Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto

Boxing Day
2025-12-26

Christmas
2025-12-25

The History of the South African Jews - Part 2
2025-12-21 10:30 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
From The Pale to Pretoria … Carrying a Small Suitcase Filled with Courage, Faith and Hope – Part 2
In partnership with Classi Lectures
In this continuation of Ralph Cilevitz‘s presentation of 01 June 2025, he tells the story of Jewish immigrants who journeyed from the cities and shtetls of the Pale of Settlement to the cities and dorpies at the southern tip of Africa. Most arrived young, alone, and with little more than their determination and quiet strength. Ralph explores how thousands of Jewish families built new lives and preserved their faith and hope while adapting to unfamiliar places and languages. He offers a vivid look at courage, migration, resilience, and community. Whether you’re interested in genealogy, Jewish history, or human endurance, this presentation brings the past to life in a way that is deeply personal and richly human.
Ralph Cilevitz was born in South Africa and studied electronic and mechanical engineering before emigrating to Canada in 1979. Based in Toronto, he is a board member of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto. With over 50 years of genealogical research, Ralph combines historical insight with a passion for storytelling. When he’s not digging through archives, you’ll find him competing on the track in multi-event athletics, playing field hockey or pickleball, or strumming the guitar.
On Zoom only
Register for this Program

FAQs 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? Yes, for 2 weeks

Board Meeting
2025-12-15 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-11-17 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-10-21 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-09-29 19:30 - 21:30

Chanukah
2025-12-15 - 2025-12-22

Erev Chanukah
2025-12-14

Unlock the Power of AI in Jewish Genealogy - class 2 of 5
2025-12-03 19:30 - 20:30 | Virtual
Discover how artificial intelligence can transform the way you research and share your family history.
Join the Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto for an exciting five-session online series designed to help you use AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Bing Copilot, and Perplexity AI, to take your genealogy research to the next level.
In this engaging, hands-on online course, you will:

Learn how to organize, analyze, and document your family tree using AI
Explore AI-assisted search techniques for JewishGen, Ancestry, MyHeritage, and other genealogy databases
See how AI can help interpret DNA results and uncover hidden family connections
Gain practical tips on writing and sharing your family story with AI support

Taught by Jerry Scherer and Arthur Sissman, with their AI assistants ChatGPT, Copilot, and Perplexity AI
Schedule: ​​Five 60-minute classes on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time

Date
Session
Subject

19 Nov 2025
1
Getting started with AI in Jewish genealogy

03 Dec 2025
2
Organize your genealogy files with AI

14 Jan 2026
3
Exploring genealogy databases and tools with AI

11 Feb 2026
4
Decoding DNA insights with AI

11 Mar 2026
5
Documenting and sharing your family story using AI

JGS Toronto member registration:
no additional charge
Non-member registration:
included with your CDN$40 membership fee (through December 2026)

Register for this Course

(Note: you must be logged in to the website)

Join JGS Toronto as a member: Complete Membership Application

Remit payment for the membership fee
Send an e-mail message to: membership@JGSToronto.ca
subject: AI Course
body: Your full name and email address
Shortly thereafter (typically within 36 hours) you’ll receive your login credentials for our website.

(Note: you do not need a website userid or login to register)

To review session 1 of the course:

Login to the members-only page of our website
Select Past Presentations and Workshops from the menu on the right side of the page
Review the session recording and other materials. Links to these materials can be found in the teal highlighted box to the right of the page; on a mobile device, the teal highlighted box may appear lower on the page

Family Tree Maker SIG: Discover FTM 2024
2025-11-24 19:30 - 21:00 | Virtual
Mark Olsen, Family Tree Maker ambassador, will introduce the brand-new Family Tree Maker 2024 Edition, highlighting its exciting new features and enhancements. Whether you are a long-time FTM user or just getting started, this is a great opportunity to see what’s new and ask questions directly from the expert.
On Zoom only
Register for this Program

FAQs 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

Finding the Facts of My Family’s Stories
2025-11-23 10:30 - 12:00 | Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1V8, Canada
speaker: John Lorinc, a Toronto journalist and editor
From pre-war Budapest to post-war Toronto, No Jews Live Here, John Lorinc’s 2024 book, unspools four generations of a Hungarian Jewish family’s journey through the Holocaust, the 1956 Revolution, and finally exodus from a country that cannot rid itself of its antisemitic demons. John Lorinc will focus on his eccentric and defiant grandmother, a consummate survivor with a love of flashy jewelry and a vicious tongue. He will also trace the stories of his grandfathers and his father, all of whom fell victim, in diverse ways, to the Nazis’ genocidal campaign to cleanse Europe of Jews.
In person at Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Avenue, North York and on Zoom.
Register for this Program

