31 January 2006

Press Release

Academic Institute for Jewish Genealogy Opened in Jerusalem

The International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and Paul Jacobi Center opened today in the Jewish National and University Library at Givat Ram, Jerusalem.

After riveting the attentions of thousands of Jews throughout the world over the past two decades, Jewish genealogy and family history has reached a level of maturity that makes it ripe to take its place in the academic world. To that end, the new Institute has two main aims - to engage in Jewish genealogical research and teaching at the university level and to make Jewish Genealogy a recognized academic discipline within the realm of Jewish Studies.

The Institute is the only one of its kind in the Jewish world. It plans to conduct research on an interdisciplinary basis and also in a collaborative way with organizations engaged in aspects of Jewish genealogy. It will put a premium on innovative programmes and projects of practical benefit to individual family historians.

Its establishment is the result of efforts over the last two years of an international Founding Committee, headed by Dr. Sallyann Sack, Ph.D., of Washington, DC.

Dr. Neville Yosef Lamdan, D.Phil. of Jerusalem, has been appointed as Director of the Institute.

Its telephone number at the National Library is +972-(0)2-658-6967.

Its email address is info@iijg.org and its Homepage is located at www.iijg.org.