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Orange County Jewish Genealogical Society
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Yitzhak Berchunsky
​ca 1880
Welcome to the Orange County Jewish Genealogical Society!  The OCJGS is your resource in Orange County, California, for all things related to finding your Jewish roots.

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned expert, you will find our monthly meetings stimulating and informative. In addition to meetings, hands-on workshops, and special events, members also have access to an excellent library of books and magazines pertinent to Jewish genealogy.
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The Orange County Jewish Genealogical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We are a member of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies.

​Remember the Days of Old; Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders and they will explain to you. (Deut. 32:7)
זכר ימות עולם בינו שנות דור ודור שאל אביך ויגדך זקניך ויאמרו לך פרשת האזינו

Donate to OCJGS!

Renew or Join Today

Join today and get the rest of 2025 for free!
​Membership runs through the end of 2026.​

Calendar of Events

World-Class Speakers!

We have a lineup of truly world class speakers coming to you wherever in the world you are, from wherever in the world they are.
We normally meet the 4th Sunday of each month.

Virtual meetings are via Zoom. You must register in advance by clicking the link for the meeting you want to attend. Registration only takes a few seconds.
Attendance at virtual meetings is free to OCJGS members. If you are not a member, please consider joining. Otherwise, the charge for non-members is $5. Please visit the Membership page to join or pay your $5 fee.


November 23 at 10:00 am (Pacific time zone)
Ellie Vance
Navigating metrical books for the non-Russian speaker
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​Records were often recorded in Russian and can be tricky to navigate, especially for the non-Russian speakers, however, with the proper tools you can learn to identify ancestral surnames and common vocabulary, and record format. An extensive handout, complete with column heading translations, examples of handwritten key vocabulary, common given names, and resources to help you determine the handwritten forms of your surname will be included with the presentation.

​Ellie Vance graduated from Brigham Young University with degrees in Russian and Family History and Genealogy. She worked as the Slavic research specialist for the FamilySearch Library and currently works as a technical historical records expert at FamilySearch. Ellie enjoys helping others trace their roots in the former Russian Empire.

Register in advance for this Zoom presentation. Click this link to register.

But wait, there's more...
Mark your calendars for these upcoming speakers:

December 28: Susan Rosin
J
ewishGen Yizkor Book project
Click this link to register.

Stay tuned for next year's speaker lineup!
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Services offered by our members

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Mentoring by Shmuel Fisher
Our long-time resident mentor is happy to provide one-on-one general assistance to beginners and more advanced help for Polish research.
Contact: ​[email protected]

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Orange County Genetic Genealogy
Full range of services to help you with DNA and genealogical research.
Contact us at: www.theOCGG.com

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Infinite Possibilities
West Coast Genealogy

Basic and comprehensive genealogical services at very affordable prices. We also specialize in Jewish Genealogy. Contact us for a free consultation to learn more:
[email protected]

Are you a member of OCJGS offering a genealogical service? Contact us for your FREE listing.
Copyright © Orange County Jewish Genealogical Society