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• "Kvell and Tell" JGSI hybrid meeting on Sunday, June 29, 2025

  • When
    29 Jun 2025
  •  
    1:45 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois
  • Spaces left
    268

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  Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois June 29 hybrid meeting to feature short “Kvell and Tell” family history presentations

  Several JGSI members will take turns sharing family history discoveries and research tips as part of the annual “Kvell and Tell” session on Sunday, June 29, 2025, in a hybrid meeting at Temple Beth-El in Northbrook, Illinois. This meeting also features a brief annual report from JGSI's president, Doug Bank.

  Please register/RSVP by clicking the button at left.

  Presenters for the Sunday, June 29, 2025, JGSI meeting  include the following:

  • “Kanelsztejn, Kochanek, Conick, and Stone” by Barbara Aronson:
    When her half-brother turned 75, Barbara gave him something better than a sweater: a complete history of his long-lost maternal family. Her search spanned two years, four continents, and several spelling changes. Come hear how she did it—and what she found.

  • “Searching for Needles in Haystacks: Finding Family Records in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Latvia, Ukraine, Romania, England, Australia, and Israel” by Karen Glinert Carlson:
    Karen will share the research strategies she used to uncover her family’s story in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Latvia, Ukraine, Romania, France, England, Czech Republic, Poland, Australia, and Israel. Her talk highlights the creative methods required to track down elusive records across so many countries and lessons learned. 
    
    
  • “Adding Context: The Story of Rosa Arnow” by Paul Epner:
    Rosa Arnow arrived in 1857 as a teenager with her little brother and no connections. Paul wanted to go beyond the usual records to understand her world—and her life. This talk is about what he found, and how he brought her story into focus.
    
    
  • “Where Did Jack Ferdie Actually Die?” by Moreen Ferdie:
    Moreen turned to newspaper collections to settle a long-standing family question: where did Grandpa Jack actually die? Her search also turned up some unexpected details about the man himself.
    
    
  • “How Eddie Cantor Became Part of My Larger Family History” by Sheldon “Shelly” Isenberg:
    Shelly grew up hearing a rumor that his family had a link to Eddie Cantor’s rabbi. That offhand comment led to real research—and some surprising connections. This one starts in the Bronx and ends up in early 20th-century New York finance.
    
    
  • “The Forgotten Jews of Depue, IL” by Dana Steingold:
    With old photos, handwritten records, and family interviews, Dana uncovers the rich Jewish history of small towns along the Illinois River. Her talk brings to life the people who built communities in places like Depue, LaSalle, and Spring Valley—and what remains of them today.

  This hybrid event will feature some presenters joining remotely via Zoom from outside the Chicago area, while others will speak in person at Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois.

  The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth-El will open at 12:30 p.m. CDT for those who want to use genealogy library materials, including our collection of maps; get help with family history websites, ask genealogical questions, or just chat, before the main program begins at 1:45 p.m. CDT. Walk-ins are welcome; however, registration is strongly encouraged.

  For more information about JGSI, visit our website. For more information about membership benefits, click here.

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• “How to Research Jewish Ancestry from Galicia” with Alex Feller (Members Only)

  • When
    16 Jul 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    From the convenience of your home device

  Register

  This 7 p.m. Central Time Zoom session is for JGSI members only. This special online-only event will feature Alex Feller speaking on “How to Research Jewish Ancestry from Galicia.”

  Alex will discuss various websites and tools to research your ancestry from towns located in the area formerly known as Galicia in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. There will be time for attendees to ask questions.

  Alexander Feller serves on the board of directors for JGSI and for Gesher Galicia. Alex founded the Rohatyn District Research Group in 2009 and manages the website www.RohatynDRG.org and its discussion group of over 300 members.

  Please register/RSVP by clicking the button at left.
  

  If you are not a JGSI member and would like to participate in this discussion, please consider purchasing a JGSI membership for as little as $25 a year.  See the details at: https://jgsi.org/Membership.

  
  

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• “The Wandering Jew” and “The Rise and Fall of the Jewish Shtetl” by Dick Goldman

  • When
    27 Jul 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois
  • Spaces left
    290

  Register

  Jewish genealogist Dick Goldman to give two talks for July 27, 2025, JGSI hybrid meeting

  Former IAJGS vice president Dick Goldman will give two lectures on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at a hybrid meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois. He will be speaking in person at Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois, and online via Zoom.

  Temple Beth-El will open at 12:30 p.m. CDT for sign-in and socializing before the lectures begin at 1 p.m. Central Time.

  Please register/RSVP by clicking the button at left.

  At 1 p.m. CDT, Dick will give a talk titled “The Wandering Jew.” This lecture will tell the story of the Jewish people and our wanderings from the time of “genetic Adam and Eve” until the present: Where we lived, why we relocated so often and what we learned along the way. This is a fascinating and brief look at our origins and the breadth of our experiences, and the myth of the Wandering Jew and that concept’s Christian underpinnings.

