Members Helping Members Since 1981

Are you researching Jewish family history and looking for a Chicago area network of experts and enthusiasts?

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.

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.

A great honor in memory of Peggy Morrow: Morasha, the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois newsletter formerly edited by the late Peggy Morrow z"l and now edited by Dale Amdur, has won the first-place award for newsletters in the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors’ 2020 Excellence in Writing Competition. Congratulations to all JGSI volunteers who regularly contribute to Morasha!

JGSI members are invited to write articles for Morasha, JGSI's newsletter. If you have an interesting family story or genealogical find, please send an article about it to morashaeditor@jgsi.org. 

Mike Karsen to speak on Chicago-area genealogy research resources on Oct. 25

“Resources for Jewish Genealogy in Chicagoland—What’s New” will be the topic of a webinar presentation by genealogist Mike Karsen for the Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois. His live streaming presentation, which will begin at 2 p.m. CDT, will be preceded at 1 p.m. by a genealogy question-and-answer discussion time. 

To register for this free event, go to https://jgsi.org/event-3925245.  After you register, you will be sent the link to join the meeting. This webinar will be recorded so that JGSI’s paid members who are unable to view it live will be able to view the recording later.

For more information, see https://jgsi.org/event-3925245 or phone 312-666-0100.