Massachusetts: JGS, Hebrew College event, Dec. 9

Partnerships and collaborations between Jewish genealogical societies and Jewish community institutions, such as colleges or historical societies, seem to be the wave of the future. Such events reach larger prospective audiences, while combining knowledge and resources.

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston and Hebrew College will collaborate in presenting an inaugural annual Jewish genealogy lecture on December 9 and an eight-session genealogy course, beginning in February 2008.

This first event will feature award-winning author Daniel Mendelsohn (The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million) describing his global quest to discover the fate of Polish family members who perished in the Holocaust.

Mendelsohn will appear at 3pm, Sunday, December 9, at Hebrew College in Newton Centre.

The Bard College humanities professor also contributes to the New York Times Magazine and Book Review. His best-seller (HarperCollins, 2006) received the National Book Critics’ Circle Award, the National Jewish Book Award, the Salon Book Award and the American Library Association Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Jewish Literature.

Says JGSGB president, Heidi Urich, "We hope Mendelsohn’s talk will inspire others to explore their family histories now that previously inaccessible archives and records are available. We are delighted to be co-sponsoring these programs with Hebrew College which was instrumental in the Society’s founding 25 years ago."

The events are made possible by a generous grant from Harvey Krueger of New York.

The lecture is free, open to the public, but space is limited. For reservations (recommended), click here.

The eight-session genealogy course will begin at Hebrew College from February 25, 2008. Course coordinators are Urich and Tom Weiss, with additional experienced JGSGB researchers. It is geared toward both beginners and more advanced students.

For more information, click here.

Congratulations to the JGSGB and Hebrew College!