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

Several Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois 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. 

Please register/RSVP by clicking the button at left. 

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

• “Kanelsztejn, Kochanek, Conick, and Stone” by Barbara Aronson: “My brother from my father’s first marriage knew little about his maternal birth family. I set off on a mission to explore his maternal genealogy. Over the course of nearly 2 years, I learned that the family originated as the Kanelstzejns of Poland and intermarried with the Kochaneks. As they left their homeland, spreading to New York City, London, and Cape Town, many of their names changed to Kanelstein, Conick, and Stone. Through the use of RootsMagic software, Ancestry.com, and MyHeritage.com, I have pieced together the genealogy of my brother’s family and have presented it to him for his 75th birthday.”
• “Adding Context: The Story of Rosa Arnow” by Paul Epner: “My great-great-grandmother (my mom’s namesake) came to the U.S. in 1857 as a 16-year-old girl with a 14-year-old brother in tow and no connections to the U.S. I can’t imagine the courage and fortitude it took, but wanted to see if I could bring some life to her beyond the available vital statistics and census records. This led me to merge her life with historical events independently researched with surprising results. This presentation will share what I learned about the woman and how she lived her life. I will also share the research methods I used to get my results.”
• “Where Did Jack Ferdie Actually Die? by Moreen Ferdie: “The process of using newspapers to find out where my grandfather actually died. Plus other tidbits I learned about him from using newspapers.”
• “How Eddie Cantor Became Part of my Larger Family History” by Sheldon “Shelly” Isenberg: “This talk will illustrate how a simple fragment of a family rumor can develop into a multifaceted history of one New York immigrant family. My research resulted from my overhearing, when I was a child, a Bronx relative say that we were connected to Eddie Cantor’s rabbi. Through genealogical research, I was able to connect a friend of Cantor’s to my family tree. It also introduced me to how Jews began to be part of the financial establishment in New York.”
  
• “The Forgotten Jews of Depue, IL” by Dana Steingold: “In the heart of the Illinois River Valley, a nearly forgotten chapter of Jewish American life unfolds through old photographs, handwritten records, and firsthand memories. This story follows the Jewish families who settled in towns like Depue, LaSalle, Peru, and Spring Valley—immigrants who built synagogues, started businesses, and formed close-knit communities. Through interviews with descendants and historical research, this story demonstrates how these communities thrived, adapted, and eventually dwindled, leaving behind only traces. The narrative weaves personal stories with broader themes of migration, memory, and the quiet disappearance of a once-vibrant Jewish presence.”

As a hybrid meeting, the talks may be given in person at Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois, OR from home via Zoom.

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.