Connecticut: Memories of Romania, Nov. 7

Professor Mihai Grunfeld will discuss his book "Leaving: Memories of Romania," at the next meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Connecticut on Sunday, November 7.

The meeting begins at 1.30pm at the Godfrey Memorial Library, 134 Newfield Street, Middletown.

Grunfeld is a professor of Latin American literature and Spanish language at Vassar College.

His book is the story of his childhood as the son of Holocaust survivors, an of experiences that propelled his escape from Romania in 1969. Before settling in the US, he lived in Israel, Italy, Sweden, Canada and South America.

His parents were unable to talk about their experiences in the concentration camps, but their lives, and the lives of their two sons, were decisively shaped by the untold stories. Grunfeld will talk about how the process of writing served to break the silence and begin the healing of the past.

For more information and directions, click on the JGS of Connecticut website. Formed in 1998, the society's library is housed at the Godfrey. JGSCT members may borrow items from the collection of books, periodicals, and audio and visual resources.

Sacramento: Intro to Jewish genealogy, October 17

An introduction to Jewish genealogy is the focus of the next Jewish Genealogical Society of Sacramento, on Sunday, October 17.

Tracing the Tribe apologizes the the late notice of this interesting program, which will be presented by Dale Friedman at 10am, at the Albert Einstein Residence Center, 1935 Wright St., Sacramento.

If you've wanted to begin researching your family tree, this meeting might be a good place to start.

Dale will discuss what "Jewish genealogy" really is and what you might learn about yourself by doing family history research. He'll explore the "Jewish" in Jewish genealogy and share what he's learned.

How did my ancestors shape me? Jewish genealogy is one way to help answer the question of how our ancestors shaped us. Using personal examples, Dale will suggest research methods to begin your quest.

A board member of the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogy Society, Dale has been exploring the family history of all four sides of his family and of his wife's family.

Book opportunity: The Sacramento society recently received donations of Jewish genealogy research books and other materials. Some were added to the society library, some are duplicates or cannot be kept due to space limitations.

The books and magazines that cannot be kept will be available to society members. All in excellent condition, some are literally new. The materials will be given away free, but only to Sacramento society members.

Early arrivals at tomorrow's meeting get first choice. This is another great benefit of membership!

The meeting is open to all. Click the link above for directions and more information.

Miami: Learn about FTM 2010, 2011, Oct. 3

Miami-area researchers have an opportunity learn about Family Tree Maker 2010 and 2011 editions with Harry Stuart on Sunday, October 3.

The free meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Miami starts at 10am at the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Building, 4200 Biscayne Blvd. Miami.

The local Family Tree Maker guru will demonstrate - on large screens - the pros and cons of both versions and how to use them. Stuart is asking that people email questions about the software edition to be answered at the meeting.

For more information and directions, click here.

Long Island NY: LA 2010 roundup, Sept. 26

Are you a Long Island resident who couldn't make it to this year's excellent 30th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy in Los Angeles?

Here's your chance to learn what you missed, which should inspire and encourage you to attend the next conference, hosted by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Washington (August 14-19, Washington DC).

On September 26, Jewish Genealogy Society of Long Island members who attended (and some who presented programs) will provide a roundup of the week-long event.

The panel includes Judy Simon, Jackie Wasserstein and others who will share some of the information they learned.

The meeting begins at 2pm at the Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Drive, East Hills.


The JGSLI has decided to vary meeting locations this year to help more people in more places. It's a great idea and wish them success in bringing genealogy to the people.


For more information, view the JGSLI website.

Boston: NEHGS, newspaper research, Sept. 15

The New England Historic Genealogical Society, in addition to its new AmericanAncestors.org website, offers excellent programming with expert speakers at its Boston headquarters.

Elissa Scalise Powell CG will present "Windows to the Past: Newspaper Research," at 10am, Wednesday, September 15, at the NEHGS, 99-101 Newbury St., Boston, Massachusetts. The program is free and open to the public.

Newspapers contain more than obituaries -- they record many important events in our ancestor's lives and can be a substitute for missing vital records. Learn how to access them online and off in order to reap the huge rewards that are hidden in their pages.

A Pennsylvania resident, Powell has been doing genealogical research since 1985, and has been helping others find their ancestral roots since 1990. She became a Certified Genealogical Records SpecialistSM (CGRS) in 1995 and, in 2005, changed her designation to Certified GenealogistSM (CG).

