BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto - ECPv6.16.3//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://jgstoronto.ca
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Toronto
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260101
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260102
DTSTAMP:20260611T025216
CREATED:20250903T034001Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250903T034001Z
UID:9552-1767225600-1767311999@jgstoronto.ca
SUMMARY:New Year's Day
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://jgstoronto.ca/event/new-years-day/
CATEGORIES:Holidays
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260104T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260104T120000
DTSTAMP:20260611T025216
CREATED:20250930T151126Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251217T035110Z
UID:9748-1767522600-1767528000@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 \nFAQs 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-3/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Special Interest Groups
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://jgstoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DNA-Double-Helix-3.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260112T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260112T213000
DTSTAMP:20260611T025216
CREATED:20250903T034047Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250903T035346Z
UID:9554-1768246200-1768253400@jgstoronto.ca
SUMMARY:Board Meeting
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://jgstoronto.ca/event/board-meeting-28/
CATEGORIES:Board Meetings
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260114T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260114T203000
DTSTAMP:20260611T025216
CREATED:20251016T191955Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260110T043324Z
UID:9872-1768419000-1768422600@jgstoronto.ca
SUMMARY:Unlock the Power of AI in Jewish Genealogy - class 3 of 5
DESCRIPTION:Discover how artificial intelligence can transform the way you research and share your family history. \nJoin 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. \nIn this engaging\, hands-on online course\, you will: \n\nLearn how to organize\, analyze\, and document your family tree using AI\nExplore AI-assisted search techniques for JewishGen\, Ancestry\, MyHeritage\, and other genealogy databases\nSee how AI can help interpret DNA results and uncover hidden family connections\nGain practical tips on writing and sharing your family story with AI support\n\nTaught by Jerry Scherer and Arthur Sissman\, with their AI assistants ChatGPT\, Copilot\, and Perplexity AI \nSchedule: ​​Five 60-minute classes on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time \n\n\n\nDate\nSession\nSubject\n\n\n\n\n19 Nov 2025\n1\nGetting started with AI in Jewish genealogy\n\n\n03 Dec 2025\n2\nSmart organizations of your genealogy\n\n\n14 Jan 2026\n3\nExploring genealogy databases and tools with AI\n\n\n11 Feb 2026\n4\nDecoding DNA insights with AI\n\n\n11 Mar 2026\n5\nDocumenting and sharing your family story using AI\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\nJGS Toronto member registration:\nno additional charge\nNon-member registration:\nincluded with your CDN$40 membership fee (through December 2026)\n\n\n\n\nRegister for this Course\n\n(Note: you must be logged in to the website)\n\n\nJoin JGS Toronto as a member: Complete Membership Application\n\nRemit payment for the membership fee\nSend an e-mail message to: membership@JGSToronto.ca\nsubject: AI Course\nbody: Your full name and email address\nShortly thereafter (typically within 36 hours) you’ll receive your login credentials for our website.\n\n(Note: you do not need a website userid or login to register)\n\n\n\nTo review sessions 1 and 2 of the course: \n\nLogin to the members-only page of our website\nSelect Past Presentations and Workshops from the menu on the right side of the page\nReview 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
URL:https://jgstoronto.ca/event/unlock-the-power-of-ai-3/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Education
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://jgstoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Website-Announcement-Unlock-the-Power-of-AI-19-Nov-2025.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260121T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260121T210000
DTSTAMP:20260611T025216
CREATED:20250911T003159Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251219T004404Z
UID:9616-1769023800-1769029200@jgstoronto.ca
SUMMARY:Researching the Jewish Story in Soviet-Occupied Poland\, 1939-41 - Latest Available Resources
DESCRIPTION:speaker: Steven Turner\, genealogist and president of Gesher Galicia\, a town leader for JRI-Poland\, and a member of the board of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Long Island. \nIn 1939\, at the beginning of WWII\, Germany and the Soviet Union divided Poland into Occupation Zones. Many Jews fled into the  Soviet zone trying to stay a step ahead of the Germans. Life though was not easy. Many Jews were arrested and deported to labor camps in the East. Many hastily got married for various reasons and had children. Gesher Galicia has two projects\, one of vital records and one of criminal files from the NKVD\, the Soviet secret police\, relating to this period. These are some of the most amazing genealogical records one will ever see with pictures\, correspondence to overseas relatives\, and much genealogical data. Dr. Turner will demonstrate these records and show the researcher how to access and work with them to find precious information on their ancestors. \nOn Zoom only \nFAQs 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/researching-the-jewish-story-in-soviet-occupied-poland/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:General Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://jgstoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Steven-Turner-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260129T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260129T203000
DTSTAMP:20260611T025216
CREATED:20260129T175559Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260129T181707Z
UID:10340-1769713200-1769718600@jgstoronto.ca
SUMMARY:Seeing the Past More Clearly with AI
DESCRIPTION:This practical\, hands-on clinic is suitable for beginners and experienced researchers alike. No prior AI experience is required. We will focus on how to write clear\, effective prompts to help AI analyze genealogical materials. \nDuring the session\, we will demonstrate participant-developed prompts for: \n\nTranslating foreign-language records\nAnalyzing headstones and photographs\nExtracting information from obituaries and documents\n\nOur goal is to build a shared library of prompts that members can reuse to overcome research brick walls. \nOn Zoom only \nRegister for this Program\n\n  \nFAQs for this program: \n\nWho may register for this program?  Members only\nIs it being recorded?  TBD\nWho may view the recording?  Members only
URL:https://jgstoronto.ca/event/seeing-the-past-more-clearly-with-ai/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Education
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://jgstoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Copilot_20251102_220744-e1762141447341.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR