Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto

JGS Toronto in partnership with Classi Learning: "The Bricha: The Jewish Underground Railroad"
2024-05-09 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Toronto)
This is a virtual event is free to members of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Toronto. Register here: https://jgstoronto.ca/registration-for-member-only-programs/
Speaker: Anne Dublin
How did Holocaust survivors manage to leave Eastern Europe and find safety in displaced persons camps, mainly in Austria and Germany, after World War II? The survivors weren’t whisked away by magic carpet. What helped tens of thousands of people was an organization called the “Bricha”, which means “flight” in Hebrew.
This is a lecture about why Holocaust survivors were desperate to flee from their home countries, and the network of people and organizations that helped them. It’s a story of great risk, personal sacrifice, and ultimately, of hope.
At the End of WW II – “The story of the Bricha” the Jewish Underground Railroad – Classi Learning

Board Meeting
2024-05-13 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-06-10 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-10-07 19:30 - 21:30

JGS Toronto: Virtual Event - Classi Lecture 8: The Eichmann Trial
2024-05-15 16:00 - 17:00
This is the 8th and final series on Hungary hosted by Classi Lectures. Trudy Gold speaks on the Eichmann Trial.
The Classi Lecture series is free to JGS Toronto members.
Members may register for this event by clicking on this link

JGST in Partnership with Classi Learning: The Search for Home: The DP Camps in Postwar Europe
2024-05-16 16:00 - 17:00
The Classi Lectures are free to members of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Toronto.
Speaker: Ann Dublin: After World War II, approximately 250,000 Holocaust survivors lived in displaced persons (DP) camps, mainly in Austria and Germany. Most of them were stuck in these DP camps for years until they were allowed to immigrate to other countries, like Israel, the U.S. and Canada. Why did these people flee their home countries to search for safety in the DP camps? What were conditions like in the camps, and how did the refugees cope with often difficult circumstances? This is a story of courage, resourcefulness, and ultimately of hope.
At the End of WWII – The Displaced Persons Camps (DP) – Classi Learning

Annual General Meeting
2024-05-26 10:00 - 12:00

DNA SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (SIG) Q&A WORKSHOP
2024-06-09 10:30 - 13:00
DNA SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (SIG)
Q&A WORKSHOP
Featuring our JGS Toronto members,
Gil Bardige and Arthur Sissman

Sunday, 9 June 2024 at 10:30 am. ET
VIRTUAL MEETING: Join from Home
Virtual doors open at 10:20 a.m. ET
All are invited to participate in the second segment of our 4-part DNA Q&A Special Interest Group (SIG) meeting! Our DNA experts will commence the session with a brief educational presentation covering the basics of DNA or strategies for interpreting test results.
Here’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. Please 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 before 14 January. This deadline ensures that our mavens can contact you for any extra information, if required.

Gil Bardige, originally from Chicago, has been a genealogist for over 40 years and a genetic genealogist since 2007. He has tested at the 4 major testing companies and is the Co-Administrator of 3 projects at FTDNA including Jewish R1B and R-A11711 Subclade Projects. He is Chair of the Columbus Ohio JGS, a volunteer at IAJGS Conferences (including the Program Committee), and Director of the Mentoring Program. Gil is a firm believer that you can use DNA results as a tool in your genealogy research. 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 say: “Thank you, Gil, I am no longer confused!”
Arthur Sissman,from Naples FL, 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 relatives previously unknown to him and has built a current tree out to 1500 people, 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.

To register for the DNA SIG event , please go to jgstoronto.ca/register. The questionnaire form can be found below the registration link.
You will then receive an immediate acknowledgement plus the link to access the event.

