Career Malcolm H. Stern

1 career

1.1 rabbinic career

1.1.1 philadelphia, pennsylvania
1.1.2 norfolk, virginia
1.1.3 new york city


1.2 genealogy career

1.2.1 activism
1.2.2 membership activities
1.2.3 ten commandments genealogists

career
rabbinic career
philadelphia, pennsylvania

as did many of family members, stern attended hebrew union college, studied rabbi.

from 1941 1943, stern assistant rabbi rabbi fineshriber @ reform congregation keneseth israel, in philadelphia, great-uncle, joseph krauskopf had served rabbi. after war, 1946 1947, stern returned work rabbi @ keneseth israel.

in 1942, stern 1 of 90 reform rabbis sign statement in support of aid palestine. published statement said signatories opposing growing secularism , favoring greater emphasis on transcendent moral , religious values , principles in american life.

in 1943, stern took sabbatical position @ keneseth israel serve chaplain in army air corps. during time, during world war ii, stern died when plane crashed @ casablanca during flight india; in letter home father published in local press, stern said felt lucky have broken arm , leg.

norfolk, virginia

from 1947 1964, stern rabbi of ohef sholom temple in norfolk, virginia. during time there, completed doctor of hebrew letters in 1957 in american jewish history under tutelage of dr. jacob rader marcus.

stern amateur musicologist, writing program notes norfolk symphony orchestra. served chairman of committee on synagogue music of central conference of american rabbis.

in 1960, stern served editor in chief of union songster reform judaism , coordinated revision of union hymnal, both of considered reform jews commonly used hymnals religious services. co-edited songs , hymns gates of prayer, new union prayer book (gop) reform jewish siddur. chaired committee created shaarei shira/gates of song.

new york city

from 1964 1980, stern central conference of american rabbis first director of rabbinic placement reform judaism, assigning rabbis congregations.

after leaving ccar in 1980, stern joined hebrew union college s faculty adjunct professor, lectured in jewish history. field-work counselor rabbinic students. stern held both positions until death. hebrew union president, dr. alfred gottschalk, said stern s scholarship, pioneering seminal research in american jewish genealogy , writings remain rich legacy , memorial.

genealogy career


-- rabbi stern

stern s interest in genealogy, said, started in grade school when traced descendants of charlemagne assignment.

from 1949 1994, stern genealogist american jewish archives in cincinnati.

in 1960, stern published americans of jewish descent, in created extensive, sourced, family tree diagrams of jewish families lived in american pre-1840. work contained 26,000 names. 2 more editions of book followed: 1978 s first american jewish families: 600 genealogies, 1654–1977 , 1991 s first american jewish families: 600 genealogies, 1654–1988, had on 50,000 surnames. book groundbreaking because of volume of names , thoroughness of research. many pre-1840, non-jewish families discovered had jewish roots. considered 1 of valuable research tools in american jewish genealogy , history. work in these books source of stephen birmingham’s 1981 book, grandees: america s sephardic elite.

stern responsible helping establish jewish genealogical societies in united states. on committee hosted first of become annual international conference on jewish genealogy sponsored international association of jewish genealogical societies (iajgs). instrumental in founding iajgs.

during time president of federation of genealogical societies, stern worked create genealogical coordinating committee. in meeting in salt lake city in 1980, stern brought leaders various genealogical entities -- fgs, american society of genealogists, association of genealogical educators, association of professional genealogists, board certification of genealogists, international association of jewish genealogical societies (iajgs) , national genealogical society -- goal foster better relationships between various genealogical groups had common interests, supporting work of national archives , records administration (nara) available genealogists. meeting led formation of genealogical coordinating committee 2 years later, resulting national archives gift fund (now known malcolm h. stern nara gift fund) established. purpose of fund support nara , other genealogical interests. member organizations donated $1 per genealogist per year.

activism

while in norfolk, virginia, stern civil right advocate, working against segregation , racism in community rabbi kerry m. olitzky said stern fought civil rights of african americans @ time , place such stand both unpopular , dangerous.

in 1951, stern spoke @ hunton branch ymca s y s men s club urging members donate blood, said, in order show belief in equality of races, since no distinction on account of color made between blood donated @ center.


nara independence (1981-1984)

in 1981, when president ronald reagan s budget threatened national archives, stern spearheaded efforts of genealogy , historical communities support archives independence bill s1421, in order make nara independent. on june 21, 1984, united states senate voted unanimously s. 905, bill separate nara general services administration. on august 2, 1984, house of representatives passed similar legislation.


in 1989, stern testified before united states congress, stated archivist of united states should not administrator, rather scholar.
in 1990, stern worked national archives , records administration prepare 4 american genealogists genealogical mission russia, had been invited educate former soviet archivists on how respond american requests information russian ancestry. part of these efforts, stern helped found russian-american genealogical archival service (ragas).

membership activities

alphabetical organization

trustee, american jewish historical society
president (1976–1979), american society of genealogists. also: secretary, 1968-1973; vice president, 1973-1976
trustee, federation of genealogical societies. also: vice president, 1985-1988
president (1979-1984), jewish genealogical society
member, jewish historical society of england
founder, jewish historical society of new york
fellow, national genealogical society
fellow, new york genealogical , biographical society
vice president of gomez mill house in newburgh, new york, oldest surviving jewish residence (built in 1716) in north america

ten commandments genealogists

stern wrote ten commandments genealogists, has become cited , cornerstone of jewish genealogy.