JewishGen Education's Course Delivery

Q: I’m brand new to genealogy. Where should I start?

A: We recommend our foundational courses or a Virtual Conversation to get started.

Q: What technology do I need?

A: You’ll need a computer, stable internet connection, and a JewishGen account.

Q: Who can I contact if I have questions before enrolling?

A: Email us at: education@jewishgen.org. We’re here to help you choose the best learning path.

Q: How do I register for a course or service?

A: Select your course or service on our website and follow the secure checkout process. You’ll receive a transaction receipt and further instruction by email.

Q: Do courses fill up?

A: Yes. Seats are limited so that every student receives personal attention and support. Early registration is recommended.

Q: What is your refund or transfer policy?

A: All transactions are “donations” and are non-refundable. If you have questions about a class or service, please contact us at: education@jewishgen.org before you register.

Q: What if I can’t attend class at the scheduled time?

A: Classes are open 24/7. There are no refunds or adjustments.

Q: Will I receive feedback or support during the course?

A: Yes. We provide individual support in all our Mentored Courses and Study Groups. For personal research projects, students use their data along with course-recommended databases.

Q: Will I have access to course materials after the course ends?

A: Course materials are yours to download and keep for personal use. Forum access remains open for 2 weeks after course completion.

Q: Can I share my research?

A: Yes. Students are encouraged to publish their work in our E-Gallery, which features student projects and discoveries.

Q: What is a Mentored Course?

A: A flexible, self-paced, 24/7 online course led by an expert JewishGen instructor. Each course takes place in a secure, private online forum and includes written lessons or handouts. Students focus on one ancestral branch (one surname) and set specific research goals.

NOTE: Our Advanced courses require a place of former residence or birth and your ancestor's names.

Q: What is an Interactive Lecture Series?

A: Experiential learning courses with a mix of traditional lecture and hands-on opportunities.

Q: What are Peer Study Groups?

A: Subject-specific classes that encourage collaborative learning. Students work together to define and explore research problems, while sharing strategies and insights.

Q: What are Virtual Conversations?

A: Virtual Conversations are 45-minute Zoom planning sessions. Work one-on-one with a genealogy expert to set a goal, define objectives, and create a plan for moving forward.

Q: What is Individual Mentoring by the Week?

A: Weekly Zoom support for research challenges in your family history. Meet one-on-one with a genealogy expert to:

• learn databases
• work on a brick wall
• review and analyze records
• stay focused on your research goals
• and more

Our weekly sessions are flexible, hands-on, and designed around your research goals. Choose the start date and time that works for you.

Q: Can I request a course on a specific topic or country?

A: Yes. With Courses by Request, choose any subject or country and we’ll match you with an instructor. Set your start date and work one-on-one for three consecutive weeks.

Or let JewishGen Education custom design a course for you.

Q: What are your Hire Us services?

A: We offer two "Hire Us" specialized services:

• Family History Book Making: Create a digital or hardcover book from your Ancestry or Family Tree Maker research.
• Researcher for Hire: Let JewishGen research for you. Project scope and costs are discussed on an individualized basis.

Q: What is the VAS discount?

A: JewishGen Value-Added Services (VAS) are a special “Thank You” to all who contribute a minimum of $100 annually to the JewishGen General Fund.

As an added benefit, VAS members receive a one-time $18 discount toward enrollment. VAS discounts are only valid for select eligible courses and are automatically applied at registration.

To maintain the integrity and confidentiality of our programs and consultations, automated bots of any kind are strictly prohibited from accessing or participating in any Zoom session hosted by JewishGen.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• AI transcription or recording tools including recording bots, transcription bots, note-taking bots, and AI assistants
• Automated attendance bots
• AI agents, crawlers, scrapers, or third-party services used for training, surveillance, or data gathering

Access to our Zoom events is limited to human participants only. Any attempt to join or monitor sessions using non-human automation constitutes a breach of our terms of use. We reserve the right to:

• Remove or block access without notice
• Remove participants from Zoom sessions without refund
• Take further action where appropriate

By joining a session, you agree to abide by our policy.

Privacy Rules, Confidentiality and IP Protection

Zoom sessions may include private, sensitive, or personally identifiable information, including genealogical data, family histories, research methodologies, and participant discussions.

By participating, attendees agree to:

• Respect the privacy and confidentiality of all participants
• Refrain from sharing session content, participant identities, or sensitive information outside the session
• Avoid capturing, distributing, or storing any content without express authorization

JewishGen reserves the right to remove any participant whose conduct compromises privacy or confidentiality.

Privacy and Recordings

We do not permit participants to record, transcribe, or disseminate any part of a session unless express written consent is obtained from JewishGen.

• Recordings made by us are solely for educational purposes.
• Participants may not independently record sessions in any form, including audio, video, screen capture, transcription, or AI-generated summaries.
• Participants may not share screenshots, audio, or chat logs publicly without prior permission.

Violation of these terms may result in suspension or legal action.

Intellectual Property Rights

All content shared during Zoom sessions is the property of JewishGen or its licensors. This includes:

• Curriculum materials, slides, handouts
• Audio/video
• Instruction, lectures, and presentations
• Any genealogical research methodologies or frameworks

You may not reproduce, redistribute, or use this material outside the context of the session unless you have received written authorization.

Accommodations

JewishGen is committed to providing inclusive and accessible educational experiences for all students and participants.

At request, we will make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in compliance with applicable laws. This may include, but is not limited to, live captioning, transcripts when available, or alternative formats of materials.

To request an accommodation, please email education@jewishgen.org as early as possible before your session. All accommodation requests are handled confidentially and will not affect a participant’s enrollment or standing in any JewishGen program.

Contact Information

For questions, please contact us at education@jewishgen.org. Thank you for enrolling in our courses and private mentoring.