My Family's Story
The Professor Y. Halbrecht International Family Tree Competition 2008 - 2009

For over 14 years, Beth Hatefutsoth has been engaging tens of thousands of students from all over the world in Jewish heritage through the annual My Family Story International Competition. In this competition, middle school students research and present their family stories and thereby explore their collective Jewish history. In the 2008 competition, more than 20,000 students from different countries around the world participated presenting projects in their own languages.

Registration

To enter the competition, every school or community center must first download the registration form. A registration fee of US $100.00 (not refundable) per school allows an unlimited number of students to participate.

Competition instructions

• Target students. The competition is intended for 12-15 years of age students, though entries from high school students are also accepted.
• Eligibility. Participation is only available through educational institutions and community centers. Individuals may not enter independently.
• School representatives. Each institution may select up to four individual My Family Story projects prepared by their students to represent them in the international competition.
• Family Tree. Every project needs to be accompanied by a genealogical family tree. Family Echo software is available free online to help students build their family trees and then register to The Douglas E. Goldman Jewish Genealogy Center at Beth Hatefutsoth to be preserved for future generations (http://www.bh.org.il/Genealogy/FamilyTreeOnline.aspx). We advise schools to get in contact with our personnel while using this service (Martha Mazo:bhroots@post.tau.ac.il).
• Language. Projects can be submitted in students' native languages (Hebrew, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, French, etc.)
• Abstract. In schools where Hebrew is taught, students are recommended to include an abstract page in Hebrew.
• Cover page. Every submission must include a cover page that contains the following information: name of the student, grade and name of the school.
• Digital copy. The projects should be sent in digital form to be kept by the Museum (either alone or in addition to the printed copy).
• Size. The Museum will not accept projects that exceed 60x60 cm. In the case of artistic presentations which exceed this size, we suggest the inclusion of the respective pictures. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
• Teacher support and online forum. An accompanying curricular unit, prepared by Beth Hatefutsoth, in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Education, and Tel Aviv University, will soon be available, along with and electronic forum to support teachers and students in the process of preparing My Family Story projects.

Project Delivery

1. Schools are responsible for the delivery of the projects, and we do not accept delivery from individuals.
2. Each school should send by e-mail a list with the names of the students whose projects have been sent to the Museum.
3. It is important to find out all customs taxes before the delivery and to provide for the payment. The Museum will not cover payment of custom taxes in Israel.
4. We suggest that every school organizes the arrival and collection of the projects with the delivery company before being sent.

Judging

First stage

1. Every school should select a maximum of four projects to be sent to Beth Hatefutsoth. In case more projects arrive, only four will be considered, being selected at random.
2. The projects must reach Beth Hatefutsoth by April 30, 2009.

Stage Two

1. The projects sent to Beth Hatefutsoth will be evaluated by a jury of representatives from the Israel Ministry of Education, The Constantine Family School of Education of Tel Aviv University, the Douglas E. Goldman Jewish Genealogy Center, the Education Department of Beth Hatefutsoth, and experts in the field.
2. The selection criteria include the following areas: research, documentation, originality, presentation and genealogy.
3. All students whose projects reach the museum will be awarded with a certificate from Beth Hatefutsoth.
4. Prizes will be awarded for the best projects in two separate categories – Israel and the Diaspora communities; and to schools (or community centers) which demonstrated a special achievement.

The ceremony

In June 2009 (the final date will be announced in January 2009) a ceremony honoring the students and their families from all participating countries will take place at Beth Hatefutsoth in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Education, Beth Hatefutsoth, and Tel Aviv University, in order to acknowledge their active roles in writing the history of the Jewish People. We invite all students, families and schools to take part in this ceremony, at which students and schools selected by the jury will be awarded with prizes.

For more information contact: Martha Mazo (bhroots@post.tau.ac.il), or Lea C. Waismann (bhcecili@post.tau.ac.il)