California: Three conference reviews

If you couldn't make it to the 27th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy in Salt Lake City, want to learn the highlights and live in California, you're in luck! Several Jewish genealogical societies are offering reviews:

**The San Francisco Bay Area JGS has scheduled two reviews with different panelists at 12.30 p.m. Sunday, August 19, at the JCC East Bay, Berkeley, and at 7 p.m. Monday, August 20, at Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos Hills. Both meetings are free. For details, click here.

**JGS Sacramento has set their review at 7 p.m. Monday, August 20. Panelists include Lester Smith, on new library acquisitions; Mark Heckman, new microfilms at the Family History Library and the Film Festival; Bob Wascou,what's new on JewishGen and Family Tree Maker 2008; and Art Yates, other interesting programs. For details, click here.

**The JGS of Los Angeles' event is noon-3.45 p.m. Sunday, August 19, in West Los Angeles.

At noon, met for bagels, coffee and cake, socialize, see the group's traveling library and materials acquired at the conference, followed by SIG (Special Interest Group) updates: Belarus, Gesher Galicia, Hungary, JRI-Poland, Latvia, Litvak, UK and Ukraine.

At 1:30 p.m., view a conference film: Schmatte Mazel (Australia), about the lure of Jews to the shmatte (rag) trade, focusing on the Melbourne, Australia Jewish rag trade.

At 1.45 p.m., highlights of the event's best programs and speakers.

At 3.15 p.m., two conference films:

Buboolah Bagela (Australia). Filmmaker Lesley Sharon Rosenthal, a self-confessed bagel addict, traces her family's bagel ritual. In a series of interviews with bagel lovers, she investigates the Jewish tradition of the Sunday bagel brunch and asks if bagels are the mainstay of Jewish family life?

West Bank Story (Israel). A musical comedy take-off on West Side Story about the hope for peace, and 2007 Academy Award winner (best live action short film). Israeli soldier David and Palestinian fast food cashier Fatima are an unlikely couple who fall in love amidst the animosity of their families' dueling West Bank falafel stands.

For details, click here

NOTE: Remember to mark your calendars for the 28th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy, August 17-22, 2008, in Chicago, Illinois. Tracing the Tribe will provide all details concerning the Call for Papers and other details as they are announced.