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Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois (JGSI)

"Members helping members since 1981"
 

Past
Meetings
of
JGSI

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2009

imageSunday, November 8, 2009, 2 p.m.*

Topic: Online Genealogy Resources
Presented by Harriet Rudnit
Location: Temple Beth Israel
3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie

*Note: For regular meetings at Temple Beth Israel, the facilities will be open at 12:30 p.m. to accommodate members who want to use our library materials, need help with genealogical Web sites on the Internet, or have genealogical related questions.

imageOctober 25, 2009

Beginners’ Genealogy Workshop by Judith R. Frazin, former JGSI president
Sunday, October 25 at the Northbrook Public Library, 1201 Cedar Lane

Learn how to research your family’s history step by step. After an introduction, which explains how to get started, how to interview relatives, and how to use certain important internet and print resources, the workshop will focus on which records are available, where they can be accessed and what information they may contain about your family. The talk will focus on U.S. resources with an emphasis on Chicago research sites. However, suggestions will also be given about where to find similar records in other cities so that the information in this workshop can be applied to research in other places.

 

imageSunday, October 18, 2009

Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster, Skokie, IL 60076

Program: "Finding the Treasures in 19th-Century Polish-Language Documents"
Celebrating the completion of JGSI’s latest project-- the publication of the 3rd edition of A Translation Guide to 19th-Century Polish-Language Civil-Registration Documents by former JGSI president Judith R. Frazin. Judith presented an explanation of the book methology and featured a demonstration of the techniques used to translate birth and death documents.

image Sunday, August 30, 2009

Program. Tour of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center at 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, IL

Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois will present a docent lead tour of the Illinois Holocaust Museum on August 30, 2009, 1 p.m. at 9600 Woods Drive, Skokie. The museum’s permanent exhibits tells the story of the Holocaust and presents personal stories of Chicago-are survivors.
imageSunday, July 26, 2009 Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie

2:00pm: Program. The JGSI DNA Project One Year Later -- presented by Alvin Holtzman. JGSI arranged with FamilyTreeDNA, the world's first and largest genealogy-driven DNA testing service, to provide DNA testing to our members at a reduced rate. Find out the latest information, project successes and more.
Library open again after the programs until 4pm.

imageSunday, June 28, 2009 Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie

Program: Annual Meeting/Ask the Experts - Members were invited to ask any genealogical questions regarding their family research.
imageJune 14, 2009 Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie

Sunday, June 14, 2009, 12:30 p.m. Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois proudly welcomes national lecturer and author Beau Sharbrough Presenting "Jewish Research on Footnote.com" and "Automated Search Tools"  

Beau Sharbrough Presentation

Houston native Beau Sharbrough received a Philosophy BA from Texas A&M in 1977. His programming career began in 1980, and he is presently self-employed. He is the founder of the FGS web site, the GENTECH web site, and the Lexicon Working Group. He is a former president of GENTECH. He has previously worked as a Product Manager for tree products at Ancestry.com, and as Vice President of Content at Footnote.com. Beau writes regularly on technical topics in family history, with an occasional overdose of humor, and maintains the RootsWorks.com website. He is the author of Gene’s Anniversary Scrapbook. Lecture Free to JGSI Members.

Download handouts (PDF format): "Jewish Research on Footnote.com" and "Automated Search Tools"

imageSunday, May 31, 2009
1:00pm: Program. Beginner’s Workshop Skokie Public Library 5215 Oakton Street, Skokie, IL

Presenter: Judith Frazin, author and an experienced lecturer and researcher.

imageSunday, April 26, 2009 Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie

Program, featuring Mike Karsen, will begin at 2:00.
He will speak on "Preserving Your Ancestor's Legacy: Write Their Life Story."

JGSI’s new Birds Of a Feather group, led Judy Frazin also met. This BOF group focused on Polish Research, Polish “brick walls” and successes.

imageSunday, March 29, 2009 Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie

Program: Organizing Your Records by Trudy Barch.

"Have a Go-Go Day: Genealogical Organization Goals and Objectives".

imageSunday, February 22, 2009 Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie

Program: Culture, Cooking and Chicago in 1898: The Role of Jewish Heritage in Cuisine by Ellen Steinberg. It includes German Jewish genealogy and the process of assimilation into Chicago life.

imageSunday, January 25, 2009 Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois presented "Ask the Experts." We invited any genealogical related questions regarding researching your family's history.
imageSunday, January 11, 2009 Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois hosted a Beginners' Workshop lead by Judy Frazin at Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton Street, Skokie, IL This program is designed to help answer the question: "How do I get started researching my family?"

