Our Past 2024 Events
Sunday, January 14, 2024 at 1:30 pm
(1 pm for Schmoozing and Mentoring)
Zoom Meeting
Speaker: Ava Cohn aka Sherlock Cohn, The Photo Genealogist
Known professionally as Sherlock Cohn, The Photo Genealogist, Ava has been the go-to expert on Jewish family photographs since 2009. She is internationally-known with an ever-growing list of clients from Europe, America, Israel, Australia, Canada, Germany, UK and other countries. A Brandeis University graduate, her background includes the study of decorative arts, art history, history of photography and costume/theatre history. In addition to being a popular speaker and writer on the pairing of photography and genealogy, Ava is a collector of 19th and 20th century photographs of all kinds. She is a member of JGSI and has explored her own roots in Canada, Belarus, Ukraine, Romania and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.She can be reached at her email: sherlock.cohn@comcast.net or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/SherlockCohn
Topic: Clued-In: More Cases from Sherlock Cohn, The Photo Genealogist
The best way to learn how to analyze family photographs is by example. This new presentation, a sequel to the popular “Case Studies from Sherlock Cohn”, will present more cases to illustrate the methodology of Photo Genealogy. The program is designed to help participants explain the mystery photographs found in their shoeboxes, jewelry boxes and photo albums. After a brief discussion of the types of questions needed to be asked of every photograph, Sherlock will present a variety of her most challenging cases among the thousands she has analyzed since 2009. Depending on time, cases may include “The Case of the Mystery Pin”, “The Case of the Lady in the Locket”, “The Case of the Trombonist’s Mum”, “The Case of the Bialystoker Photographer”, “The Case of the Onboard Mystery”, “The Case of the DP Monument”. Mysteries will be chosen that represent common problems genealogists face in deciphering the clues found in their family photographs including how to accurately date a photograph, how to identify individuals in photographs, how to determine the correct generation and how to interpret clues from the past. Whether the participant is new to exploring family photographs or a seasoned veteran of photo sleuthing, there will be more tips and tricks on how to get the most information from their photographs.
Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 1:30 pm
(1 pm for Schmoozing and Mentoring)
Zoom Meeting
Speaker: Adina Newman, Professional Genealogist and Educator
Dr. Adina Newman, EdD, the creator of My Family Genie, is a professional genealogist and educator. Her specialties include Jewish genealogy, genetic genealogy, social media, and New England, and she presents on these topics in a variety of venues, from major genealogy conferences to local genealogy societies. Her findings have received international media attention, such as mentions in The Daily Mail, Washington Post, AP News, TODAY, People, and The Times of Israel, and she has made appearances on several news outlets such as NPR and I24NEWS. She co-founded the DNA Reunion Project, a program to raise awareness about the potential of DNA testing within the Holocaust survivor community and provide survivors and their children with commercial DNA tests. She volunteers as a moderator for a Jewish genetic genealogy Facebook group and on the program committee for her local Jewish genealogical society. She was also a 2020 recipient of the AncestryProGenealogists scholarship. Website: https://www.myfamilygenie.com/
Topic: #Genealogy: Incorporating Social Media into Your Genealogical Research
Social media has become an essential tool for genealogists in the 21st century. Through platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, Linkedin, and TikTok, genealogists have limitless opportunities for expanding research, learning new skills, and collaborating with other researchers. Whether a social media novice or seasoned expert, everyone will walk away from this presentation with new ideas for incorporating social media into their genealogical research and practice.
Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 1:30 pm
(1 pm for Schmoozing and Mentoring)
Zoom Meeting
Speaker: Alex Calzareth, Board Member of Jewish Genealogy Society of Long Island and the JewishGen Research Director for Germany
Alex Calzareth is a genealogist focusing on Southwest Germany, the Czech Republic and Southern Italy who began researching his family roots twenty-five years ago. He is a board member for Reclaim The Records and the Jewish Genealogy Society of Long Island. Alex is also the JewishGen Research Director for Germany. He’s a CPA and lives in New York City.
Topic: Mapping Your Family History: How to Create a Customized Google Map
Create maps with your own data on Google Maps. This presentation will teach you how to create a custom map, import location data associated with family history events or source records and then customize the appearance of that data on the map. Custom maps can be used in many ways, including visually conveying family migration patterns, showing the location of regional cemeteries, and which towns hold certain vital records. Resulting maps can also be imported into Google Earth for additional functionality.
Date: Sunday, April 14, 2024.
Time: 1:00 check in, chat, and schmooze
1:30 pm EDT official start time on zoom and in person.
Hybrid Meeting – In Person Venue: Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel,
Elkins Park, PA
Speaker: Matt Weismantel, Professional Genealogist and Ellis Island Volunteer
Matt has been fascinated by history for as long as he can remember and has had a passion for genealogy for the past 35 years. As an adoptee himself, he fully appreciates the importance of uncovering one’s roots. Matt’s academic background in historical geography has been invaluable in supporting his genealogical interests, and he has graduated from ProGen 47 and multiple genealogical institutes.
Matt has served in various leadership positions, including as the secretary of the New Jersey Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), is currently the organization delegate for the Rogue Valley Genealogical Society (Oregon) and is serving as the Vice-Chair of the
Delegates Council of the National Genealogical Society. He is also an active member of the New York Metro and Greater Philadelphia Chapters of the APG and several other local genealogical societies. Matt’s work has been published in numerous local and state genealogical journals.
Since retiring in 2019 from his role at Rutgers University, Matt has dedicated his time to volunteering at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island National Monument at the American Family Immigration History Center and the Ellis Island Research Library, where he enjoys helping people discover their family histories. Matt helps organize and improve access to materials on the library’s history of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
Topic: Ellis Island: Its History and Its Documents
Ellis Island served as the main entry point for millions of immigrants to the United States, with its peak years between 1892 and 1924. This presentation places Ellis Island within the context of US immigration history, debunking some long-standing urban legends. It considers the documents generated as part of the immigration process, including how to find them and what information they include. Additionally, it looks at Ellis Island’s recent story, from its abandonment and partial restoration, and reflects on the conflicting yet critical immigration story in our nation’s long history.
Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 2:30 PM
(2:00 PM for Schmoozing and Mentoring)
Hybrid Meeting – In Person Venue: Shir Ami, 101 Richboro Newtown Rd, Newtown (Bucks County), PA
Speakers: Linda Ewall, JGASGP Board Member and Jeffrey Freedman, Emeritus Associate Professor of Physiology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University
Jeffrey Freedman is Emeritus Associate Professor of Physiology in the Department of Neuroscience and Physiology at State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York. His Ph.D. in Biology is from Penn, and he is retired from a 45-year academic career that included biomedical research and graduate and medical school teaching. He hails from Philadelphia and has been working on Genealogy for over 30 years. His third cousin, Linda Ewall’s M.A. in Computer Science Education is from Beaver College, now Arcadia University. Her career in computer networks, technical training and documentation, hardware, and software installations and troubleshooting in the pharmaceutical and medical fields complement her 47-yearlong interest in genealogy. She has been the recording secretary of the JGASGP for the past six years.
Topic: Goldman family DNA research group and how we discovered hundreds of relatives and ancestors
This talk will describe how the G3 “Goldman Genealogy Group”, a group of newfound 3C to 4C DNA cousins found each other and together built a six-generation tree that was subsequently extended using DNA methods. We will explain how DNA matches can be tracked on a tree to gain evidence pertaining to hypothetical connections, how a chromosome map of shared DNA segments is constructed, and how triangulating shared DNA segments with those also shared by an individual with known lineage leads to the discovery of common ancestors. Examples from the extended Goldman tree will be presented. Looking at shared matches on ancestry.com and other sites is like looking through a low powered microscope; looking at shared DNA segments on the GEDmatch and DNA Painter sites is like looking through a high-powered microscope. Your DNA directs, controls, and regulates all the biochemical processes in your body but is also your ancestral memory; the use of DNA methods in genealogy can thus enhance understanding of your individual ancestry and your genetic connections with others.