In addition to being a national and regional speaker, Powell is the Professional Genealogy course coordinator, Institute for Genealogy and Historical Research, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama; Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy instructor, Salt Lake City; and an expert and instructor at Boston University's Certificate in Genealogical Research program.

She has authored articles and book reviews published in NGS NewsMagazine, NGS Quarterly, APG Quarterly, Digital Genealogist, and the now-defunct Genealogical Computing.

For more information visit AmericanAncestors.org.

Florida: The Z Family's Journey, Sept. 15

Dennis Rice will speak on "The Z Family: Their Genealogical Journey Around The World," at the Jewish Genealogical Society of Palm Beach County, on Wednesday, September 15.

The first program of the season runs from 12.30-3.30pm at the Beifield Auditorium, Sandler Center, Levis Jewish Community Center, Boca Raton. JGSPC members, free; others, $5.

From 1-2pm, attendees are invited to network with the society's mavens, expert genealogists, mentors and special interest group leaders. Light refreshments, coffee, tea, will be available from 12.30pm-2pm.

Members who attended IAJGS 2010 in Los Angeles will report on what's new in genealogy.

JGSPBC past president Dennis Rice will discuss “The Z family: Their Genealogical Journey Around the World,” and offer pointers on how to research for family members. Recently returned from trip to Eastern Europe in search of his family roots, Rice will also offer suggestions on how to plan a trip to ancestral homes.

For more information, click here.

Miami: Getting to know you, Sept. 12

It's that time of year again in Miami.

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Miami will kick off its new program season, greet returning members and welcome new people on Sunday, September 12.

The meeting starts at 10am, at the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, 4200 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami.

The agenda includes introducing the new board, new member Paulette Bronstein's first experience at an IAJGS conference, and Family Tree Maker's resident guru Harry Stuart will answer questions on the just released FTM 2011.

Late addition just received: Harry will not do Q&As about FTM2010 or 2011. He does want to know what members want to know so he can prepare for an October 3 special event presentation, At that time, he will discuss in detail FTM 2010, his impressions of FTM 2011 and answer questions.

Guests are always welcome, no admission fee.

President Joan Parker invites everyone to come and enjoy an informative genealogy morning with fellow researchers.

For more information, see the JGS Miami website.

Chicago: Success session, August 29

Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois members will report on their family history research successes on Sunday, August 29.

Researchers will also share how they discovered their "finds," and the Ask the Experts panel will also chime in. Attendees are encouraged to bring a success story to share.

The program begins at 2pm at Temple Beth Israel, Skokie, although doors open at 12.30pm for library access, assistance and networking.

For more information, see the JGSI website.

Florida: Biblical genealogy, May 16

"We are still putting fruit on the family tree that our Patriarchs planted," says Rabbi Edward Davis, who will speak on "Biblical Genealogy," at the Jewish Genealogical Society of Broward County (Florida), on Sunday May 16.

He will not be speaking on who begat whom, but says:

In Biblical times many marriages were arranged in order to protect tradition and/or properties. This created interesting historical patterns. Nevertheless the Messiah himself will come with a messy family tree, including incest, conversion and alleged adultery. We are still putting fruit on the family tree that our patriarchs planted.

The program begins at 1pm, in the second floor Lab B, at the Alvin Sherman Library, Nova Southeastern University, at 3100 Ray Ferrero, Jr. Blvd, in Davie. Admission is free, but seating is limited, so register online in advance.

Since 1981, Davis has served as rabbi of Young Israel of Hollywood/Fort Lauderdale. He studied at Yeshiva University, receiving smicha (Orthodox rabbinical ordination), a mathematics BA and a Jewish history MS, and did post-grad studies at Netzach Israel Rabbinical Seminary (Jerusalem).

An educator and lecturer who has taught at a variety of institutions - including New York City's Lincoln Square Synagogue, Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia - Davis was also instrumental in forming the ORB of Broward and Palm Beach counties, which oversees kashrut in some 100 area businesses.

Read more about Rabbi Davis here.

Read more about the JGS of Broward County here.

Florida: Share success, May 12

Researchers are often frustrated by brick walls and remaining gaps in family history, but we also love to hear about colleagues who have made considerable progress and to share their success.


