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 |
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. July 26, 2026 at 10:00 am (Pacific time zone)
Emily Garber Town Counsel: Finding Your Ancestor's European Town of Origin 
One of the foundational steps in Jewish genealogy research is identifying not only the names of our ancestors’ towns of origin, but also pinpointing their locations on modern maps. Successful research into Eastern European roots requires establishing this information through records of immigrant ancestors and their relatives and descendants in their adopted countries.
This presentation will outline effective strategies and key data sources to thoroughly investigate ancestral towns. Emily will also explore methods for distinguishing between similarly named communities and demonstrate how to leverage the FAN club (Friends, Associates, and Neighbors) principle to enhance your research. Emily Garber is a Jewish family history researcher, writer and speaker. An archaeologist by training (B.A., and M.A.), she holds a certificate from Boston University's Genealogical Research program and owns Extra Yad Genealogical Services. Emily blogs at https://extrayad.blogspot.com/, has written two books and several articles that have appeared in Avotaynu and NGS Magazine. She has spoken at National Genealogical Society and IAJGS conferences and coordinated week-long Jewish genealogy seminars for the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. She is chair of the Phoenix Jewish Genealogy Group, Vice President of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies, and a director on the board of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society. But wait, there's more...
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Services offered by our members
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