Sunday, June 9, 2024 at 11:00 am for Bagel Brunch and program
In Person Only, Location: Main Line Reform 410 Montgomery Ave, Wynnewood, PA 19096
Guest Speaker: Rich Blumberg, JGASGP Member and Volunteer with Federation of Jewish Cemeteries
Topic: Honoring the Volunteers of the Har Jehuda Project and the Future of Philadelphia Area Cemetery Projects
Bagel Brunch honoring the volunteers of the Har Jehuda Project: It’s a Mitzvah. We will be discussing the Har Jehuda Project and the future of cemetery cleanup projects in the Philadelphia area. ALL are welcome to attend our in-person event.
We have completed our digitization project of the approximate 26,000 burial cards. I am so grateful to all our wonderful volunteers. We couldn’t have done this without you! Some of us are continuing to work on the “Burial Books”. A genealogist’s work is never done!
Date: Sunday, July 14, 2024
Time: Official meeting starts at 1:30 pm
(1:00 pm for Schmoozing and Mentoring)
Location: Zoom only
Speaker: Ellen Kowitt, JewishGen USA Research Division Director and D.A.R. Jewish Specialty Research National Vice Chair
Ellen Kowitt is founder and principal genealogist at Sole Searching Genealogy & Historical Research. Specializing in American records and Jewish ancestry, she is a frequent presenter at national conferences and has published articles in Family Tree Magazine and Avotaynu: The International Journal on Jewish Genealogy. Topics include getting started in Jewish genealogy, methodology, Jewish institutional records, comparing Jewish resources on the genealogy giant websites, Russian Empire research, and Holocaust in Ukraine. Ellen received her B.A. from Alfred University and spent twenty-five years working in marketing management and communications before transitioning into full-time research. She has completed the ProGen study program and several genealogical institutes, and Ellen is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. While accepting clients, she continues to volunteer and is JewishGen USA Research Division Director and D.A.R. Jewish Specialty Research National Vice Chair. In 2022, Ellen launched Shul Records America for JewishGen which is a unique finding aid pointing to the location of synagogue records in over one hundred repositories. She has spent thirty years studying her paternal Jewish origins in Ukraine which are documented back to the mid-1700s prior to the assignment of Jewish surnames. Ellen has organized extensive volunteer town research projects for her ancestral shtetl towns of Lyubar and Chudnov, as well as across the former Volhynia Guberniya, and she has partnered with scholars in five countries on projects about Babyn Yar and Holocaust in Ukraine. Originally from New York and Washington DC, Ellen resides in Colorado with her Israeli-born husband and is mother to two college students. For more information and lecture dates, visit www.EllenKowitt.com.
Topic: U.S. Synagogue Records as a Genealogical Resource
A primer on how to find synagogue records, what genealogical material they include, and what they look like. Finding synagogue records can be problematic and time consuming as they are hard to find, sometimes with errors in catalogs and a variety of ways materials are described. To make it easier, and in one place, JewishGen starts the search for you with Shul Records America. This new finding aid points to the location of American synagogue records. Launched in fall 2022 with over 1,000 collections identified to date and held at over 100 repositories, about 10% include URLs for digitized materials. Not only a historical resource but important as modern-day synagogues merge or close, Shul Records America also encourages congregations to preserve records with genealogical value.
We’re having a party!
The 44th International Conference on Jewish Genealogy was a huge success. We are celebrating our society’s accomplishments in hosting the conference and all its volunteers. All members are welcome.
Date: October 6th
Location: Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel, 8339 Old York Rd,
Elkins Park, PA 19027
Time: 12-2
Speakers: Michael Schatz and Jerry Silverman, Philadelphia Jewish History Tours
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Dr. Michael Schatz, native of Philadelphia whose family has lived in the region since the turn of the 20th century, shares his passion for history, Jewish life, synagogue architecture, as well as local stories and customs in a variety of tour itineraries. Dr. Schatz holds bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in education and Jewish studies from Vassar College, Arcadia University, and Gratz College. As past president of the Jewish Educators Assembly, Schatz has been a formal and informal Jewish educator for over two decades. He was awarded the degree Doctor of Pedagogy, honoris causa, from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
Jerry Silverman is a certified member of the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides. He earned a Bachelor of Hebrew Literature and a Master of Jewish Education from Gratz College, plus secular degrees in math education from Temple U. Jerry served as the High School principal of Temple Beth Sholom in Cherry Hill, NJ, as well as the Educational Director of Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel. Since 2009, Jerry has been giving tours for Mural Arts Philadelphia, Hidden City Philadelphia, and the Preservation Alliance.