FAQ for this program

Who may register for this program?
Public

Is it being recorded?
Yes

Is the recording available to members
Yes

Is the recording available to non-members
No

Brick Walls and Breakthroughs
2024-06-19 19:30 - 21:00
BRICK WALLS AND BREAKTHROUGHS
ZOOM Meeting
Wednesday, 19 June 2024, at 7:30 p.m.
Steven Brock has traced his roots in Russia and Poland to the late 1700s. He has been a member of Montreal and Hamilton JGS and now, Toronto. Steven has also been involved in various projects and is an avid researcher and genealogist.
Discovering My Elusive Family — from Poland to France to Canada In 2012, by sheer luck, Steven was contacted by a long-lost cousin. He was then able to re-establish common roots and to add dozens of family members to the family tree.
Sharon Fingold was born and raised in California, where she still resides. She became interested in genealogy when she was introduced to relatives during her college years in the East. She met more of them in Toronto and joined JGS Toronto. Sharon has been researching her roots for the past 40 years.
Feingolds, Fingolds, Morrises, and Taratutas: Who came first? What was the common connection? How did we end up in Toronto in the 1920s and 1930s? The presentation will show how interviews, records, and Ancestry data helped the family to answer these questions.
Jerry Scherer is a Vice President of our Society. A retired teacher, he is an active and knowledgeable genealogist. Jerry will demonstrate how AI solved two challenging photo genealogy puzzles and uncovered the names of three relatives who fought for the Soviet Army in Operation Barbarossa.
Henry Wellisch is the honourary president of JGS Toronto. He was born in Vienna, escaped from there and ended up as a prisoner in Mauritius. After liberation, Henry moved to Israel and eventually to Canada.
Recently, through a friend and his brother, Henry was reunited with a former co-prisoner from Mauritius. Their story is the focus of Henry’s presentation.

Writers’ Workshop
2024-06-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1V8, Canada
Lil Blume will be conducting a writing workshop for members who wish to hone their skills in telling their family story. Lil has held a number of workshops for our members over the years and greatly helped those that wished to contribute to our award winning book “Tracing our Roots; Telling Our Stories”.
The Jewish Genealogy Society of Toronto is celebrating its 40th Anniversary and we are encouraging members who wish to share a particularly interesting story about a family member or event in their history that may be published in the 2nd edition of Tracing Our Roots.
Email Les Kelman, lkelman@jgstoronto.ca if you plan to attend. All members are welcome.

Place: Sharrei Shomayim Congregation
Date: June 23rd
Time: 10:00 am

Shem Tov submission deadline for the September Issue
2024-08-16
Deadline for submitting an article for publication in the September Issue.

The Second Annual JGS Toronto Recognition Awards
2024-09-08 10:30 - 12:00 | Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1V8, Canada
Keynote Speaker: Steve Brock
8 September 2024, 10:30 a.m

THE SECOND ANNUAL JGS TORONTO RECOGNITION AWARDS
Via Zoom and in person at Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, Toronto
Keynote Speaker: Steven Brock
THE 1918 SPANISH FLU AND ITS IMPACT ON THE CITY OF TORONTO: RESEARCHING YOUR JEWISH ANCESTORS
WHO PERISHED
DURING THE PANDEMIC
Between 1918 through 1920, the Spanish Flu had a devastating impact on the City of Toronto. Learn how researching your Jewish ancestors may include family members who perished during the pandemic. What does the research say about tis horrific time period? How can this tragic time add stories that shaped your family’s path?
Stephen Brock has traced his roots in Russia and Poland to the late 1700s. He has been a member of Montreal’s and Hamilton’s genealogical societies and now a JGS Toronto member, serving on the Board. Steven has also been involved in various projects and an avid researcher and genealogist.
The Recognition Awards will be presented after the keynote speech. Please join us as we honour the valuable contributions of our volunteers and pay tribute to Rolf Lederer z”ll and reflect on his 40 years of outstanding commitment to Jewish genealogy.
Light refreshments will be served following the event.
Please attend in person at Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Avenue, Toronto (lower social hall, enter through the north doors at 10:00 a.m.), or join us via Zoom.

Doors open at 10:00 a.m.

Click http://jgstoronto.ca/register -for in person or Zoom

Board Meeting
2024-09-09 19:30 - 22:00 | Virtual
Speaker: Steven Brock
Zoom meeting

The Jews of Lithuania: The Beginnings in Pagan Lithuania
2024-09-11 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
Global Heritage SIG
Zoom Meeting

Shem Tov Submission Deadline
2024-09-15
Please submit your contribution to Shem Tov by today (Sept. 15) if you wish to have it published in the December Issue.

