabbis.
Rabbi Gans has presented at previous IAJGS conferences, as well as Southern New Jersey Jewish and interfaith communities.
“What Mourning Customs Did Our Immigrant Families Bring with Them?” (Mon-113), 7:30-8:15 A.M.
How did our immigrant ancestors handle the reality of death and mourning? What laws and customs were they likely to have observed? Did they tear their clothes, eat certain foods, cover mirrors, sit on the floor, or say the Mourner’s Kaddish for an extended time?
Some stories were “Bubbe Meises,” old tales of our grandmothers that were superstitions. But others had psychological and religious merit. Were these just nostalgic vestiges of pre-immigrant life long ago?
Many of us now identify with our previous generations and would hope to emulate their spiritual world. Perhaps we might want to reincorporate some of our ancestors’ practices back into our own lives! Participants will also learn about regional differences and customs.
Category: Beginning genealogists
Topics: Ashkenazic research, Cemetery research, Immigration and migration over the ages
“Yizkor Book Discoveries; Joy and Despair” (Tues-120), 9:00-10:15 A.M.
This presentation will focus on one Yizkor book; the one from the Trembowla area of Tarnapol of Gans’ Galitzianer family, as a microcosm of the larger genre. This one volume includes personal vignettes of the occupation and devastation commencing with World War One, the inter-war years, and then the destruction of the Shoah.
Research in this Yizkor book introduced Gary to members of his extended family and the realities of their lives. He discovered pictures and explanations of their youth groups, Yeshivas and famous Rabbis, businesses, indices of individuals according to profession, community and family histories, maps and illustrations, along with stories of heroism and martyrdom. The Necrology revealed names and location of those murdered during WWII.
Gans will show the methodology for reading a Yizkor book and how participants can use similar works in their own genealogy investigations to deepen the quality of their family knowledge.
Category: Beginning genealogists
Topics: Ashkenazic research, Genealogy and Jewish history related to WWI, Holocaust research, Jewish history and culture
“Secrets on the Sacred Stones; Clues From the Tombstones” (Weds-114), 1:30-2:45 P.M.
Among the first tasks for Jews in migrating to a new area, was to establish a cemetery. We will examine the clues left by those who preceded us.
Participants in this presentation will review how to read Hebrew tombstones for genealogical information such as Hebrew name of deceased, as well as their parent. The Hebrew alpha-numeric system for determining Jewish date of death will not only reveal Yahrtzeit information, but also ascertain the secular date.
Other clues will determine more specific data such as Kohen or Levi status, and sometimes even professional, social, and communal ties.
Unusual tombstones and inscriptions will be presented for comparison. Hebrew abbreviations and acronyms will be researched.
We will unlock the secrets hidden in the stones.
Category: Beginning genealogists
Topics: Cemetery research, Immigration and migration over the ages, Jewish history and culture