Jewish genealogists to share family history discoveries and tips in JGSI ‘Kvell and Tell’ hybrid session on Sunday, June 28, 2026

Join us in person at Temple Beth-El in Northbrook as JGSI members take turns discussing discoveries that enhanced the story of their family history. Topics on Sunday, June 28, 2026, will include Sanborn fire insurance maps, family recipes, ship manifest details, and the process of piecing together family documents found after a parent's death. A brief annual report will be given by JGSI President Doug Bank. For those unable to attend in person, the presentations and report will be live-streamed via Zoom. 

Please register/RSVP by clicking the button at left.

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 hybrid program begins at 2:00 p.m. CDT.

Presenters for the June 28, 2026, JGSI meeting include the following:

• “Things My Father Never Told Me” by Neil Blumenthal: A journey spanning pre-internet to 2012 prompted by things found amongst his father’s papers after his death. Discovering and meeting family he didn’t know existed!
• “What’s in a Name?” by Perry Shorris: Perry will share incredible stories found buried in a ship manifest.
• “Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps” by Barry Finkel: How Barry was able to use Sanborn Insurance maps to help find his Great Uncle Isadore—and then, using those maps to develop a personal “family” map showing the locations of his family, the synagogue, etc., in proximity to one another.
• “Food—The Heart of Every Jewish Family” by Sarah Bazer: Her personal genealogy book has many sections. Documents and stories from various sources, family photos, quotations—but most importantly: family recipes.
• “Grandfather Lied to Everyone: Good Genealogy Finds the Truth” by Alan Huss: Alan will demonstrate how good genealogy and a dab of new technology helps separate facts from fiction, busts through old brick walls and even adds generations to a family tree.

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