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Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois

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Welcome!

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois (JGSI) is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization established in 1981 and now with over 300 members. JGSI is a member of IAJGS, the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies.

We help members collect, preserve, and perpetuate the records and history of their ancestors and serve as a resource for the worldwide community to research their Chicago area Jewish roots. JGSI hosts our monthly meetings with informative speakers and expert genealogy volunteers to answer your questions about Jewish genealogy.

JGSI hybrid meetings feature easy access to useful research library and genealogy help desk

The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth-El in Northbrook, Illinois, will open at 12:45 p.m.  for each monthly hybrid meeting to accommodate those who want to use or borrow genealogy library materials, get help with genealogy websites or ask genealogical questions before the main program begins at 2 p.m.

At each in-person JGSI monthly meeting, our “help desk” will operate from 12:45 to 1:50 p.m.  Member volunteers will access online databases and answer genealogical questions one-on-one for members and visitors as time allows. The JGSI research library has more than 800 volumes of interest to Jewish family historians. Many are available for borrowing by JGSI members for a limited time. The library also includes a good selection of historical and new maps. All the books and maps are available for perusing from 12:45 to 1:50 p.m. at each regular monthly meeting.

    More details and registrations are on the Programs page.

    Memories of Jewish life in the Soviet Ukrainian shtetl will be focus of April 23 JGSI hybrid meeting

    University of Michigan Professor Jeffrey Veidlinger will speak on “In the Shadow of the Shtetl: Small-Town Jewish Life in Soviet Ukraine” for JGSI's Sunday, April 23, 2023, hybrid meeting. In his talk, he will explore how elderly Yiddish speakers relate their memories of Jewish life in the Soviet Ukrainian shtetl, their stories of survival during the Holocaust, and their experiences living as Jews under Communism..

      More details and registrations are on the Programs page.



      THE LATEST UPDATES

      Upcoming events

      Mark your calendar now for our future events, which are listed on the Programs page of this website. Also, sign up for Burbio.com, a free website and mobile app that lists events from local organizations in one online calendar.

      NEWS

      The Chicago Jewish Post and Opinion newspaper (August 1962-December 1981) is now available as part of the Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections thanks to the University of Illinois and a bequest to the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois from the estate of Peggy Morrow, z''l.  Search at
      https://tinyurl.com/2p85h7ct

      JGSI Jewish Chicago Database (JJCD)

      The JGSI Jewish Chicago Database (JJCD) includes information compiled from cemeteries, obituaries, memorial plaques, retirement homes, and other Jewish organizations.

      Mystery Photos

      Mystery Photos... If you would like to help us identify these people, please click here.

      © 2023 JGSI | P.O. Box 515, Northbrook, IL 60065-0515 | 312.666.0100 | info@jgsi.org
      JGSI is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.