Family Story Finder

The sweep of family history across the generations

First grandchild
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Twyla Ariel Eilertsen Ruby was born on August 7, 1985

Hermann Ringel's German citizenship
  • August 13 1906 -

When Hermann turned 21 in 1906, he presented documentation to secure legal German citizenship.

Kindergarten campaigner
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In 1955, Helga led a committee of parents to open a preschool in Vestal.

Our family during the Nazi years in Berlin
  • February 1933 - September 1942

During the first five years of Hitler's reign of terror, Jewish families of Berlin faced one repression after another.

Split decision on restored German citizenship
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Both Dan and Joanne applied for reclaimed citizenship under Article 116 of the German Constitution, but only Joanne’s application was approved

Stan finds love outside of a 20-block radius
  • April 1946 - June 1947

Home from the war, Stan Ruby was a graduate student in physics at Columbia University. Helga Ringel was a smart, pretty war refugee from Berlin

The early history of the Wohlgemuth family
  • March 11 1812 - July 25 1876

In 1812 in Preußisch Stargardt, an elderly Jew Moses and his sons Salomon and Herz took the surname Wohlgemuth in exchange for Prussian citizenship rights. Our family, descended from Herz Wohlgemuth, stayed in Stargardt for the next three generations

The Felensteins of Long Island
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Joan Ruby married Milton Felenstein. Their life and family in Rockville Centre.

The Ringels in Berlin—time of prosperity
  • 1881 - 1931

From 1880s to the 1930s, the Ringel family prospered in the garment trade in the German capital. Herman made men's outerwear.

The Scheunenviertal in the 1880s
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Schija Ringel came from Poland to seek his fortune in Berlin’s old Jewish district.

Third Generation Rubys
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First came Walter, then Danny and Joanne. They would carry on the Ruby-Ringel genes.

Ze'ev and Penina Sharon of Kibbutz Afeq
  • 1935 - 2009

A pioneer to Palestine in 1936, Ze’ev married Penina and they did their part to build the state of Israel as founders of Kibbutz Afek.