The Name Finder

• Published in: The Jerusalem report 2008-02, p.22
• Main Author: Krah, Markus
• Format: Magazinearticle
• Language: English
• Subjects: Menk, Lars
• ISSN: 0792-6049

Another prime source is genealogical records assembled by the Mormons. The Mormons believe that the deceased can be baptized by proxy to save their souls by conversion. For this reason they have compiled a genealogical database, which gives amateur and professional researchers on-line access to over a billion names, according to the church's non-profit "Family Search" organization. Their "Family History Library" in Salt Lake City is considered the largest genealogical library in the world, containing over 2.4 million microfilm reels with data from all over the world. It cooperates with the U.S. National Archives and Jewish institutions, despite an earlier controversy over posthumous proselytizing. (The Mormons had collected data on Jewish Holocaust victims; after a storm of protest they agreed to remove those names from the database.) [Lars Menk] also did research in primary sources, mainly in archives of the Rhineland, drew on published material and cooperated with other family historians on "Jewish Gen," an on-line research tool and discussion board for Jewish genealogy. In his book, Menk explains the evolution of surnames, noting that only in the late 18th and early 19th century were Jews in German states required by law to adopt fixed surnames. German surnames first surfaced in the 12th century, but became permanent only in the 17th century. Until then a person's surname would change whenever he moved to a new village. Jewish surnames evolved in the 14th and 15th century, but almost exclusively in cities; most were based on geographical locations. In 17th-century villages, official records listed Jewish men only by their given names and the label "Jude" (Jew); later the father's first name, or "Levi" or "Cohn," was added to distinguish between several individuals with the same given name. Despite the prestigious award he won for the book, Menk remains committed to his status as an amateur. "I don't think I could make a living off Jewish genealogy in Germany," he says. Nor does he want to. "To me this is a passion which I don't want to pollute with commercial considerations." He cites his experience on "JewishGen," the international Internet platform. "This is like a huge family," he raves. "We help each other out with our projects. I got to know wonderful people that way." Menk makes results of his research available for free to other amateur genealogists. Sometimes requests for information prod him to pursue new research - especially if it involves a