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.