by Jeffrey Mark Paull | Feb 26, 2019 | Research Room
Abstract For centuries, Jews have sought their yichus by connecting themselves to rabbinical families, either through marriage or by a paper trail. Thanks to recent advances in genetic genealogy and DNA technology, this is now possible to do for many more individuals...
by Jeffrey Mark Paull | Aug 24, 2018 | Research Room
Abstract According to Arthur Kurzweil, one of the pioneers of Jewish genealogy: For the Jewish people … our royal families have been those of the illustrious rabbis.0F1 Through the practice of shidduch (arranged marriage), these illustrious rabbis and their...
by Jeffrey Mark Paull | Aug 24, 2018 | Featured Post, Research Room
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...
by Jeffrey Mark Paull | Aug 24, 2018 | Research Room
Introduction Throughout the centuries, the Jewish people have always prided themselves on their yichus (lineage, distinguished birth, or pedigree). Yichus was especially important for rabbinical families, and many of them have created genealogy charts or family trees...
by Jeffrey Mark Paull | Aug 24, 2018 | Research Room
Introduction During the period when Chassidic Judaism1 was still in its infancy, Rabbi2 Raphael of Bershad3 (c. 1751–1827)4 was a charismatic figure who was revered by his followers in the region that is now southwestern and central Ukraine. Rabbi Raphael was a...
by Jeffrey Mark Paull | Aug 24, 2018 | Featured Post, Research Room
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)...