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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260503T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260503T120000
DTSTAMP:20260605T040236
CREATED:20250930T151325Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T173605Z
UID:9752-1777804200-1777809600@jgstoronto.ca
SUMMARY:DNA Special Interest Group
DESCRIPTION:Our DNA Special Interest Group (SIG) offers an interactive forum where participants can learn how to use DNA as a tool for Jewish genealogy. Each session is self-contained and focuses on real case studies\, practical tips\, and guidance from our experts. Whether you’re just getting started with DNA testing or have been working with your matches for years\, you’ll gain valuable insights you can apply directly to your own research. \nYou are welcome to join any or all of the sessions. No prior attendance is required\, and every program is designed so that both new and returning participants can benefit fully. \nOur DNA SIG Leaders:\nGil Bardige (Chicago\, Illinois) has been a genealogist for over 40 years and a genetic genealogist since 2007. He has tested at the four major testing companies and is the co-administrator of three projects at FTDNA\, including Jewish R1B and R-A11711 Subclade Projects. Gil is chair of the Columbus Ohio JGS\, a volunteer at IAJGS Conferences (including the Program Committee)\, and director of the mentoring program. Over the last five years\, he has regularly helped people navigate their DNA matches by speaking at dozens of Jewish genealogical societies. After his presentations\, people often say: “Thank you\, Gil\, I am no longer confused!”\nArthur Sissman (Naples\, Florida) has been engaged in family history genealogy since 1999 and genetic genealogy (DNA) since 2015. Arthur has built over 60 family history trees for his various family surname lines. In addition\, he has tested his autosomal DNA at all the major DNA testing companies\, and his Y-DNA and MtDNA at FamilyTreeDNA. Using his “3-Legged Stool Protocol” — focusing on surname\, place\, and DNA — Arthur has found previously unknown relatives and built a tree out to 1500 from Galicia/Romania\, with over 50+ DNA matches across all branches. For information on Arthur’s Jewish Genealogy SIG monthly meetings and scheduled workshops\, email genresearch13@yahoo.com. \nSubmit Your DNA Questions\nHere’s your chance to send in your DNA-related inquiries to our experts\, who are here to aid your research. When you submit your questions\, there might be a request for consent to potentially share your screen\, DNA match names\, and family tree members. This sharing enables others to learn from the techniques used by our experts.\nPlease be sure to include comprehensive details with your question\, highlighting your previous research. You’ll find the questionnaire form available on the registration page — please send your submissions in advance. This deadline ensures that our maven can contact you for any extra information\, if required. \nOn Zoom only \nRegister for this Program\n\n  \nFAQ for this program: \n\nWho may register for this program?  Public\nIs it being recorded?  Yes\nWho may view the recording?  Members only
URL:https://jgstoronto.ca/event/dna-special-interest-group-5/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Special Interest Groups
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://jgstoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DNA-Double-Helix-3.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260528T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260528T203000
DTSTAMP:20260605T040236
CREATED:20260210T033546Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T164239Z
UID:10472-1779994800-1780000200@jgstoronto.ca
SUMMARY:Artificial Intelligence Special Interest Group
DESCRIPTION:Unlock the Power of Our New AI Resource Library\nJoin the JGS Toronto AI SIG for a special workshop introducing our brand-new AI Resource Library available through the JGS Toronto website. \nThis session will demonstrate how to effectively use: \n\n Our growing library of AI prompts\nThe AI guidebook and instructional materials\nResearch and genealogy related AI resources\nBest practices for getting the most useful results from AI tools\n\nAlthough the resource materials themselves will be publicly accessible\, this interactive workshop is exclusively for JGS Toronto members. \nMembers attending the workshop will receive: \n\nStep by step instruction on how to use the library\nGuidance on accessing and adapting prompts effectively\nLive demonstrations\nAsk questions and learn practical techniques directly from our AI SIG leader\, Arthur Sissman\n\nIf you want to learn how to make AI work for your genealogy and research needs\, this workshop is an excellent place to begin. \nOn Zoom only \nRegister for this Program (members only)\n \n  \nFAQs for this program: \n\nWho may register for this program?  Members only\nIs it being recorded?  Yes\nWho may view the recording?  Members only
URL:https://jgstoronto.ca/event/aisig-4/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Special Interest Groups
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260531T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260531T103000
DTSTAMP:20260605T040236
CREATED:20251110T184314Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260522T182824Z
UID:9977-1780223400-1780223400@jgstoronto.ca
SUMMARY:Annual General Meeting
