Alabama: Generations of Joy

Have you ever been told a family story so grand, so perfectly dramatic, that you almost didn't want to verify it? Maybe your grandmother swore you were related to someone famous, or your uncle insisted there was royalty somewhere in the family tree. And then (if you're like most of us who get curious enough to investigate) you discovered the truth was far less glamorous than the legend.

But what if I told you that sometimes, the real story you uncover is even better than the tale you were told?

That's what happened to Noah Lapidus, a professional genealogist whose childhood fascination with family history led him on an extraordinary journey. From dragging his grandmother through Birmingham cemeteries in 90-degree heat to breaking down in rural Ukraine and discovering unexpected kindness, Noah's quest to understand his family's past revealed something profound: the story of how a tiny Russian shtetl became the birthplace of a thriving Jewish community in (of all places) Alabama.

From Belarus to Birmingham

"We wanted to feel important. I come from poor Russian Jews. They didn't necessarily have the means to do all that much in their lives. So we grasped for those few Jews who at that time did make something of themselves and said we were related."

Noah learned early that not all family stories hold up under scrutiny. He wasn't related to Al Jolson, the famous entertainer. He wasn't descended from Victor Brenner, who designed the penny. But what he did discover, through years of meticulous research and a transformative trip to Eastern Europe, was far more meaningful: a community's origin story, preserved in heirlooms, immigration records, and the very streets of Birmingham where his family has lived for over a century.

"The Kobryn community survives in Birmingham, Alabama, of all places somehow."

When Noah's car broke down in the middle of rural Ukraine, he and his friend feared the worst. Two young Jewish men, stranded in a place their ancestors had fled generations ago. But the locals who found them? They knew Noah's people had once called this place home. They welcomed him with open arms, housed him for three days, and showed him the waterfalls and castles he never would have seen on his own.

"That was just the best way to kick off my journey, realizing that at the end of the day, everyone is far more similar than they are different. They knew we were Jews. They were thrilled that we'd come home. And these are the best people."

The Whole Story

If you haven't already heard Noah's remarkable journey from a childhood family history obsession (not unlike my own) to professional genealogist, take a moment to listen in:

Prefer audio only? Click here to listen on your favorite podcast app.

🎧 Listen to the full episode to discover:

• How a fourth-grade family history project launched a lifelong passion
• The surprising connection between Birmingham's steel industry and Eastern European Jewish immigration
• Why Noah's family thought they were related to famous Jewish Americans (and what he found instead)
• The breathtaking moment his car broke down in Ukraine—and what happened next
• How one small town in Belarus became the unexpected origin point for Birmingham's Jewish community
• The heirlooms Noah treasures and the stories they tell

The Power of One Story

Noah's story reminds us that family history isn't always about finding the famous ancestor or the royal connection. Sometimes it's about understanding the ordinary people who made extraordinary choices, like leaving everything familiar behind to build a new life in an unexpected place.

His great-great-grandfather Harry Weinstein didn't immigrate to New York or Philadelphia like most Eastern European Jews. He was brought to Birmingham, Alabama, to run what they called a "Jew store" in a small mining town called Brookside. Harry was one of many Jewish immigrants who established these stores throughout the South, often becoming the only Jewish family in their community. It took courage. It took faith. And it created something lasting.

"125 years later, little Noah is researching his friends' family trees, and I keep seeing the town of Kobryn in all of their trees. And it turns out that a very large portion of the Jews living in Birmingham today can trace their roots back to the town of Kobryn, having been brought here either by the Weinstein family or by folks that they then brought over."

What began as one family's immigration story became the foundation for an entire community. When Noah finally visited Kobryn in 2016, he found a town decimated by the Holocaust—swastikas on the remaining synagogue, no Jewish community left. But in Birmingham? The Kobryn community thrives. Not as an echo of what once was, but as something new and vital, carrying forward the joy and resilience of those who came before.

Your Story

Think about the family stories you've been told. The ones that seemed too good to be true, or the ones that felt incomplete. Maybe, like Noah, you've discovered that some of your family legends were more fiction than fact. But have you looked deeper? Have you searched for the real stories hiding beneath the tall tales?

Sometimes the truth isn't as glamorous as the legend. But sometimes, just sometimes, it's even more beautiful.

Story Seeds 🌱

Plant these conversation starters and watch your family stories grow.

1. For Parents/Grandparents: "What's a family story you were told as a child that you later discovered wasn't quite true? What did you find out instead?"
2. For Aunts/Uncles: "Our family came from [place]. Do you know why they chose to settle where they did instead of somewhere more typical for immigrants from that region?"
3. For Siblings/Cousins: "If you could visit the place where our ancestors lived before coming to America, what would you most want to see or experience there?"
4. For Anyone in Your Family: "What's the most treasured family heirloom you know about? What story does it tell about the person who owned it?"

Story Sparks 🔑

Unlock your family's hidden stories with these research techniques.

1. Challenge the Family Legends: Make a list of every family story you've been told about famous relatives, dramatic events, or extraordinary circumstances. Then systematically research each one. Even when the legend proves false, you'll often discover the real story is worth knowing.
2. Map Your Family's Immigration Patterns: Dive into the immigration collections on Ancestry to trace when and where your ancestors arrived. Use passenger lists, naturalizations records, and alien registrations. Look for unusual destinations. Maybe your Italian ancestors didn't settle in New York or your Irish ancestors bypassed Boston. Ask why. The answer often reveals a fascinating story.
3. Explore Community Connections: Search for others researching the same town or region where your ancestors originated. You might discover, like Noah did, that an entire community migrated together.
4. Consider a Roots Journey: If you have the opportunity, visit the places your ancestors called home. Use Ancestry records to identify specific addresses, synagogues, churches, or businesses. Even if the buildings are gone, standing where they stood can connect you to their experience in a powerful way. Then connect with Ancestry ProGenealogists to discover ways you can visit those places virtually or in person.

Noah's journey from that fourth-grade family history project to professional genealogist wasn't a straight line. He thought he'd be a lawyer. He worked on civil rights cases, identifying descendants of lynching victims and pursuing justice. But family history kept calling him back. Because at its core, genealogy isn't just about the past. It's about connection, identity, and understanding the joy and resilience that lives in us across generations.

Whether your ancestors came from a Russian shtetl or an Irish village, whether they settled in expected places or surprising ones, their stories matter. And sometimes, the real story you discover is even better than the legend you were told.

Ready to discover more stories of resilience, immigration, and unexpected joy? Subscribe to Stories That Live In Us wherever you get your podcasts, and join us each week as we count down to America's 250th birthday with stories from all 50 states. If Noah's story touched your heart, please leave us a rating and review—it helps other family story seekers find us.

© 2026 Crista Cowan. All rights reserved.