ATLANTAN BARRY FLINK DISCOVERS LOST FAMILY HISTORY DETAILS OF SURPRISING GERMAN HOMECOMING TO BE SHARED WITH LOCAL GENEALOGISTS

Atlantan Barry Flink made a recent trip to Germany and found cooperation and assistance in tracing his family history which had been interrupted by the Holocaust and World War II. He will share his story with genealogists on October 29, 2003.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2003    
CONTACT: Marilyn Pearlman or Carole Mumford
404-298-6910

ATLANTAN BARRY FLINK DISCOVERS LOST FAMILY HISTORY
DETAILS OF SURPRISING GERMAN HOMECOMING TO BE SHARED WITH LOCAL GENEALOGISTS

ATLANTA, GA. (PRWEB) October 21, 2003 Atlantan Barry Flink knew his family history in Germany dated back many centuries, but like so many others of Jewish/German descent, he felt that uncovering that history was a daunting task. The Holocaust and World War II took such a toll on Jewish communities that in many places, by design, Jewish history was totally obliterated. Flink was surprised and pleased when on a recent life-changing excursion to Muhr Am See Germany, the hometown of his father and seven generations of the Flink family, he was able to recover lost family history and learn many wonderful things about his family. He also strongly believes that many others of Jewish/German descent can replicate his experiences.

He will share his insights with the Atlanta Jewish Genealogical Society on Wednesday, October 29, 2003, 7:00 p.m. at the Jewish Educational Services Library and Learning Center located at 4549 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road in Dunwoody. The public is invited.

For more than 30 years, I had wondered about my German roots," said Flink, a Georgia native, and Executive Vice President of Flex HR, Inc., a human resources leadership firm. My father, Max Flink, emigrated from Germany in 1929 and initially worked in my uncles floral shop, Weinstocks in Atlanta, before opening his own floral business in LaGrange. My father often shared bitter memories of leaving family and friends to escape the Nazi regime and settle in America. I knew there was much more to learn, so after my father passed away, I was determined to fill in the missing pieces. It was a personal quest".   

Recently, in casual conversation with Wolfgang Stier, a German friend and former client, Flink shared his desire to learn more about his familys German heritage. Stier offered to accompany Flink to his ancestral home and serve as guide and interpreter. The trip abroad for Flink was emotionally overwhelming and filled with delightful    surprises and twists.

I found the German people to be very helpful. Eventually I was directed to a retired professor who provided me with a wealth of information dating back to the year 1731. I learned not only my own familys history but also the history of the entire Jewish community of Muhr Am See," said Flink. Out of 12,000 inhabitants (40 % of the communitys population prior to 1938) only 1,000 escaped, my father being one of them. I also discovered to my amazement and joy that Babette Flink, an unknown aunt of my father, also escaped and came to America. I now have the opportunity to discover if I have unknown cousins here. Im looking forward to the quest of locating them."
Flink believes that many others can replicate his experience and good fortune with researching their familys history. Join the Jewish Genealogical Society Wednesday evening, October 29th to hear more of Barry Flinks heartwarming discovery of his familys heritage.

About The Jewish Genealogical Society Of Georgia, Inc.

The Jewish Genealogical Society Of Georgia, Inc. promotes awareness among the Jewish community of the possibility of tracing their ancestors, and provides instruction on genealogical methodology and preservation of records and resources. Functioning within the William Bremen Jewish Heritage Museum, meetings, seminars and online newsletters keep members informed on the latest developments in genealogy.

-30-