About the Author
Jeffrey Mark Paull was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. He earned his BS in Chemistry and Master of Science in Industrial Hygiene from the University of Pittsburgh, and his MPH and Doctor of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. His career as an environmental toxicologist and scientific expert in the field of occupational and environmental health spans over thirty years (1976–2008).
Since that time, Dr. Paull has devoted himself to his passion for Jewish genealogical research and writing. His first book, entitled: A Noble Heritage: The History and Legacy of the Polonsky and Paull Family in America, traces his family’s ancestry over a millennium of history, and discovers their lost rabbinical heritage dating back to Rashi (1040–1105 CE). It was featured on the PBS website, “Finding your Roots, with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.” His second book, The Shpoler Zeida – The Life, Legends, and Descendants of the Grandfather of Shpola, is scheduled for publication in 2021.
Dr. Paull is active in the field of genetic genealogy and has conducted numerous pioneering autosomal and Y-DNA research studies in which he and his research colleagues have identified the unique Y-DNA genetic signature of many of Eastern Europe’s most renowned rabbis and tzaddiks, rabbinical lineages, and Chassidic dynasties. He also published a Y-DNA research study on the patrilineal lineage of John Hart, the 13th Signer of the Declaration of Independence, and one of America’s Founding Fathers.
Dr. Paull has presented talks on his Jewish genealogical research studies to many genealogical societies and International Jewish genealogy conferences across the world. More in-depth information regarding his books, and related genealogy and family history projects and publications, may be found on Academia.edu:
https://independent.academia.edu/JeffreyMarkPaull,
his Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/ANobleHeritage,
or his Noble Heritage website:
About the Author
Jeffrey Mark Paull was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. He earned his BS in Chemistry and Master of Science in Industrial Hygiene from the University of Pittsburgh, and his MPH and Doctor of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. His career as an environmental toxicologist and scientific expert in the field of occupational and environmental health spans over thirty years (1976–2008).
Since that time, Dr. Paull has devoted himself to his passion for Jewish genealogical research and writing. His first book, entitled: A Noble Heritage: The History and Legacy of the Polonsky and Paull Family in America, traces his family’s ancestry over a millennium of history, and discovers their lost rabbinical heritage dating back to Rashi (1040–1105 CE). It was featured on the PBS website, “Finding your Roots, with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.” His second book, The Shpoler Zeida – The Life, Legends, and Descendants of the Grandfather of Shpola, is scheduled for publication in 2021.
Dr. Paull is active in the field of genetic genealogy and has conducted numerous pioneering autosomal and Y-DNA research studies in which he and his research colleagues have identified the unique Y-DNA genetic signature of many of Eastern Europe’s most renowned rabbis and tzaddiks, rabbinical lineages, and Chassidic dynasties. He also published a Y-DNA research study on the patrilineal lineage of John Hart, the 13th Signer of the Declaration of Independence, and one of America’s Founding Fathers.
Dr. Paull has presented talks on his Jewish genealogical research studies to many genealogical societies and International Jewish genealogy conferences across the world. More in-depth information regarding his books, and related genealogy and family history projects and publications, may be found on Academia.edu and his Facebook page.
A Noble Heritage
This superbly researched family history takes the reader on a fascinating journey of discovery, as Dr. Jeffrey Mark Paull captures the experience of a family of ancient and noble Jewish descent, over a millennium of European, Russian, and American history. Dr. Paull crafts an enthralling narrative, as he skillfully re-creates the astonishing story of how the Polonsky family’s lost heritage, which traces back to the illustrious rabbi and biblical commentator Rashi (1040–1105) of medieval France, was rediscovered.
A Noble Heritage is not merely the retelling of Dr. Paull’s personal family history, but a fascinating historical account of the Jewish people, their centuries-long struggles to survive, and the Jewish immigrant experience in America. With a keen sense of historical insight, and a deep admiration of those who came before, Dr. Paull traces his ancestors’ millennial journey across Europe, culminating with their immigration to America from Czarist Russia. He brings to light his ancestors’ courage and fierce determination, their love for their new country, their remarkable achievements, and their assimilation into American culture and society. Family biographies are woven into a story of six generations of the Polonsky family in America.
Dr. Paull’s exhaustive and meticulous genealogical and historical research was driven by his search for spiritual meaning, Jewish identity, and ancestral connection. His research and the resulting book forge ties to an entire contemporary extended Jewish family, and provides both current and future generations an educational path to a deeper understanding and appreciation of their illustrious Jewish heritage.
Chapter 1 – A Millennial Heritage
Jewish religious and cultural history dates back more than four thousand years and includes hundreds of different populations. Our family’s Jewish lineage and ancestry, as far as this author has been able to trace it, dates back over one thousand years to the great...
When Y-DNA and Yichus Tell Different Stories
Introduction Y-DNA analysis has proven to be a valuable tool in the genealogical research of Jewish paternal lineages. In our research, we have used it to validate the paper trail of pedigreed rabbinical descendants and identify the Y-DNA genetic signature of many...
Identifying the Genetic Fingerprint of a Tzaddik that Touched the World: The Shpoler Zeida
Introduction Yehuda Leib of Shpola (1725 – 1811), better known as the Shpoler Zeida (Yiddish for “Grandfather of Shpola”) or Saba Kadisha (Hebrew for “Holy Grandfather’), was a beloved Chassidic folk rebbe, great kabbalist, and a revered tzaddik (saintly or holy man)...