Mike Karsen to present update on Chicago-area Jewish genealogy resources on Nov. 12, 2023

“Resources for Jewish Genealogy in Chicagoland—What’s New” will be the topic of a presentation by genealogist Mike Karsen for the Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, hybrid meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois at 2 p.m. CST. 

Mike will be speaking IN PERSON at Temple Beth-El in Northbrook, Illinois, and online via Zoom.

The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth-El will open at 12:45 p.m. CST 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 in-person 12:45 p.m. meeting by clicking the button at left.

This event will feature JGSI past president Mike Karsen giving his annual update covering various resources available to discover your Jewish roots in Chicagoland. He will include a wide range of records and research resources, including cemeteries, death certificates, death notices/obits, marriage records, birth records, and city directories. He will also cover some uniquely Jewish resources. Today, with so many records available online, you hardly have to leave your home to research your Chicago roots. Case studies will be utilized to demonstrate the research process.

A professional speaker, Mike Karsen is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speakers Guild, and is a past president of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois. He has presented over 300 talks on genealogy topics locally, nationally, and internationally, including for the Newberry Library and the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago. Mike is the author of the JewishGen website’s “Guide to Jewish Genealogy in Chicagoland” and has published articles on genealogy.

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.

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