Topic: Jewish Art in Philadelphia
Our meeting will start at 12:00.
*For those who will watch from home, below is the Zoom link: There will be NO CHAT and Shmooze prior to the meeting.
Happy and Healthy New Year! Shana Tova!
Sunday, November 17, 2024 at 2:30 pm
(2 pm for Schmoozing and Mentoring)
Hybrid Meeting – In Person Venue Main Line Reform Temple, Wynnewood, PA
Speakers: Renée Carl and Rich Venezia, Professional Genealogists and Advocates for Records Access
Renée left the public policy world for professional genealogy, finding that researching dead people is easier than working with Congress. Her background in government and cultural anthropology brings a unique perspective to locating and interpreting records.
Renée is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington, and the JewishGen Latvia Research Group. Renée passionately advocates for historic preservation and records access. To that end, she is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists Advocacy Committee and serves as co-leader and policy advisor to the RecordsNotRevenue.com campaign. You can find Renée online at EasternEuropeanMutt.com.
Rich Venezia is a New Jersey native who now calls Philadelphia home. He founded Rich Roots Genealogy in 2013. He was a member of the research team of Genealogy Roadshow (PBS) for two seasons, and also consulted on Follow Your Past (Travel Channel). He is an expert in the research of 20th-century immigrant ancestors, especially underutilized record sources and federal records. He also specializes in Italian and Irish research. Additionally, he assists clients with dual citizenship applications for Ireland and Italy, and is a proud Italian dual citizen. He holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. He lectures nationwide, and spoke about “How to Grow Empathy From Uncovering Your Roots” at TEDx Pittsburgh 2017. Rich is the founder of RecordsNotRevenue.com, which he co-leads with Renée K. Carl and Marian Smith.
Topic: The Future of USCIS Records
US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) maintains millions of priceless historical documents, some of which can be accessed via the troubled Genealogy Program, while others require FOIA requests, or remain out of reach entirely. Speakers will provide a brief background on some of the record sets; why the documents are vital to knowing 19th and 20th Century US Immigration history; and what lies ahead.
Speakers will:
- Update participants on advocacy efforts to push USCIS to transfer historical records in its custody to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA);
- Discuss C-Files and the urgency of needing USCIS to change their status from temporary to permanent (destruction date: 2056);
- Discuss P-Files and explain that while their status has changed from temporary to permanent, P-Files are still all but inaccessible; and
- Explain how legislative advocacy is necessary to implement these changes, and how JGS members can play an important role in this.
Participation of genealogists and genealogy societies in advocating for better Federal records management is essential to ensure access to records now and in the future. The future of USCIS-held records remains in jeopardy if the community does not work to protect them.
Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 2:30 pm
(2 pm for Schmoozing and Mentoring)
Hybrid Meeting – In Person Venue Main Line Reform Temple, Wynnewood, PA
Speaker: Jean Lewanda, Author
Jean retired to Yardley, PA after spending 40 years as a special educator in the Greater Hartford, CT area. She had the honor and pleasure of editing her father’s memoir, which details her family history in Austria, his escape from Vienna, life in Shanghai, escape from China to Europe, and his eventual arrival in New York City with her mother and brother. Jean was born in 1954, one year after their arrival. Through her involvement with the Jewish Book Council, and other organizations, Jean has been able to share her Dad’s memoir. She have done work in the area of Holocaust Education and hopes to continue on this path. Jean has completed her first book, a historical fiction account of her Mom’s life, which has been accepted for publication, hopefully to be released this year. Shalama: My 96 Seasons in China relates the story of Russian Jews who emigrated to China in the early 1900’s.
Topic: Jews in China: 1840-1957
Three Jewish Communities lived in China from the 1840s through 1957. The three groups were the Baghdadi Sephardim, the Ashkenazi Russians, and the Ashkenazi refugees from central Europe, predominantly Germany, Austria and Poland. Some survived, while others thrived, but for all, China proved to be a safe haven until it was time to move on again. The journey of two families, one Russian, the other Austrian, will be highlighted in this presentation, as will the important role the Baghdadis played in supporting the entire Jewish Community.