Genealogical Standards in Jewish Genealogy

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It is important that our research is accurate. A simple mistake might result in years of researching someone else’s family!

Sephardic genealogy in particular is subject to unevidenced and identitarian claims including with respect to “crypto-Judaism”/”bnei anusim”, Sephardic populations in eastern Europe, “Sephardic surnames”, “Jewish pirates” and even the belief that Huguenots have Sephardic ancestry. Obviously, any of these claims supported by evidence would receive respectful review.

The Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS), published by the Board of Certification of Genealogists, is a guideline for establishing the reliability (“proof”) of a genealogical conclusion with reasonable certainty. It is important within the genealogical community for clearly communicating the quality of research performed, such as by a professional genealogist. It is also useful for helping new genealogists understand what is needed to do high-quality research.

It has five elements:

  • A reasonably exhaustive search;
  • Complete and accurate source citations;
  • Analysis and correlation of the collected information;
  • Resolution of any conflicting evidence; and
  • A soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion

The Sephardic Genealogical Society launched a voluntary Code of Conduct for those working on Sephardic nationality applications to Portugal (and Spain).

Jewish genealogists also have the IAJGS Ethics for Jewish Genealogists. The IAJGS is the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies. The first three points in their Code of Conduct/Ethics state:

  1. Information acquired should be factual and presented in a clear, well-organized manner. Appropriately qualified genealogical conclusions should be based on the weight of the evidence provided, with full and accurately-cited sources. Where doubt exists as to the accuracy of a purported pedigree, the questionability and limitations of the data should be expressed.
  2. Genealogists should strive to meet the five elements of the Genealogical Proof Standard:
  • reasonably exhaustive research;
  • complete, accurate citations to the source(s) of each information item;
  • tests—through processes of analysis and correlation—of all sources, information items, and evidence;
  • resolution of conflicts among evidence items; and
  • a soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion.
  1. All original sources should be stated to allow other enquirers the opportunity of verification of the data. Research results and opinions should be fully and         accurately referenced and should not knowingly be misquoted or           misrepresented.

Regrettably the IAJGS does not always uphold its Code of Conduct/Ethics with respect to Sephardic genealogy.

The IAJGS ethics statement is an evolution of the late Rabbi Malcolm Stern’s “Ten Commandments in Genealogy”. The first five of these are:

  1. HavdalaI wish only to obtain true knowledge about any family I am researching.
  2. Family traditions must be interpreted with caution and only used as clues.
  3. All information must be assessed and not given automatic credibility.
  4. Claims to exalt a family for increased status must be verified.
  5. Unverifiable data must be labelled as such (see commandment 1).

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