JGSI Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois upcoming events

Genetic Genealogy Open Discussion for DNA Questions and Answers (Members Only) (27 Aug 2026)

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT

This 7 p.m. Central Time Zoom session is for JGSI members only. This special online-only event will feature JGSI DNA maven Gil Bardige.

This is a time for an open discussion about genetic genealogy (DNA). Bring your genetic genealogy questions and brick walls, and help answer questions of others. JGSI members are invited to share their DNA discoveries and quandaries related to using genetic tests for researching family history and discovering previously unknown cousins.

Gil Bardige is an expert on DNA and a long-time JGSI members

Be sure to register for the Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, JGSI members-only DNA discussion by clicking the button at left on this web page.

If you are not a JGSI member and would like to participate in this discussion, please consider purchasing a JGSI membership for as little as $25 a year. See the details at: https://jgsi.org/Membership.

“From the Basement of the Shul to the Basement of City Hall: Uncovering the Hidden Records of Oak Park’s Jewish Community” by Michael Zmora (30 Aug 2026)

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 19:00:00 GMT

History of Oak Park Jewish community to be focus of Aug. 30, 2026, hybrid meeting lecture co-sponsored by JGSI and Chicago Jewish Historical Society

“From the Basement of the Shul to the Basement of City Hall: Uncovering the Hidden Records of Oak Park’s Jewish Community” is the title of a hybrid lecture to be co-hosted by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois and the Chicago Jewish Historical Society on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.

Michael Zmora will guide us through his research process with a focus on his hometown of Oak Park, Illinois. He will be speaking in person at Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois, and online via Zoom.

Temple Beth-El will open at 12:30 p.m. CDT for sign-ins. Please join us for a social hour at 1 p.m. CDT before the lecture begins at 2 p.m. CDT.

Please click the button at left to register/RSVP to view or attend this event.

Jews have been an integral part of Oak Park and River Forest since before these suburbs had their names. These early Jewish pioneers of the western suburbs helped pave the way for an organized community that established itself in the early decades of the 20th century. Beginning in the 1930s, Jews in both Oak Park and River Forest faced community antisemitism and institutional discrimination from the governing bodies of the two villages on their way to establishing two synagogues in the mid-20th century.

Michael Zmora will present this compelling story while explaining how he uncovered documents from unlikely sources, ranging from synagogue correspondence files to real estate board minutes to the Cook County Recorder of Deeds’ archives, in order to reveal this hidden history.

After two years of extensive research, Michael Zmora wrote two articles for Chicago Jewish History (the quarterly journal of the Chicago Jewish Historical Society), on the Jewish communities of Oak Park and River Forest. An attorney by profession, Michael has lived in Oak Park with his wife and two children for the past eight years.

For more information about JGSI, visit our website. For more information about membership benefits, click here. To learn about the Chicago Jewish Historical Society, visit www.chicagojewishhistory.org.

“Research Reports: A Tool to Create More than Names, Dates and Places” by Debbie Trotsky Soren (25 Oct 2026)

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Enhancing genealogy research reports is lecture topic for Oct. 25, 2026, JGSI hybrid meeting

“Research Reports: A Tool to Create More than Names, Dates and Places” will be the lecture topic of genealogist Debbie Trotsky Soren for the Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois hybrid meeting. Her talk will begin at 2 p.m. Central Time at Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois, and online via Zoom. She will be speaking in person at Temple Beth-El.

The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth-El will open at 12:30 p.m. CDT for those who want to use genealogy library materials, get help with family history websites or ask genealogical questions before the main program begins at 2 p.m.

To register/RSVP please click the button at left.

Do you often think that your genealogical research and ancestors are more than the names, dates and places in your tree? Do you wonder how you can organize and share the results of your research beyond the tree? In this presentation, Debbie Soren will discuss the usefulness and importance of using research reports to organize and convey your work. She will also explore a few ideas, such as timelines, to include in reports that also help in the research process itself.

Debbie Soren began researching her own family over 25 years ago. After working as a CPA, raising a family and serving on various community boards she earned a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University, and now provides genealogical services for others. In June 2013, she toured family shtetls (towns) and visited archives in Lithuania and Belarus. Debbie is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the National Genealogical Society.

She is an archive services case worker for The Together Plan (a UK based charity dedicated to the rehabilitation, repair and revival of Belarusian Jewish communities, including reconnecting those in the diaspora to their ancestry and the homes they left behind). She has been on the board of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois for the past nine years and is currently serving as treasurer.

Be sure to come to our pre-meeting on Oct. 25, 2026, from 12:30 through 1:45 p.m. CDT: Free consultations for JGSI members and non-members alike! Wondering how to begin your family tree search? Have a brickwall? Need assistance with a DNA test—which company to test with or need help interpreting results? Need help navigating a website such as Jewishgen? Need assistance in writing your family history? Several of our experts will be on hand to assist you.

Let us help. Prior to our scheduled 2 p.m. Sunday program at Temple Beth-El, we will meet from 12:30 until 1:45 to devote our attention to you and your situation. Located in the social hall, lower level.

For more information about JGSI, visit our website. For more information about membership benefits, click here.

Mark your calendar for JGSI's Nov. 15, 2026, hybrid meeting (15 Nov 2026)

Sun, 15 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Mark your calendar for JGSI's Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, hybrid meeting

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois will hold a hybrid meeting on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, at Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois, and online via Zoom.

Temple Beth-El will open at 12:30 p.m. CDT for sign-ins. Please join us for a social hour at 1 p.m. CDT before the lecture begins at 2 p.m. CDT.