 

2008

image Sunday, November 23: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
Program. Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois will host Jewish Lawndale presented by Amanda Friedeman of Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies.Topic: Learning more about the immigrant's port of entry to Chicago.

image Sunday, October 26: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie

Topic: Skeletons in the Closet
Speakers: Robin Seidenberg & Abby Schmelling: Genealogy presentations of family history episodes.

image Sunday, September 21: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie

1:00pm: Program. Steve Morse, creator of the One-Step Search Forms. “One-Step Webpages: A Potpourri of Genealogical Search Tools” and "One-Step Webpages: A Hodgepodge of Lesser Known Gems”.

Handout (5 pages PDF file)
 
imageSunday, July 27 Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
Program. Mining the National Archives Speaker: Ginger Frere
Program Summary PDF
Program Handout PDF
imageSunday, June 29: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
Program. Topic: Annual Meeting and Ask the Experts.
imageSunday, May 18: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie "Genealogy Gems from Reading Jewish Tombstones" by Irwin Lapping a JGSI member and Director of Waldheim talked about inscriptions, symbols and other engravings to help you learn more about your family. Meeting Handout: (PDF will open in new browser or tab) "Genealogy Gems from Reading Jewish Tombstones" by Irwin Lapping
image Wednesday, April 23: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
Jewish Genealogy Resources in Chicago with JGSI President Mike Karsen
Meeting Handout: (PDF will open in new browser or tab)

imageSunday, March 30: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie

"DNA: The Newest Tool in Genealogy" -- Details of JGSI's New DNA Project Announced.
Alvin Holtzman the speaker.
View a 28 page DNA Project presentation offers an overview of the use of DNA testing for studying your genealogy. The file in PDF format is approximately 4MB. A high speed internet connection is recommended.

DNA Presentation will open in a new browser window or tab
imageSunday, February 24: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie "Family Tree Maker 2008--The Latest Version" by Frankin Mills a JGSI member. Franklin reviewed Family Tree Maker's new interface and dozens of new features.
image Sunday, January 27: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
"How to Plan the Perfect Family Reunion" by Sally Mann. Sally’s presentation offered ways to help you plan and organize your next family reunion.
image Sunday, January 13, 2008: Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton Street, Skokie
Judy Frazin lead this important workshop. The program is designed to help answer the question: "How do I get started researching my family?"