  At 2:30 p.m. CDT, Dick will give a talk titled “The Rise and Fall of the Jewish Shtetl.” In this lecture, Dick will discuss why so many of our ancestors chose to live in these small towns and the crucial role they played in Jewish life. Learn why this period (17th to 19th centuries) is known as the “Golden Age in Poland” and how it came to an abrupt end. Was this rapid decline due to antisemitism or something less insidious?

  Dick Goldman retired to Boynton Beach, Florida, seven years ago. He is president of the “Jewish Connection” programs at the Valencia Lakes retirement community, where he lives. He is also president of the community’s Genealogy and Bike Clubs. Before relocating, he spent more than a decade as president of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Maryland and served as vice president of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS). After retirement he worked as adjunct faculty teaching genealogy at local colleges in Maryland. He has lectured frequently at JCC’s, local libraries and for numerous community and synagogue groups both regionally and internationally.

  Dick was formerly general manager of the Pearlstone Conference Center in Baltimore (Jewish Federation) and was Director of Jewish Life and Camping Services at their JCC. He was the founding director of youth activities for Women’s American ORT and he helped form a number of youth groups throughout the country. He led many trips to Israel, and has wonderful memories of participants and colleagues from Chicago, Skokie, Highland Park and Evanston.

  His graduate work took place at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. In his “secular” career, Dick was a serial entrepreneur and founder and president of two high tech companies. He is married to Roz and has two children and five grandchildren.

  The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth-El will open at 12:30 p.m. CDT for those who want to use genealogy library materials, including our collection of maps; get help with family history websites, ask genealogical questions, or just chat, before the main program begins at 1 p.m. CDT. Walk-ins are welcome; however, registration is strongly encouraged.

  For more information about JGSI, visit our website. For more information about membership benefits, click here.

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• Mark your calendar for the 45th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy

  • Start
    10 Aug 2025
  • End
    14 Aug 2025
  • Location
    Grand Wayne Convention Center and Hilton Fort Wayne

  Expert Jewish genealogists will be presenting informative family history talks for the 45th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, from  Aug. 10 through 14, 2025.

  Presenters will offer a wide range of Jewish genealogy topics at this year's IAJGS conference. JGSI members scheduled to speak include: Gil Bardige, Alex Feller, Martin Fischer, Suzanne Hoffman, Mike Karsen, and Abby Schmelling.

  If you have any questions or comments about attending the IAJGS conference for/from past JGSI attendees, please subscribe to the special online forum at http://jgsi.org/IAJGS_Forum.

  For more information, visit the conference website here: https://www.iajgs.org/conference/iajgs2025/

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• Genetic Genealogy Open Discussion for DNA Questions and Answers (Members Only)

  • When
    19 Aug 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    From the convenience of your home device

  Register

  This 7 p.m. Central Time Zoom session is for JGSI members only. This special online-only event will feature JGSI DNA mavens Alvin Holtzman and Gil Bardige.

  This is a time for an open discussion about genetic genealogy (DNA). Bring your genetic genealogy questions and brick walls, and help answer questions of others. JGSI members are invited to share their DNA discoveries and quandaries related to using genetic tests for researching family history and discovering previously unknown cousins.

  Gil Bardige and Alvin Holtzman are experts on DNA and long time JGSI members.
  

  Be sure to register for the Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, JGSI members-only DNA discussion by clicking the button at left on this web page.

  If you are not a JGSI member and would like to participate in this discussion, please consider purchasing a JGSI membership for as little as $25 a year.  See the details at: https://jgsi.org/Membership.

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• "AI and Jewish Genealogy: New Tools, New Concerns" by Scott Myer

  • When
    24 Aug 2025
  •  
    2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois
  • Spaces left
    300

  Genealogy and artificial intelligence will be the focus of the Aug. 24, 2025, JGSI hybrid meeting lecture

  Scott Meyer will share some of the latest artificial intelligence tools in the Jewish genealogical tool belt and the ethical concerns they raise when he presents "AI and Jewish Genealogy: New Tools, New Concerns" for the Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois hybrid meeting.

  A registration/RSVP link will be available here in the future.
  

  Scott Myer is a past president and current board member of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois (JGSI) and has spoken on Jewish genealogy for more than 40 years. He served as associate editor of Search: International Journal for Researchers of Jewish Genealogy; co-editor of the North America section of the "Encyclopedia of Jewish Genealogy," consulting editor of "A Translation Guide to 19th-century Polish-Language Civil-Registration Documents" by Judith R. Frazin, and has authored numerous articles for Morasha, the award-winning newsletter of the JGSI.

  The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth-El will open at 12:30 p.m. CDT for those who want to use genealogy library materials, get help with family history websites or ask genealogical questions before the main program begins at 2 p.m. CDT.

  For more information about JGSI, visit our website. For more information about membership benefits, click here.

