Presenter: Michael Goldstein
Format: Download MP4 video file of Slides with synchronized audio

While the Holocaust is the primary force that severed contact within families in recent generations, Stalinist fear and pre-cyber age communications issues also played major roles. Further, the silence of Holocaust survivors exacerbated their own children?s unawareness of family heritage. As most survivors immigrated to or passed through Israel, and over one million Jews came to Israel in the post-Communist era, the quest throughout my 20 years of reunifying families often begins by examining pertinent Israeli resources. The presentation, with audience participation in advance and at session, explores the use of Holocaust resources in Israel and abroad, International Tracing Services records, Eastern European sources and key Israeli records. Effectively using these resources within an overall plan will be outlined. The emotional factor, such as overcoming possible family resistance will be considered as well as discussing the steps following identification to successful reunification.