2007

image Sunday, November 18: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
 
2:00pm: "Analyzing Late 19th and Early 20th Century Photographs for Family History Data" by Craig L. Pfannkuche
Some of us are lucky enough to possess old photographs of our ancestors. Many times these photographs do not have any identifying names on them. This presentation will focus on how a family history researcher might be able to identify such individuals. Additionally, suggestions will be made as to how 'unnamed' photographs, even if they can not be identified, can be used to add interesting material to one’s family history. JGSI members can also bring their own photos to the meeting to get information.
image Sunday, October 21: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
"Searching Electronic Databases," by Ginger Frere, M.L.S. Download handout: Seven Steps to a Successful Search PDF 125kb
image September 30, 2007: Congregation Or Torah, 3800 W. Dempster Street, Skokie, IL
"Finding Your Ancestor’s Ellis Island Arrival Record" by Dr. Stephen P. Morse. Dr. Morse, the recipient of many awards from the genealogical community for his One-Step Website, will demonstrate how to use his one-step search forms to help you find your ancestors at the Ellis Island online database. He will also give a second lecture on "Demystifying the Jewish Calendar".
image Sunday, August 26: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
Mini-workshop: Belle Holman reviews JGSI library holdings.
Highlights of the IAJGS 2007 International Conference in Salt Lake City
image Sunday, July 29: Tour of Waldheim Cemetery
Car pools form at Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
Directions to Waldheim Cemetery 1400 Desplaines Avenue, Forest Park
Tour of cemetery with Ilene Bass, former director of operations. Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes and bring water, if desired.
Locate family graves on your own
image Sunday, June 24: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
Annual meeting followed by "Waldheim Update" by Ilene Bass.
image Sunday, May 20: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
"Sex, Politics, Murder, and Genealogy"
Local Chicago historian Walter Roth will narrate the sensational story of Dora Feldman McDonald who made headlines in 1907 when she shot her lover. Learn how genealogist Mike Karsen traced what happened to McDonald and her family after the trial; what Karsen found surprised both of them. After this program, there will be a question and answer period until 4pm. Presentation handout by Mike Karsen (PDF). Sex, Murder, and Genealogy
image Sunday, June 10: Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton Street, Skokie
"Beginner’s Workshop" by Judith Frazin, past president of JGSI.
Start your journey into discovering your family history here! Learn basic techniques to help in your search for information to build your family tree. Even if you have been working on your tree for awhile, this course may remind you of some overlooked areas in your research. Bring a friend!
image Sunday, April 29: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
Barbara Steiner, author of "Courage and Resistance: Remembering the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising"
Barbara will speak about "Jewish Life in Poland before and during World War II". She'll be bringing copies of her book for sale, as well.
image Sunday, March 25: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
Andrew Sloin, advanced doctoral student in the Department of History and the Committee on Jewish Studies at the University of Chicago, and founding member of the non-profit Jewish Social History Project based in Krakow, will speak on,
"Mapping Ashkenaz: Boundaries, Borders, and the Jewish Geography of Eastern Europe, 1648-1939."
image Sunday, February 25: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
"The Doctors Beck", a Chicago medical family's genealogy and story.
JGSI member Dr. Sidney Blair will present the history of the Beck, Pollack, Hirsch, and Stein families.
image Sunday, January 28: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
30-minute video "Romance of a People, 100 Years of Jewish History in Chicago 1833-1933."
JGSI member Jeanne Larzalere Bloom will speak on "The Unpolished Gems: The Cook County, Illinois Irregular Indexes"
These records, beginning in 1871 after the fire, are useful for Jewish genealogists and others because they include papers on surname changes and pre-1916 birth/death affidavits.
image Sunday, January 14: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
"Beginners' Workshop" presented by Judy Frazin.
Start your journey into discovering your family history here! Learn basic techniques to help in your search for information to build your family tree. Even if you have been working on your tree for awhile, this course may remind you of some overlooked areas in your research.

 

 
 
 
 
 

2006

image Sunday, November 19: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
Former Chicagoan Sam Wolff, who now lives in Jerusalem, will discuss his Sephardic family connections to the Amado, Moses, Ligiers, Wolff, and Pinkus families.
"The Forgotten Synagogues of Chicago" by Rob Packer, Author of Doors of Redemption.
Forgotten Synagogues of Chicago is his new book which covers a 150 year history of Chicago synagogue architecture with personal stories going back 100 years.
image Sunday, October 22: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
"What's New at the Newberry.&quot Ginger Frere, genealogy research librarian for the Newberry, will bring materials with her.
"Genetic Genealogy" by Jeffrey N. Bassett
Genetic Genealogy is the latest technique being used as a tool in genealogical research. Jeffrey Bassett will present different case studies from the Bassett family DNA project including some DNA results for the Israel family (through marriage) as well.
image Sunday, August 27: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
Brief report on the New York IAJGS Conference
"Live from NY! It’s the New Part of the News in Genealogical Research with Our Featured Ensemble of JGSI Researchers!"
"Ask the Experts." A panel of knowledgeable Jewish genealogical researchers will answer your questions.
 
 
 
image Sunday, July 30: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
Mini-workshop: "How to interview your relatives" by Judy Frazin.
Annual Meeting reports
"Write Your Family History Now!" by Mike Karsen
JGSI co-president, Mike Karsen, will discuss the need to share the results of our genealogical research. He will show us how to publish works ranging from simple 30 page booklets to volumes with detailed biographies which place family lives in historical context. Don’t delay! Organize your findings and share them with your family as soon as possible.
image Wednesday, July 12: 7:00pm: Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton Street, Skokie Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois will host "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about the Archives in Belarus."
Dr. Oleg Perzashkevich, associate professor at the Belarusian Polytechnic Academy and the Belarusian State University, and Director of the Minsk Historical Genealogy Group, will explain the importance of and history of the Belarus archives to the Jewish population, their indexing system and fees, and provide information on Minsk and other Belarusian archives. If your ancestors lived in five different countries but never moved (Lithuania, Poland, White Russia, Russia, and Belarus), you are probably from Belarus.
image Sunday, June 25: Wilmette Public Library, 1242 Wilmette Avenue, Wilmette
"Beginner's Workshop" presented by Judy Frazin.
Start your journey into discovering your family history here! Learn basic techniques to help in your search for information to build your family tree. Even if you have been working on your tree for awhile, this course may remind you of some overlooked areas in your research.
image Tuesday, June 6: 7:30pm: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
"One-Step Webpages: A Potpourri of Genealogical Search Tools." presented by Dr. Stephen Morse .
The One-Step website started as an aid for finding passengers in the Ellis Island database. Over the years it has evolved, and today includes over 100 web-based tools divided into eleven separate categories ranging from genealogical searches to astronomical calculations to Israeli phonebook lookups. This presentation will describe the range of tools available and give the highlights of each one.

