by: Dan Ruby
The first lesson that you learn when tracking down lost family relations: Be prepared for the bitter along with the sweet.
My Rabinowitz family yielded more sorrowful secrets than happy ones. I connected with two previously unknown cousins, both estranged from the family, who provided valuable insights and documents.
On our Ratner side, I finally learned why the descendants of my grandmother's oldest brother George had been avoiding me online. They are Mormons now, not to make any judgment about that other than to register surprise.
You never know what you will find when you start turning over rocks.
To be continued...