Writing Workshop #2
2024-09-15 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Anniversary
Speaker Lil Blume

The Jews of Lithuania: Growth of Economic and Intellectual Life & Birth of Hassidism
2024-09-18 16:00 - 18:00
Global Heritage SIG

The Jews of Lithuania: Life Under the Czars
2024-09-25 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual

Family Tree Maker Special Interest Group (SIG
2024-10-08 19:30 - 21:30
We will explore and discuss the upcoming new version of Family Tree Maker (FTM 2024) with Family Tree Maker’s Mark Olson.

This special FTM SIG meeting is open to our members and the global community.

Some of the topics we will discuss are:

A quick review of the current Family Tree Maker edition.
Family Tree Maker is already an amazing program with many underused features.
Connect! A completely new workspace and new Relative Hint™ feature that make it easier than ever to share your tree and collaborate with your family.
Easy on the Eyes™: a revolutionary way of enlarging parts of the screen right when you need it. An answer and relief for those of us with tired old eyes.
Hyphenated dual surnames support following Hispanic tradition.
Improved support for managing and reporting relationships.
Tools for cleaning up orphaned items (media, sources, and citations).
New improvements to Family Tree Maker Connect, and using Family Tree Maker Connect for yourself.
Introducing AlbumWALK® — Making your photos talk — literally.
Working seamlessly between Family Tree Maker and AlbumWALK.
Q & A.

We invite members and guests to attend this introductory by registering at jgstoronto.ca/register

The Jews of Lithuania: Lithuania Emerges
2024-10-30 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual

JGS Toronto Virtual Event: DNA Special Interest Group
2024-11-03 10:30 - 12:00
JEWISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF TORONTO

DNA SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (SIG)
Q&A WORKSHOP
Featuring our JGS Toronto members,
Gil Bardige and Arthur Sissman

Sunday, 3 November 2024 at 10:30 am. ET
VIRTUAL MEETING: Join from Home
Virtual doors open at 10:20 a.m. ET
We are pleased to announce the return of our DNA Special Interest Group (SIG) program this year, featuring our esteemed members Gil Bardige and Arthur Sissman, both recognized as experts in Jewish DNA.
All are invited to participate in our 4-part DNA Q&A Special Interest Group (SIG) meeting! Our DNA experts will commence the session with a brief educational presentation covering the basics of DNA or strategies for interpreting test results.
4-part DNA Q&A series on Sundays at 10:30 am ET.
3 November 2024
12 January 2025
9 March 2025
4 May 2025

Here’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. Please 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 before Monday, 28 Oct 2024. This deadline ensures that our maven can contact you for any extra information, if required.

Gil Bardige, originally from Chicago, has been a genealogist for over 40 years and a genetic genealogist since 2007. He has tested at the 4 major testing companies and is the Co-Administrator of 3 projects at FTDNA including Jewish R1B and R-A11711 Subclade Projects. He is Chair of the Columbus Ohio JGS, a volunteer at IAJGS Conferences (including the Program Committee), and Director of the Mentoring Program. Gil is a firm believer that you can use DNA results as a tool in your genealogy research. 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 say: “Thank you, Gil, I am no longer confused!”

Arthur Sissman, from Naples FL, 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 relatives previously unknown to him and has built a current tree out to 1500 people, 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.

To register for the DNA SIG event , please go to jgstoronto.ca/register. The questionnaire form can be found below the registration link.
You will then receive an immediate acknowledgement plus the link to access the event.

