Genealogist and attorney Robin Meltzer to speak on using social media for genealogy for the July 23, 2023, JGSI meeting

“Using Social Media for Genealogic Research: the Good, the Bad, and the Exceedingly Strange” will be the topic of genealogist Robin Meltzer for the Sunday, July 23, 2023, Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois hybrid meeting. Her online talk will begin at 2 p.m. CDT via Zoom and at Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois.

The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth-El will open at 12:45 p.m. CDT to accommodate those who want to use genealogy library materials, get help with genealogy websites or ask genealogical questions before the main program begins at 2 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome; however, registration is strongly encouraged.

Register for the 2 p.m. CDT online Zoom webinar by clicking the button at left. 

This program will introduce family researchers to many helpful genealogic resources available on social media platforms, and how to use these tools safely. The presentation includes examples of best practices for using social media in genealogical records research, how to find long-lost family members, and the benefits of location-focused research groups. Robin will also discuss case studies from two Facebook groups she co-administers: Tracing the Tribe and Jewish Community of the 15th Ward.

An attorney and genealogist, Robin assists families in obtaining legal records, discovering non-traditional information sources and interpreting documentary evidence. She is an administrator of Tracing the Tribe: Jewish Genealogy on Facebook; co-founder of the Jewish Community of the 15th Ward, Syracuse, New York, Facebook group; associate producer of the documentary films “Stories from the Syracuse Jewish Community” and “People and Places of the Syracuse Jewish Community,” and a former vice president of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington (JGSGW).

She lectures internationally on topics in Jewish genealogy and research methodology and has appeared on the cable television program “Tracing Your Family Roots.” Robin has written articles on Jewish genealogy and local history for several publications, including Avotaynu, Mishpacha, The Galitzianer, and the Jewish Observer of Central New York.

JGSI hybrid event participants may register for both online and in-person events if they are undecided. In-person attendance will be limited.

Please keep in mind that JGSI will maintain certain procedures for our in-person meetings. These include:

• We request all attendees to in-person meetings be vaccinated.
•  Face masks are strongly recommended.
• Water and snacks will be provided.
• Seating will be set up to allow for social distancing.
• And MOST IMPORTANT, if you are sick or not feeling well or recently tested positive for COVID, please do not come into TBE.

At each in-person JGSI monthly meeting, the JGSI “help desk” will operated 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 library has more than 800 volumes of interest to Jewish family historians. All are available for perusing from 12:45 to 1:50 p.m. at each regular monthly meeting.

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping members collect, preserve, and perpetuate the records and history of their ancestors. JGSI is a resource for the worldwide Jewish community to research their Chicago-area roots. The JGSI motto is “Members Helping Members Since 1981.” The group has more than 300 members and is affiliated with the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies.

JGSI members have access to useful and informative online family history research resources, including a members’ forum, more than 70 video recordings of past speakers’ presentations, monthly JGSI E-News, quarterly Morasha JGSI newsletter, and much more. Members as well as non-members can look for their ancestors on the free searchable JGSI Jewish Chicago Database.

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