FAQs 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? Yes, for 2 weeks

Unlock the Power of AI in Jewish Genealogy - class 1 of 5
2025-11-19 19:30 - 20:30 | Virtual
Discover how artificial intelligence can transform the way you research and share your family history.
Join the Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto for an exciting five-session online series designed to help you use AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Bing Copilot, and Perplexity AI, to take your genealogy research to the next level.
In this engaging, hands-on course, you will:

Learn how to organize, analyze, and document your family tree using AI
Explore AI-assisted search techniques for JewishGen, Ancestry, MyHeritage, and other genealogy databases
See how AI can help interpret DNA results and uncover hidden family connections
Gain practical tips on writing and sharing your family story with AI support

Taught by Jerry Scherer and Arthur Sissman, with their AI assistants ChatGPT, Copilot, and Perplexity AI
Schedule: ​​Five 60-minute classes on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time

Date
Session
Subject

19 Nov 2025
1
Getting started with AI in Jewish genealogy

03 Dec 2025
2
Organize your genealogy files with AI

14 Jan 2026
3
Exploring genealogy databases and tools with AI

11 Feb 2026
4
Decoding DNA insights with AI

11 Mar 2026
5
Documenting and sharing your family story using AI

Registration:

CDN$40 (less than US$30)
Includes JGS Toronto membership through December 2026
Includes a one-month complimentary access to Ancestry and MyHeritage databases
Recorded sessions and course handouts available on the members-only website
JGS Toronto members can register for the course at no additional cost

Membership Benefits:

Access to all JGS Toronto programs and special interest group
Quarterly Shem Tov newsletter, weekly e-mails, and member discounts
A vibrant community of Jewish genealogists and access to expert-led learning

JGS Toronto member registration:
Non-member registration:

Register for this Course

(Note: you must be logged in to the website)

Join JGS Toronto as a member: Complete Membership Application

Remit your payment
Send an e-mail message to: membership@JGSToronto.ca
subject: AI Course
body: Your full name and email address
(You do not need a website userid or login to register.)

Remembrance Day
2025-11-11

DNA Special Interest Group
2025-11-09 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual
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.
You 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.
Our DNA SIG Leaders:
Gil 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!”
Arthur 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.
Submit Your DNA Questions
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 by Sunday, 02 November 2025. This deadline ensures that our maven can contact you for any extra information, if required.
On Zoom only
Register for this Program

FAQs 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

From Roots to Resolutions: A Journey into Investigative Genetic Genealogy
2025-10-26 10:30 - 12:00 | Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1V8, Canada
Please join us as JGS Toronto member Lauren Robilliard takes us on her journey into investigative genetic genealogy. In this talk, Lauren shares the unexpected path that started from a cemetery assignment while at university. What began as a personal quest to uncover biological roots evolved into a career solving real-world mysteries with Toronto Police Service’s cold-case unit. She chronicles the twists and turns of a personal quest that turned into a professional calling, offering insights into the power of genetic genealogy for both personal discovery and public good. Attendees will also learn what they can do to help solve a cold case.
In person at Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Avenue, North York and on Zoom.
Register for this Program

FAQs 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? Yes, for 2 weeks

MyHeritage SIG: What's New with Daniel Horowitz
2025-10-19 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual
Daniel Horowitz, genealogy expert at MyHeritage, joins us to discuss what’s new at MyHeritage.
Daniel will showcase the latest MyHeritage features and enhancements, demonstrating how they can help you discover, research, and share your family history more effectively. This is an excellent opportunity to learn tips and tricks from a leading expert and get answers to your questions about using MyHeritage.
On Zoom only
Register for this Program

FAQs 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

Simchat Torah
2025-10-15

Shemini Atzeret
2025-10-14

Thanksgiving
2025-10-13

Sukkot
2025-10-07 - 2025-10-13

Erev Sukkot
2025-10-06

Yom Kippur
2025-10-02

Erev Yom Kippur
2025-10-01

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
2025-09-30

Rosh HaShanah
2025-09-23 - 2025-09-24

Erev Rosh HaShanah
2025-09-22

40th Anniversary Gala
2025-09-14 13:30 - 16:30 | Leah Posluns Theatre, 4588 Bathurst St, North York, Ontario, M2R 3V2, Canada
Ticket price is $30
Book price is $40. If the book is to be mailed, and not picked up at the Gala, there will be a $25 mailing charge.
Purchase Tickets or Pre-order Books

Labour Day
2025-09-01

45th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy
2025-08-10 08:00 - 2025-08-14 17:00
Fort Wayne, Indiana
www://iajgs.org/conference/iajgs2025/

Join the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) and the Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogy Society August 10-14, 2025 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for an exceptional and unique Conference experience!

Why Fort Wayne?

Media Collection

The Call for Proposals is now open! Click here for more information.

Here’s how to learn more about the Conference:

View a video of our 2025 IAJGS Conference Information Session (31:23)
Check out the IAJGS 2025 Conference Discussion Facebook Group
Join our mailing list to receive more information.
Contact info@iajgs2025.org with questions