DESCRIPTION:The annual general meeting (AGM) of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto will be held on Sunday\, 31 May 2026 at 10:30 a.m. ET \nThe meeting will take place at Shaarei Shomayim Congregation\, 470 Glencairn Avenue\, North York\, Ontario and will also be conducted via Zoom. \nWe encourage your attendance and participation! \nThe AGM will be immediately followed at 11:00 a.m. by our May program featuring Peter Jassem\, former chair of the Polish-Jewish Heritage Foundation of Canada\, who will be speaking on researching Shoah victims and survivors. \nAdvance registration is not required to attend the Annual General Meeting and/or Peter Jassem’s presentation in person. For participation via Zoom\, register here: \nRegister for Zoom participation\n\n  \nAnnual General Meeting Information \nJGS Toronto’s officers and directors are elected annually at each Annual General Meeting to serve a one-year term through the following year’s AGM. According to the society’s By-laws\, a maximum of fifteen (15) directors is permitted. We encourage and welcome your nominations for positions on the board of directors. Nominations should include the name of the person being nominated and\, if applicable\, the position for which the nomination is being made. Nominations must be accompanied by the agreement of two members (not including those who are part of the nominee’s family membership) in good standing making the nomination. Please send nominations for board positions by e-mail to the chair of the Nominations Committee\, Sue Diamond-Gardner\, at sdiamond@jgstoronto.ca by Friday\, 08 May 2026 at noon. \nThe agenda for the annual general meeting appears below. Members wishing to ask questions at the AGM on matters set out in this agenda should address them in advance to president@jgstoronto.ca by Monday\, 25 May 2026 at 5:00 p.m. \nIf you are unable to attend the annual general meeting in person or via Zoom and wish to appoint a proxyholder to represent you\, please download and complete the Designation of Proxyholder form and submit it to secretary@jgstoronto.ca no later than Monday\, 25 May 2026 at 5:00 p.m. \nA summary of the 2025 financial statements will be presented during the meeting and will also be available to review in the Members area of the JGS Toronto website prior to the meeting\, as will the minutes of the 2025 annual general meeting. Copies of the financial statements and meeting minutes may also be requested via e-mail from secretary@jgstoronto.ca. \nPlease note that\, in accordance with the society’s By-laws\, only members of JGS Toronto entitled to vote at the meeting will be admitted to the annual general meeting. The Shaarei Shomayim meeting room and Zoom session will open to the public immediately following adjournment of the AGM and prior to Peter Jassem’s presentation. \n  \nAnnual General Meeting Agenda \n 10:30 a.m. — members only \n\nCall to Order\nApproval of the Agenda\nApproval of the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of 18 June 2025\nPresident’s Report\nVolunteer Recognition\nIn Memoriam\nTreasurer’s Report\n\nApproval of 2025 Financial Statements\nAppointment of Auditor for 2026\nApproval of Membership Dues for 2027\n\n\nNominations and Election\n\nReport of the Nomination Committee\nElection of 2026-2027 Board of Directors\n\n\nAdjournment\n\nProgram \n11:00 a.m. — public \nResearching Shoah Victims and Survivors – Peter Jassem \n  \nIn person at Shaarei Shomayim Congregation\, 470 Glencairn Avenue\, North York and on Zoom. \nRegister for Zoom participation\n\n  \nFAQ for this program: \n\nWho may register for this program?  Members only\nIs it being recorded?  Yes\nWho may view the recording?  Members only
URL:https://jgstoronto.ca/event/annual-general-meeting-2026/
LOCATION:Shaarei Shomayim Congregation\, 470 Glencairn Ave.\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5N 1V8\, Canada
CATEGORIES:General Events
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260531T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260531T120000
DTSTAMP:20260605T040236
CREATED:20251110T190615Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260502T023405Z
UID:9979-1780225200-1780228800@jgstoronto.ca
SUMMARY:Researching Shoah Victims & Survivors
DESCRIPTION:Peter Jassem will describe his research on more than sixty victims and survivors of the Shoah\, all of whom were close relatives on his father’s side. He will explain how he documented the circumstances of their deaths or survival\, verified vital records\, collected photographs\, and traced the postwar experiences of those who survived. While his focus is on Poland\, where all of the individuals he researched lived prior to the Holocaust\, many of the resources and methodologies he used are applicable to research on former Jewish citizens of other European countries. \nThe presentation will be richly illustrated and will be recorded for the benefit of members. \nPeter Jassem is a Polish-born architect who\, upon discovering his Jewish roots in adulthood\, embraced his new identity and dedicated decades of his life to Jewish genealogical research and volunteer work. \nHe served as a board member of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Canada (Toronto) [now JGS Toronto] for some time\, chaired the programming of the 22nd IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy held in Toronto in 2002\, for which he was praised by the Jerusalem Post\, and has contributed articles to Shem Tov. \nFor more than 15 years he chaired the Polish-Jewish Heritage Foundation of Canada\, and for 18 years served on the Board of Jewish Records Indexing–Poland\, helping to build one of the world’s most significant Jewish genealogical resources. He currently chairs the Canadian Friends of the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw. Over the years\, Peter has organized landmark cultural programs\, Holocaust education initiatives\, exhibitions\, and community events. \nRecently\, his research has focused on the wartime fate and experiences of the extended family of his Jewish father. This work led to the submission of dozens of Pages of Testimony to Yad Vashem and he has begun work on a book documenting their history. \nPeter’s contributions have been recognized with numerous honours\, including the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland for building bridges of understanding and respect between Jewish and Polish communities\, and the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers\, awarded in Canada for his dedication to preserving the lessons of humanity and tolerance learned from Holocaust survivors. \nIn person at Shaarei Shomayim Congregation\, 470 Glencairn Avenue\, North York and on Zoom. \nRegister for this Program\n\n  \nFAQ for this program: \n\nWho may register for this program?  Public\nIs it being recorded?  Yes\nWho may view the recording?  Members only
URL:https://jgstoronto.ca/event/shoah-victims-survivors/
LOCATION:Shaarei Shomayim Congregation\, 470 Glencairn Ave.\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5N 1V8\, Canada
CATEGORIES:General Events
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