Board Meeting
2024-11-04 19:30 - 21:30

IAJGS 2025 Conference Virtual Information Session
2024-11-10 14:00 - 16:30
45th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy
Information Session
Sunday, 10 November 2024 at 2:00 p.m.
via Zoom
The 45th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy is coming to Fort Wayne, Indiana, from Sunday, August 10 to Thursday, August 14, 2025.
The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies holds a conference in the summer of each year, drawing hundreds of genealogists from around the world. Programs and workshops are offered on a wide variety of topics, special events with Research Divisions focus on a particular country or geographical area, and well-known speakers come to present at keynote and banquet events.
Fort Wayne is among the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. Midwest and is known for its exceptional genealogical capability through the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center, one of the largest family history research centers in the world. The collection of more than 1.2 million physical items is completely open and available to researchers. Resources of interest to Jewish researchers include a large collection of Yizkor books, Temple and synagogue histories, Jewish periodicals, diaries and personal memoirs, and the “Jewish Life in America, c1654-1954” database from the American Jewish Historical Society.
A virtual informational program will be held on Sunday, 10 November 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time. The program will include information about Jewish research at the Genealogy Center, an introduction to Fort Wayne, and opportunities for questions about the conference. For more information, to register for the November program, or to sign up for the conference e-mail list, visit www.iajgs2025.org. We look forward to hosting you in Fort Wayne in 2025!

The Jews of Lithuania: Nazis and Destruction
2024-11-13 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual

JGS Toronto Poland Special Interest Group (Special Presentation)
2024-11-14 19:30 - 21:00
In conjunction with the release of A Real Pain from Searchlight Pictures on November 15th at theaters everywhere, JGST is presenting a special webinar on Thursday November 14th, at 7:30 pm to assist attendees in doing research into their Polish ancestry as below.

Sorry for the short timeline but we would appreciate your spreading the word as well in order to let everyone know about this special workshop event.
A REAL PAIN, written, directed, and starring Jesse Eisenberg, follows two estranged cousins who travel to Poland to trace their Jewish roots after the death of their grandmother. As they delve into the trauma of their shared history, they’re confronted with a complex and often darkly comedic journey of family, memory, and identity. The film blends poignant moments with humor, offering a unique perspective on generational trauma and the process of healing. The film has been featured at the Sundance Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. The trailer for the film can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2et8Vpu7Ls
The JGST webinar/workshop is open to everyone at no charge and part of the continuing support that JGST provides to our community at large to enhance and assist in genealogical research of family history.

The event is also being promoted by Searchlight Pictures at their preview screenings, etc…

The registration link is:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIodumqqz8iH9CgBNNM5et9rk8TZVPkGXKW#/registration

Submission Deadline for December Issue
2024-11-15 08:00 - 17:00
Shem Tov

Friends, Foes, and Family: A Millennium of Jewish Life in Ukraine
2024-11-17 10:30 - 12:30
Friends, Foes, and Family: A Millennium of Jewish Life in Ukraine
Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto
Sunday, 17 November 2024, 10:30 a.m.
In person and on ZOOM
Shaarei Shomayim, 470 Glencairn Avenue, Toronto
Dr. Lev Daschko

Dr. Daschko will talk about the long history of Jewish life in Ukraine, with an emphasis on the interactions between Jews and non-Jews. The talk incorporates maps and images to illustrate the complicated history of Ukrainian Jews (past and present) under the various regimes and empires that ruled the country. He will address the longstanding myths surrounding Ukraine, Ukrainians, and Ukrainian-Jewish relations. Finally, there will be a look at Jewish food, holidays, and language to understand Jewish life in Ukraine.

Dr. Lev Daschko is a Canadian historian who specializes in 19th century Ukrainian-Jewish relations. His MA thesis was on the experiment of Jewish National Autonomy in the short-lived Ukrainian People’s Republic (1917–18). Lev’s dissertation topic is entitled Steam Engines, Postcards, and White Table Linens: Technology and Modernity in Austrian-ruled Chernivtsi and Bukovina (1861–1914). He received his PhD from Northwestern University in June 2024.

To register, please visit jgstoronto.ca/register

JGS Toronto - Genealogy in the Digital Age (Outreach Program
2024-11-20 14:00 - 16:30 | “Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto (BAYT)” , 613 Clarke St. Thornhill Ontario, 613 Clarke St., Thornhill, Ontario, Canada
Speaker: Jerry Scherer
Location: Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto (BAYT)
613 Clark Ave. Thornhill

The Jews of Lithuania: Heroes of Vilna
2024-11-20 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual

Genealogy in the Digital Age
2024-11-24 14:00 - 17:00 | “Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto (BAYT)” , 613 Clarke St. Thornhill Ontario, 613 Clarke St., Thornhill, Ontario, Canada
Presenter : Jerry Scherer
