Genealogical Standards for Sephardic Jewish Family Research
Accurate research is crucial or you may spend years studying someone else’s family. This guide outlines best practices and ethical standards to ensure the integrity of your Sephardic Jewish family history research.
The Importance of Genealogical Standards
- Prevents errors that could lead to researching the wrong family lines
- Ensures credibility in genealogical claims, particularly in Sephardic research
- Provides a framework for professional and amateur genealogists alike
The Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS)
The Board for Certification of Genealogists outlines five key elements:
- Reasonably exhaustive search
- Complete and accurate source citations
- Analysis and correlation of collected information
- Resolution of conflicting evidence
- Soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion
IAJGS Ethics for Jewish Genealogists
The Code of Conduct/Ethics of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) provides ethical guidelines:
- Present factual information clearly and accurately
- Adhere to the Genealogical Proof Standard
- Provide full source citations for verification
Rabbi Malcolm Stern’s “Ten Commandments in Genealogy”
The IAJGS Code of Conduct is derived from Rabbi Stern’s “Ten Commandments in Genealogy”. Key principles include:
- Seek true knowledge about researched families
- Interpret family traditions cautiously
- Assess all information critically
- Verify claims of elevated family status
- Label unverifiable data appropriately
Sephardic Genealogical Society’s Code of Conduct
The Sephardic Genealogical Society issued a voluntary Code of Conduct for those working on applications for Spanish or Portuguese citizenship. Adherence to this Code would have prevented the scandals we saw in both countries, including the arrest of a rabbi in Portugal and the events causing the early closure of the Spanish nationality concession.
Sephardic Jewish Genealogy: Special Considerations
- Understand the difference between evidence-based Sephardic genealogy and unproven beliefs in Sephardic ancestry. It is important to maintain a clear distinction between those involved in evidential research and those promoting beliefs.
- Unevidenced claims about crypto-Judaism, bnei anusim, Sephardic populations in eastern Europe, and “Jewish pirates” lack validity.
Common Pitfalls in Sephardic Jewish Genealogy
- Assuming Sephardic ancestry based solely on surnames
- Accepting family legends without verification
- Overlooking the complexities of Jewish migration patterns
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