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. 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 |
Renew or Join TodayMembership runs through the end of the 2023 Calendar of EventsWorld-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. March 26 at 10:00 am (Pacific time zone)
Michael Morgenstern: Genealogical Gems in the Forverts (Jewish Daily Forward) 
Founded in 1897, the Forverts was a leading Yiddish language newspaper in the United States throughout the 20th century. Most of this newspaper is available to browse digitally for free through the online Historical Jewish Press database.
This lecture will examine hidden genealogical gems within this newspaper, some of which can be found with minimal Yiddish skills. Among these gems are personal inquiries submitted by readers seeking information on their relatives, letters to the editor, and the “Gallery of Missing Husbands.” This lecture will also cover the historical and cultural context of the newspaper, which will help evaluate its relevance to a researcher's individual family history. Michael Morgenstern is a native of Los Angeles, California. After completing an undergraduate degree in history at Loyola Marymount University, he worked as a researcher on TLC’s “Who Do You Think You Are?” history and genealogy show. Since 2014, he has worked as an educator at Holocaust Museum Los Angeles. He has been an avid genealogy researcher since he was 16. He has volunteered genealogy research to Holocaust survivors, focusing on those who do not have any prewar family documents or photographs. Lately, he has translated segments of the “Jewish Daily Forward” from Yiddish to English for JewishGen. Some of his work can be seen at “The Forward: A Gallery of Missing Husbands (1908-1914)” Register in advance for the virtual meeting. Click this link to register. Live from Poland!
April 23 at 10:00 am (Pacific time zone)
Jakub Czupryński: Polish State Archives - Researching off the beaten track 
Jacob will take us on a guided tour of well-known and less obvious resources for Jewish genealogy in Poland. Apart from vital and census records, the state archives keep millions of other records documenting Jewish life in past centuries.
Jacob's presentation will include practical tips on how to search for often-overlooked archival documents. Jakub Czupryński lives and works in Poland, where he has been a professional genealogist specializing in the history of Polish Jews for over 15 years. He is also a professional travel guide and organizer, specializing in heritage tours in Poland. Jakub collaborates with JRI-Poland, the Jewish Culture Festival in Kraków, and the Kraków Jewish Community Center, where he organizes meetings and lectures on genealogy. Register in advance for the virtual meeting. Click this link to register. Live from Israel!
May 21 at 10:00 am (Pacific time zone)
Daniel Horowitz: Researching Jewish Genealogy Sources in Latin America 
Looking for ancestors who lived in, passed through, or died in Latin America? The Internet contains many rich repositories where you can learn about them — and these resources, which can be searched in English or Spanish, are growing each day.
In this session, you’ll learn how to access these resources, contact the communities and people that can help, and use the tools you need to make the most of them. Daniel will also provide a quick introduction to the Spanish keywords and translation tools that can help you overcome language barriers and unearth fascinating details about your ancestors located in South America. Daniel Horowitz is the Genealogy Expert at MyHeritage, where he is the liaison with genealogy societies and media, lecturing, and attending conferences around the world. Dedicated to genealogy since 1986, Daniel taught and edited the family history project “Searching for My Roots” in Venezuela for 15 years. Daniel is involved in several crowdsource digitization and transcription projects and holds a board level position at the Israel Genealogy Research Association (IGRA). Register in advance for the virtual meeting. Click this link to register. But wait, there's more...
|
Services offered by our members
Are you a member of OCJGS offering a genealogical service? Contact us for your FREE listing. |
