Sidney & Arline Sachs, We Salute You!

December, 2007 - For ten years Sidney and Arline Sachs have produced a public access television series, Tracing Your Family Roots, which deals with Jewish genealogy. The series’ shows have increased the knowledge of available resources, demonstrated creative techniques, and increased the number of individuals who participate in Jewish genealogy. Sidney has produced the series, while Arline and Dr. Sallyann Sack have performed as co-hosts of the show. Until recently, the shows were broadcast in the District of Columbia/ Maryland/Virginia area but, as of a year ago, the shows have been digitized and placed on the Internet at http://tracingroots.nova.org. This website provides direct access to thirty shows and also provides a list of all shows that have aired and links to all references mentioned in the shows.

The show was started to share information with others interested in doing genealogical research. Since its beginning, the show has invited over 100 experts on various subjects, including how to gather information from over twenty-four different countries. Still an on-going concern, Tracing Your Family Roots has big plans for the future. Upcoming episodes will include the acquisitions director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum who will discuss how it will make the data of the International Tracing Services, Ade Sloan, who will explain the United States Citizen and Immigration Service’s (USCIS’s) new fee-for-service genealogy program, and an expert on Ukrainian archives.

With their Tracing Your Family Roots show, Sidney and Arline have helped spread the word about Jewish genealogy through their dedicated and tireless efforts and creative programming.

Ron Arons, Chair, IAJGS Salutes
    with Gary Mokotoff and Elsebeth Paikin