Some 15 years ago, Tracing the Tribe was looking for relatives from Mogilev, who had settled in Detroit, Michigan. The strategy included sending out, via snail mail, a stack of letters to those with the same or similar names. The letter explained why I was looking for those family members and included my contact information. I received quite a few answers.

My favorite response: "I'm not a member of that family, but I do know them. Here's their contact information." While some may consider this strategy a long shot - only one good response is needed to find those whom you seek.

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Palm Beach County - celebrating its 19th year - will hold its annual SOS ("Share Our Success") membership meeting on Wednesday, May 12. The day runs from 12.30-3pm at the South County Civic Center in Delray Beach.

The agenda includes a Brick Wall Session, election and installation of officers and the main program starts at 1pm.

Three members will share their successful research stories and explain the methods used to trace their families:

• Dr. Gary Stone will give a PowerPoint presentation "Barney's Story," a moving narrative of a family member who was responsible for bringing most of his family (more than 50 persons) to the USA.
• Dorothy Bernstein will share her research success finding family members despite the many changes in the spelling of the family name. Her persistence in searching for vital records enabled her to discover the various spellings were actually in the same family.
• Glenn Segal will discuss how to make successful research contacts through phoning.

The annual program provides a wealth of genealogical research information. It is always one of the most popular events of the year. Q&A follows the presentations; members are invited to discuss their own success stories.

For more information on the program, or to submit questions for the Brick Wall discussion, e-mail program chair Helene Seaman.

Montreal: Getting-started panel, April 21

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal, in association with the Jewish Public Library, will present a getting-started panel on Wednesday, April 21.

The program begins at 7.30pm at the Gelber Conference Center.

On the panel are Rikee and Maryn Madoff, Susan Shulman and Sorel Friedman - all JGSM members. They will discuss how they got started and their subsequent research, recount their collective experiences and successes, as well as provide tips.

Check out the JGS Montreal site and look at the wealth of information available in databases, projects, cemetery indices, Montreal and Quebec Province vital records. If you had family members who lived there, make sure to look at these resources. 

Breaking News: JGSLA 2010 program now live!

BREAKING NEWS!

We've all been waiting anxiously for this announcement.

The program for the 30th IAJGS International Conference of Jewish Genealogy - JGSLA 2010 - is now live!

Just a cursory glance will leave you breathless as you peruse the amazing collection of programs.

CAVEAT: Some programs are not yet listed and there will be many changes, additions and adjustments to presentation times and days. Remember to check back frequently.

Have you registered? Do you have your hotel reservation? Your ticket to ride? Your T-shirt?

Time to get cracking, people, and enjoy early-bird registration discounts.

Tracing the Tribe will be spotlighting various program categories in the coming days, so stay tuned for much more.

JGSLA 2010: Volunteers needed

Frequent conference attendees will tell you that an excellent way to meet new people and connect with those sharing your interests is to volunteer in various ways before or during the conference.

JGSLA 2010 has put out a public call for volunteers, via conference volunteer coordinator Lois Rosen. (See below for some important jobs that need the right person now!)

A major conference like this relies on an army of volunteers in so many areas. Some jobs can be done from home prior to the conference, others are focused on helping during the conference.

Do you have time to help before or during the conference?

During the conference, help is needed in all areas to help staff important locations, such as registration, hospitality, resource and more.

Volunteering your time adds to the success of the event, and also helps you meet new people and make new friends.

Here are just some of the possibilities:
Hospitality volunteers/Greeters
Registration volunteers
Resource Room staff
Film Festival or Screening Room staff
Tour chaperones or guides
Translators
Computer or tech support volunteers
Outreach to are synagogues
Outreach to area Jewish organizations, schools, or youth groups
and many more opportunities!

Before the conference, there are other jobs that need to be done. Frequent conference attendees who arrive early know all about bag-stuffing! But there's much more.

Volunteers needed now:

Banquet Journal: Volunteers needed for Ad Solictor and Ad Layout.

Volunteer Scheduling Coordinator: This is a major job and carries a perk (free conference registration).

Carpenter/Artist: For the handy creative types out there: A carpenter/artist volunteer is needed to create a directional sign post for the Market Square event. This needs include arrows showing the distance to, for example, Minsk or Warsaw. Tracing the Tribe is assuming distances will be measured from Los Angeles.

There are many other jobs you can do. See the next Tracing the Tribe post which details some ways that you can help, no matter where you live.