Registration/RSVP will be available here soon. Please mark your calendar so you don't forget.

For more information about JGSI, visit our website. For more information about membership benefits, click here.

“Rooting at NLI: Using the National Library of Israel’s online collections for your genealogical research" by Nachum Zitter (17 Jan 2027)

Sun, 17 Jan 2027 18:30:00 GMT

National Library of Israel’s online family history resources to be focus of Jan. 17, 2027, JGSI webinar

In “Rooting at NLI: Using the National Library of Israel’s online collections for your genealogical research,” for the Sunday, Jan. 17, 2027, Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois online meeting, librarian Nachum Zitter will explain how to access the great variety of resources available to family researchers.

Registration/RSVP will soon be available here for this 12:30 p.m. CST free webinar. Please note: This is an online only event, open to everyone who registers.

In his talk, Nachum will describe the NLI collections and search options. The National Library of Israel’s collections are a treasure trove for genealogical researchers. The library’s materials go far beyond standard book collections, and include manuscripts, archives, and extensive newspaper collections. However, the complexity and lack of sufficient indexing of genealogical materials can pose a challenge to those digging up their roots.

In this webinar, Nachum will unpack the collections and search options. Join us, as we access books, peruse periodicals, open letters and look through lists.

Nachum Zitter is the head of reference services at the National Library of Israel. Among other responsibilities, his job includes supporting genealogical research at the library and beyond. Nachum has an M.A. in information science, and decades of experience in librarianship.

Outside of his professional life, Nachum made Aliya in 1990, studied in Kerem B’yavne, lives in Mitzpe Yericho, is married to Mira and has seven children.

For more information about JGSI, visit our website. For more information about membership benefits, click here.

Mark your calendar for JGSI's Sunday, Feb. 28, 2027, online meeting (28 Feb 2027)

Sun, 28 Feb 2027 19:00:00 GMT

Plan to attend JGSI's Sunday, Feb. 28, 2027, online meeting

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois will hold an online meeting the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 28, 2027, online via Zoom. It will feature an interesting speaker giving a webinar talk that you won't want to miss.

Registration/RSVP will be available here soon. Please mark your calendar so you don't forget.

For more information about JGSI, visit our website. For more information about membership benefits, click here.

Mark your calendar for JGSI's March 7, 2027, hybrid meeting (07 Mar 2027)

Sun, 07 Mar 2027 20:00:00 GMT

Mark your calendar for JGSI's Sunday, March 7, 2027, hybrid meeting

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois will hold a hybrid meeting on Sunday, March 7, 2027, at Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois, and online via Zoom.

Temple Beth-El will open at 12:30 p.m. CDT for sign-ins. Please join us for a social hour at 1 p.m. CDT before the lecture begins at 2 p.m. CDT.

Registration/RSVP will be available here soon. Please mark your calendar so you don't forget.

For more information about JGSI, visit our website. For more information about membership benefits, click here.

Join us online for the 46th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy (04 Apr 2027)

Sun, 04 Apr 2027 05:00:00 GMT

Expert Jewish genealogists will be presenting informative family history talks for the 46th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy from April 4–6, 2027. This IAJGS conference will be totally online.

Presenters will offer a wide range of interesting Jewish genealogy topics for this IAJGS conference. Live sessions will run from 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time, with 90 days of on-demand access to every recorded session, so you can join live or catch up in your own time.

For more information when it becomes available, visit the conference website here: https://www.iajgs2026.org/.

Mark your calendar for JGSI's April 18, 2027, hybrid meeting (18 Apr 2027)

Sun, 18 Apr 2027 19:00:00 GMT

Mark your calendar for JGSI's Sunday, April 18, 2027, hybrid meeting

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois will hold a hybrid meeting on Sunday, April 18, 2027, at Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois, and online via Zoom.

Temple Beth-El will open at 12:30 p.m. CDT for sign-ins. Please join us for a social hour at 1 p.m. CDT before the lecture begins at 2 p.m. CDT.

Registration/RSVP will be available here soon. Please mark your calendar so you don't forget.

For more information about JGSI, visit our website. For more information about membership benefits, click here.

Mark your calendar for JGSI's May 23, 2027, hybrid meeting (23 May 2027)

Sun, 23 May 2027 19:00:00 GMT

Mark your calendar for JGSI's Sunday, May 23, 2027, hybrid meeting

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois will hold a hybrid meeting on Sunday, May 23, 2027, at Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois, and online via Zoom.

Temple Beth-El will open at 12:30 p.m. CDT for sign-ins. Please join us for a social hour at 1 p.m. CDT before the lecture begins at 2 p.m. CDT.

Registration/RSVP will be available here soon. Please mark your calendar so you don't forget.

For more information about JGSI, visit our website. For more information about membership benefits, click here.

Mark your calendar for JGSI's June 27, 2027, hybrid meeting (27 Jun 2027)

Sun, 27 Jun 2027 19:00:00 GMT

Mark your calendar for JGSI's Sunday, June 27, 2027, hybrid meeting

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois will hold a hybrid meeting on Sunday, June 27, 2027, at Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois, and online via Zoom.

Temple Beth-El will open at 12:30 p.m. CDT for sign-ins. Please join us for a social hour at 1 p.m. CDT before the lecture begins at 2 p.m. CDT.

Registration/RSVP will be available here soon. Please mark your calendar so you don't forget.

For more information about JGSI, visit our website. For more information about membership benefits, click here.