Dr. Morse is an amateur genealogist who has been researching his Russian-Jewish origins for the past few years. His websites on searching the Ellis Island database and the 1930 census have attracted worldwide attention. In his other life, Steve is a computer professional who has spent a career doing research, development, teaching, consulting, and writing. He is best known as the designer of the Intel 8086 microprocessor (grandfather of today's Pentium processors) which sparked the PC revolution twenty years ago. He has a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, and enjoys tinkering with electronics in his spare time.

Free to JGSI members; $10 for nonmembers (which will apply to membership if you join JGSI by July 1, 2006).
For more information and to reserve your seat, phone 312-666-0100 or e-mail rsvp@jgsi.org.

image Sunday, May 21: Meet at Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie at 1:00pm to form car pools to Jewish Graceland Cemetery, 3919 North Clark Street, Chicago
To volunteer to drive or sign up for a carpool, e-mail Julie Levin at JewishGraceland@jgsi.org or call 312-666-0100.

Carpools form at Temple Beth Israel, 3601 Dempster, Skokie
Directions for car pools or directly.
Guided tour begins at Jewish Graceland, 3919 N. Clark, Chicago

"Tour of Jewish Graceland Cemetery" with Mark Mandle and Norman Schwartz.
Jewish Graceland is Chicago’s oldest existing Jewish cemetery. JGSI has indexed all of the burials back to the 1850’s. To culminate this project, this tour will cover the history of the cemetery, famous people buried here including Civil War veterans.

Tour concludes

image Sunday, April 30: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
workshop: "Help Desk: Q & A" moderated by Gene Alpern.
"How to Find Your Immigrant Ancestor’s Arrival Records Online" by Mike Karsen
When the Ellis Island database went online in 2001 we entered a new generation in searching for our ancestors’ arrival records. In recent days additional ports including Baltimore, Boston, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Galveston, and Castle Garden have been made available to genealogists around the world via the internet. This lecture provides the basics for searching these databases using case studies to illustrate various techniques.
image Sunday, March 26: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
workshop: "Tips and Tricks" for Users of Family Tree Maker -- Franklin Mills
Myrna Siegel & Walter Reed (JGSI members)
"Traveling back to our Birth/Ancestral Towns" Myrna Siegel & Walter Reed (JGSI members)
Walter Reed left Germany as a kinder transport child shortly after Kristalnacht and is the only member of his immediate family to survive the Holocaust.  He will speak about his return trip home and the vast amount of information he was able to find in his search for answers.
In 1995 Myrna and Shael Siegel, native born Chicagoans, visited their ancestral towns in Poland, Lithuania and Belarus.  In 2004 they made a return visit to Lithuania and Belarus.  Myrna will speak of their challenges and of new findings.
image Sunday, February 26: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
workshop: "How to Use FamilySearch.org (Mormon) Website" by Harriet Rudnit and Judy Frazin.
Harriet and Judy will focus on searching the LDS library portion of the Mormon website in order to locate resources for a particular country.
Belle Holman (JGSI librarian)
"Introduction the JGSI Research Library" The Program will highlight the various subject areas in the JGSI Research Library and how to best use them for your genealogical research.  Both the beginner and the advanced researcher will find information of interest. 
image Sunday, January 29: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
workshop: "Help Desk" -- Harriet Rudnick
"Ask the Experts"
Try to stump our panel of experts and add some new branches to your family tree! Share your family history research problems to find possible solutions. Topics will include resources, vital records, internet research, genealogy computer programs, publishing, finding ancestral origins, ethical issues, and much more. Join our audience and share your own expertise to help other genealogists. Speakers: Mike Meshenberg, Larry Hamilton, and Judy Frazin.
image Sunday, January 15: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
"Beginner's Workshop" presented by Judy Frazin.
Start your journey into discovering your family history here! Learn basic techniques to help in your search for information to build your family tree. Even if you have been working on your tree for awhile, this course may remind you of some overlooked areas in your research.

 

 

 

 
 
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