What happened to the Google Translator function appearing at the top right of every page?
A: Google announced the end-of-life of the technology, recommending that people use built-in translation features of modern browsers. Technically, this feature was implemented with a very old method, which made some site maintenance tasks awkward. For both reasons, we dropped this function in mid-2021.
Why does my browser indicate that this web site is "Not Secure", or similar?
Should I be nervous about using this web site?
A: The Chrome browser was the first in ~2018, probably starting a trend: It informs you that information you receive from a particular web site may be intercepted and changed by bad actors, and information you submit to this web site may be intercepted and misused as well. For our site, these are very unlikely threats. Hackers are interested in profit, and there is very little opportunity here. In recent years we have added technology to address this issue, so you should no longer see such warnings when visiting our site. Unfortuntely this does not guarantee absolute security --that is impossible-- but indicates more security.
What happened to the Google Translator function appearing at the top right of every page?
A: Google announced the end-of-life of the technology, recommending that people use built-in translation features of modern browsers. Technically, this feature was implemented with a very old method, which made some site maintenance tasks awkward. For both reasons, we dropped this function in mid-2021.
May I add a dedication to my ancestor?
What is the cost to add a dedication?
A: You may add as many dedications as you want, at no cost — within reason, as our resources are very limited. Contact the webmaster.
How do I contact the webmaster?
A: Click here.
Don't you know that the plural of shtetl is shtetlech?
A: Yes. It is clear that shtetls is a neologism that forms the plural of a Yiddish word with an English suffix. With apologies, this coined word is commonly used and universally understood in the English-speaking world. Generally, we try to use proper Yiddish. However, shtetls simply works better, even if it is incorrect and/or informal. One reason for using shtetls is technical: there is no easy way to italicize this word in some places — specifically, in the navigation menu.
Don't you know that the plural of Landsman is Landsleit?
A: The plural of landsman is landsleit, and both words ought to be italicized as Yiddish words inserted in English text. There are currently technical limitations that discourage using italicization in some places. It is clear that Landsmen is a neologism that forms the plural of a Yiddish word with an English suffix. With apologies, this coined word is commonly used and universally understood in the English-speaking world. Generally, we try to use proper Yiddish. However, Landsmen simply works better, even if it is incorrect and/or informal.
Where are the quotation marks?
A: Web standards generally discourage using quotation marks, so we often use italics instead. For complex material, we may use both, and/or block quotations denoted by indentations in distinctive colors.
Why are the maps and photographs so small?
A: Most of the graphics immediately visible on this web site are thumbnail images, intentionally small so they don't overwhelm the textual material. Smaller images are also quicker to download to your computer. Visitors using slower Internet connections will benefit. The site includes larger sizes of images, if we have them, and you can view them by clicking on the thumbnails.
How do I recognize that I can see a larger size of an image?
A: We've placed a thick blue border around all images which can be enlarged simply by clicking on the thumbnail image. Your browser may add additional cues, such as changing the cursor when it is over such an image. For example, the default cursor on the current Firefox browser is an arrow, which changes to a pointer-finger when you place it anywhere on an expandable graphic.
Why don't you remind me to click on the thumbnails to see a larger version?
A: Placing a note like Click on any image to a large version near every image complicates the pages without adding much value. If this is a problem for a significant number of viewers, we'll try to figure out a better alternative.
Why can't I see a larger version of <this photo>?
Why does a new window open with a photo that's the same size?
A: Unfortunately some photos came to us only in the thumbnail size. You can't see larger versions of some photos because none are available.
Why do some larger versions of photos open in a new window, and others don't?
A: Our intention is that all larger versions you may want to study in context of the original page will open in a new window. If this hasn't been accomplished consistently, it's because it's a tedious job to adjust this for the many small+large pairs on the site. Also because it isn't always easy to distinguish what should open in a new window, and what should not.
Why do some pages open in a new window, and others don't?
What happened to the old site's method of opening every new page in a new window?
A: Our intention is that all pages on our site open in the same window. We feel that off-site references — pages on other web sites — should open in new windows, as a way of reinforcing the fact that they are elsewhere. If this hasn't been accomplished consistently, it's because it's a tedious job to adjust all the links on the site.
Why is the regular text used on the pages pages so small?
A: We've chosen a compromise size that's large enough for many visitors. Today's browsers provide the means for expanding the size of ordinary text on any web page, and that's the best method for supporting the widest range of visual abilities. Check the Help for your browser. If you can't make sense of that, contact us, letting us know the name and version of the browser you are using, also the operating system you are using (e.g. MacOS 10.10 or Windows 10). We'll do our best to help you, but we can't guarantee a happy outcome, especially with older or less-known browsers.
Why is <this page> all messed up?
Why didn't you make certain all pages display properly on my browser?
A: It's difficult to know unless you tell us the identity of the page, the name and version of the browser you are using, and also the operating system you are using (e.g. MacOS 10.10 or Windows 10). Browsers often display web pages differently. One browser may display a specific page perfectly, while a different version of the same browser may display a distorted page. Commercial web sites have the resources to test web pages on many different browsers. In our case, there's just one person doing all the web work, so extensive testing is just not possible.
Why is <this text> all messed up?
A: We've done our best to eliminate garbled text by using a universal typography (called UTF-8). Please inform us if you find cases we've missed.
Why keep some material non-public?
A: First, to protect personal privacy of members and living descendents. Ordinarily, materal on web sites is visible to essentially everyone in the world. That is wonderful for visibility, but some people might not want their names or information they consider private quite so visible. Second, on a restricted-access site, we can share material that is protected by copyright amongst contributors. There's no restriction on sharing material privately.
Are these questions really frequently-asked?
A: Well... no. We've posted questions and answers we suppose might come up from time to time.