Click here to learn all about volunteering for the JGSLA 2010 event or email volunteer coordinator Lois Rosen for more information.

Miami: "I chose life," April 4

Author Mildred Nitzberg - "I Chose Life" - is the speaker at the JGS of Greater Miami's meeting on Sunday, April 4.

The meeting begins at 10am at the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, 4200 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami.

Nitzberg's riveting story is about her husband who survived Auschwitz and the Holocaust and his 33-year search to find his missing brother. It also describes how her husband experienced a world of unmitigated evil and yet emerged with his sense of humanity intact.

"I Chose Life draws a picture of the struggle of my husband, Saul I. Nitzberg, M.D., as his privileged and peaceful life in a small town in eastern Poland was shattered by the inferno of World War II. From 1939 to 1945 he experienced life under Russian occupation, the Pruzhany ghetto, and Auschwitz. Following liberation from the concentration camp he worked prodigiously to rebuild his personal and professional life. Yet he was left with a lingering sense of a life not quite fulfilled, a gnawing ache that led him on a daunting journey to the Soviet Union in search of an elusive peace. He sought to find his brother, the sole remaining member of his family. Still unresolved, he returned to Auschwitz to face his nightmare years, to recite the Kaddish at that vast gravesite where his beloved parents were buried."

Nitzberg has been collecting oral histories of survivors for many years, and has spoken to other JGSs, the Miami Book Fair and Meet the Author at the Holocaust Center in Hollywood.

For more information please see her website.

If available, David Hirschorn will also be here to discuss the latest on Yad Vashem. He is also very involved with Pages of Testimony. Guests and friends are always welcome. There is no admission fee.

USHMM: Soviet Jewish officers and Germany, March 18

"Jewish Revenge? Soviet Jewish Officers' Encounters with Germany, 1945" is the 2010 Ina Levine lecture at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum on Thursday, March 18, in Washington DC.

It starts at 7pm in the Helena Rubinstein Auditorium, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW.

Professor Oleg Budnitskii will present his work on Soviet Jewish identity through the lens of the Soviet Jewish military experience of World War II.

In Moscow, Budnitskii is: Senior research fellow, Institute of Russian History, Russian Academy of Sciences; academic director, International Center for Russian and Eastern European Jewish Studies: and professor of history, Department of Jewish Studies, Institute of Asian and African Studies, Moscow State University.

The author of numerous works, he most recently published (2008) Den'gi russkoi emigratsii: Kolchakovskoe zoloto, 1918-1957 (Money of the Russian Emigration: Kolchak's Gold, 1918-1957) and (2005) Rossiiskie evrei mezhdy krasnymi i belymi, 1917-1920 (Russian Jews between the Reds and the Whites, 1917-1920) of which an English translation is being published by the University of Pennsylvania Press.

For more information or to register, click here. To learn about past presentations and hear recordings, click here.

New York: Telling family secrets, March 21

Tracing the Tribe readers will note that I try to track the speaking engagements of Steve Luxenberg, author of the award-winning "Annie's Ghosts: A Journey into a Family Secret."

Although some people think it may be strange that I do so, Steve's book should be a must on everyone's to-read list. If you haven't read it, get yourself a copy. All genealogists and family history researchers should read it.

In addition to telling a compelling story, Steve's use of all possible resources to solve his family mystery can provide clues and tips to all of us.

A Washington Post associated editor working on special projects, Steve will be speaking to the Jewish Genealogical Society of New York at 2pm on Sunday, March 21, at the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan.

Steve’s mother was an only child. That’s what she told everyone, sometimes within minutes of meeting them.

When Steve heard that his mother had been hiding the existence of a sister, he was bewildered.

Through personal letters and photographs, official records and archival documents, as well as dozens of interviews, Steve revisits his mother’s world in the 1930s and 1940s in search of how and why the secret was born.

Employing his skills as a journalist, he pieces together the story of his mother’s motivations, his aunt’s unknown life, and the times in which they lived. His search takes him to imperial Russia and Depression-era Detroit, through the Holocaust in Ukraine and the Philippine war zone, and back to the places where his aunt languished in anonymity.

Steve has worked for more than 30 years as a newspaper editor and reporter, beginning at the Baltimore Sun. He joined the Washington Post in 1985 as deputy editor of the newspaper’s investigative/special projects staff, headed by assistant managing editor Bob Woodward. In 1991, he succeeded Woodward as head of the investigative staff.

