On Sunday, March 16th, 2003, at 2pm, the Jewish Genealogical Society of New York (JGSNY) will present Julian Bussgang, the co-editor of the newsletter of the American Association for Polish-Jewish Studies, in a talk entitled "A Perspective On Polish Jewry In The Years Before WW II: Changes And Assimilation." The American image of Polish Jewry is largely based on colorful depictions of shtetl life in Yiddish literature and personal memoirs. These portrayals have a great sentimental value, but the reality was somewhat different. Julian Bussgang will retrace the history and evolution of the Jewish community in Poland and explain the gradual changes that took place. The meeting takes place at the Center for Jewish History located at 15 West 16th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues in New York City. The Center Genealogy Institute will be open from 12:30 to 2:00 on March 16th for networking with other researchers and access to resource materials and computers. Admission is free for JGSNY and other JGS members; $3 for non-members. The JGSNY can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 212-294-8326 or at our website, www.jgsny.org