Home
Board Members
Bylaws
Gallery
Member News

Society

The Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington (JGSGW) was formed in 1980 to:

• Collect, preserve, and disseminate Jewish genealogical knowledge and information
• Promote interest in genealogical research
• Stimulate and provide instruction in the use of research methodology and adherence to standards of accuracy and thoroughness in research
• Foster careful documentation and to promote scholarly genealogical writing and publication
• Promote the preservation of Jewish genealogical records and resources
• Hold meetings for the instruction and education of its members and the general public
• Conduct such other purposes as the organization shall from time to time elect to pursue.

''JGSGW'' is the acronym for the “Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington, Inc.,” an independent non-profit organization, focused on promoting genealogy and education.

JGSGW was formed in 1980 by Dr. Sallyann Sack with the encouragement of Rabbi Dr. Malcolm Stern, known as the “father of Jewish Genealogy.”  The society provides a common meeting place for those persons interested in tracing their Jewish ancestral roots and promotes genealogical education in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia. 

In 1981, JGSGW was incorporated in Maryland and Dr. Sack became the first president of the organization. Among the first activities was to begin a genealogy library and start a newsletter. The library currently has more than 2,000 items in its catalog, including books, maps and an extensive collection of recordings of lectures on a myriad of subjects related to Jewish genealogy. The name “Mishpacha” was selected for the newsletter and the publication has been continuous for more than 30 years.

The greater Washington, DC area abounds in repositories that are a treasure trove for genealogy researchers. As a result, it is a highly desirable site for genealogical conferences and JGSGW has hosted five international Jewish genealogy conferences (1982, 1988, 1995, 2003, and 2011). The 2011 Conference featured and highlighted the holdings of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the Library of Congress (LOC).

Among the outstanding research accomplishments of JGSGW are the indexing of the two oldest Jewish cemeteries in Washington, DC: Macpela (Adas Israel) and Washington Hebrew Congregation. In 2008, the society undertook the indexing and photographic documentation of the Jewish burials at Arlington National Cemetery. This project was started by the late Kenneth Poch and after his death it was turned over to JGSGW. The project currently has more than 5,000 graves included in the index.

JGSGW is a member of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS), the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS), and the National Genealogical Society (NGS).

The Society is open to all those interested in Jewish genealogy.

For more information, see the FAQs page.

                           © 2013, Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington, Inc.