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• "Using Artificial Intelligence to Amplify Your Family History Narrative" with Kate Penney Howard (Members Only)

  • When
    09 Oct 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    From the convenience of your home device

  This 7 p.m. Central Time Zoom session is for JGSI members only. This special online-only event will feature Kate Penney Howard speaking on “Using Artificial Intelligence to Amplify Your Family History Narrative.”

  Do you struggle with filling in the rest of the story ("the dash") between a person's birth and death? Sometimes, it's nice to have a writing partner, and Artificial Intelligence can fill that role.  Not sure you're ready to trade in your pencil for a stylus, but you want to know more? Learn to improve your research, extract more data, translate, and creatively leverage tools and resources available to tech-embracing genealogists. This session is a follow up to Kate's presentation to JGSI on Sunday, May 18, 2025, titled “Facts and Fables and Family Narratives”

  Please register/RSVP by clicking the button at left.
  

   Kate Penney Howard is a genetic genealogist, specializing in brick wall work, High RoH (high run of homozygosity), and endogamy. During a bout with cancer, she discovered that she loves sharing her knowledge with other genealogists. She is intentional about addressing injustice and myths in her presentations.

  Kate has presented at Rootstech, the East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference, the International Congress on Medieval Studies, and NAAP/RTK’s Untangling Our Roots. Her 2025 speaking engagements include Rootstech, Ohio Genealogical Society 2025, and Ontario Ancestors Webinar Series, as well as local library and genealogical society gatherings.

  If you are not a JGSI member and would like to participate in this discussion, please consider purchasing a JGSI membership for as little as $25 a year.  See the details at: https://jgsi.org/Membership.

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• "The Real Story of the Musical 'Chicago' and Its Two Murderesses" by Mike Karsen

  • When
    16 Nov 2025
  •  
    2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois
  • Spaces left
    300

  Genealogical research provides historical perspective on the musical 'Chicago' for the Nov. 16, 2025, JGSI hybrid meeting lecture

  The Broadway musical and Hollywood movie "Chicago"  was based on the stories of two real-life women by the name of Belva and Beulah. Just as in the show and movie, these women killed their lovers. By collecting standard genealogical documents, Mike Karsen pieces together their lives as well as puts their tales into context relating to Chicago history.

  Mike Karsen is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the Genealogical Speakers Guild (GSG), and is a past president of JGSI. He has given more than 300 talks on genealogy topics locally, nationally, and internationally, including at Newberry Library and the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago. He currently is executive vice president of JGSI.

  His talk, titled "The Real Story of the Musical 'Chicago' and Its Two Murderesses,"  will begin at 2 p.m. CST via Zoom and at Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois. Mike will be speaking in person at Temple Beth-El, but his talk will also be available online via Zoom.

  The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth-El will open at 12:30 p.m. CST for those who want to use genealogy library materials, get help with family history websites or ask genealogical questions before the main program begins at 2 p.m. CST.

  A registration/RSVP link will be available here in the future.

  For more information about JGSI, visit our website. For more information about membership benefits, click here.

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• “Surfing USA: Jewish Archival Collections” by Ellen Kowitt

  • When
    22 Feb 2026
  •  
    2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois
  • Spaces left
    300

  Jewish archival collections to be focus of Feb. 22, 2026, JGSI hybrid meeting

  

  Genealogist Ellen Kowitt’s talk, “Surfing USA: Jewish Archival Collections,” for the Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois hybrid meeting, will inspire you to locate unique Jewish genealogical gems found in American archives, universities, libraries, and on commercial websites. Her talk will begin at 2 p.m. CST via Zoom and at Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois. Ellen will be speaking remotely, and her talk will be projected onto the wall at Temple Beth-El.

  The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth-El will open at 12:30 p.m. CST for those who want to use genealogy library materials, get help with family history websites or ask genealogical questions before the main program begins at 2 p.m. CST.

  A registration/RSVP link will be available here in the future.

  In her talk, Ellen will explain how to access large and small genealogical collections found nationwide; you will learn how to uncover archival treasures utilizing WorldCat, Archivegrid, FamilySearch, Ancestry, and a variety of institutional catalogs. Record examples will include American Jewish orphans, hospital patients, veterans, synagogue records, Jewish newspapers, and an introduction to navigating JewishGen’s Shul Records America finding aid.

  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 25 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, a unique finding aid pointing to the location of synagogue records in over 130 repositories.

  Originally from New York and Washington, D.C., Ellen resides in Colorado with her husband and is mother to two college students. For more information and lecture dates, visit www.EllenKowitt.com

  The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth-El will open at 12:30 p.m. Central Time for those who want to use genealogy library materials, including our collection of maps; get help with family history websites, ask genealogical questions, or just chat, before the main program begins at 2 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome; however, registration is strongly encouraged.

  more information about JGSI, visit our website. For more information about membership benefits, click here.

  Show details