His professional investigative journalism skills served him well when it came time to write the book.

Married with two children, Steve grew up in Detroit, where "Annie’s Ghosts" is centered.

If you haven't read the book yet, a book-signing will follow his talk.

Boston: Maps and Mapping Tools, March 14

Web-based maps and mapping tools are the focus of the next meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston on Sunday, March 14.

The program with Ron Arons and Jay Sage begins at 1:30 pm at Temple Emanuel, Newton Centre.

Ron will discuss websites that provide a broad range of historical maps.

He'll demonstrate basic and advanced features of internet-based mapping facilities developed by Google (maps.google.com) and Microsoft (www.bing.com/maps), as well as lesser known mapping facilities provided by whitepages.com, Microsoft’s MapCruncher, and IBM’s Many Eyes.

Jay will feature Google Earth - the web-based software and data that provide an amazing high-resolution three-dimensional model of the earth, based on satellite and aerial photographs - and explain how it can be used to map one’s family history or to make virtual visits to places where family events took place.

Ron has spoken at several international conferences on a variety of genealogy topics. He appeared in the PBS TV series, "The Jewish Americans," to discuss Jewish criminals of New York's Lower East Side and his book, "The Jews of Sing Sing," appeared in 2008.

Former JGSGB president, Jay is current co-editor of the Society's journal and has given lectures at international and local conferences.

Fee: JGSGB members, free; others, $5.

For more details, click here.

Boston: Hands-On Problem Solving, Feb. 21

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston will host “Problem Solving with Experts – A Research Session” on Sunday, February 21.

It begins at 1:30 pm at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St., Newton Centre.

Beginners as well as more experienced attendees will be able to consult with experts for help with family research.

Roundtables will feature the following topics:

-- Getting started with Jewish genealogy
-- Using immigration, naturalization, and vital records
-- Eastern European country-specific research
-- Translation of foreign-language documents (Yiddish, Hebrew, Polish, Russian, German)
-- Holocaust research

Admission: members, free; others, $5. Refreshments will be served. For directions, click here.

For more information, visit JGSGB.

Long Island: Exploring the 1940 census, Jan. 24

Explore the 1940 census with NARA's Dorothy Dougherty, at the next meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Long Island (New York) on Sunday, January 24.

The program begins at 2pm at the Mid-Island JCC, in Plainview.

The 1940 Census will be made publicly available in April 2012, and this workshop will prepare family historians by describing the genealogical information contained in this database.

This census was conducted during the Great Depression and the New Deal, on the brink of US involvement in World War II, and documents Americans during a time of national struggle.

Dorothy Dougherty is the public programs specialist for the National Archives' Northeast Region branch in New York. Her responsibilities include public, education and outreach efforts.

Her NARA career has also included development, training and deployment of NARA's online Archival Research Catalog, (ARC). And she has been a Manhattan research consultant, New York State Archives Records Manager, and a historical museum interpreter.

She holds a master's degree in history with an archives certificate (CW Post, LIU, New York)

For directions and more information, view the JGSLI site.

Tel Aviv: Ladino programs

The Cervantes Institute and the National Ladino Authority have created a 20-session program covering Sephardic history, culture and folklore at the Cervantes Institute in Tel Aviv.

The Tuesday evening sessions (at 7pm) cover important issues and aspects of Judeo-Espanol folklore and are presented in Ladino.

Sessions already completed included talks by Mordechai Arbell on the Caribbean Jewish communities, Moshe Shaul on Izmir, and Jerusalem's Ben Zakay with Yehuda Hatsvi.

Future sessions will be:

December 15: The streets of Istanbul with Zelda Ovadia.
December 29: Izmir with Moshe Shaul.
January 12: Amsterdam's Sephardim with Yehuda Hatsvi.
January 26: The Arie houses in Samokov with Mordechai Arbell.
February 9: Firenze (Florence, Italy) with Matilda Koen-Sarano.
February 23: Saray with Eliezer Papo.
March 9: El Kamondo Han en Estambol with Zelda Ovadia.

The course is NIS 200 for new subscriptions, and NIS 180 or previous participants.

For more information, call Lea Alaluf, 03-685-7240 or 052-835-5366.