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. Our physical meetings (when we get back to them) are at: Temple Beth Sholom 2625 N Tustin Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm 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. June 11 & 12
GENEALOGY JAMBOREE 2021 
We are happy to join our friends at SCGS (Southern California Genealogical Society) to help promote the 51st Genealogy Jamboree. With 51 speakers from the USA, Ireland, Israel and the UK, this year's Jamboree brings you nationally known speakers keeping you in touch with the latest developments in the field of genealogy.
Full details are on the website: www.genealogyjamboree.com June 13 at 10:00 am (Pacific time zone)
Gil Bardige: Help! I just got my DNA results and I'm confused. 
At the “instruction” of his mother, Gil Bardige began his genealogy adventure in 1979 with 54 people in his tree. Today his family tree, including mishpocha, is over 2,000 people tracing 4 branches back to his 5th great grandfathers born about 1740. His families arrived in Chicago in the early 20th century in the early 1900s.
Gil currently manages three Y-DNA projects at Family Tree DNA as a Volunteer Administrator. He loves to help people manage their expectations and begin to remove confusion from the DNA results, whether it’s, Y-DNA, mtDNA, or Autosomal DNA. A member of the Columbus Jewish Historical Society, Gil had spoken at a number of local events and international conferences, including at IAJGS in Orlando, Cleveland and Virtual San Diego. Gil is a firm believer that you can use DNA results as a tool in your genealogical research as it generates clues that can help people confirm/deny relationships. His speaking style is high energy (you won’t be bored) and he loves to take questions. People have said of his presentations, “Thank you, Gil, I am no longer confused!” Register in advance for the virtual meeting by clicking this link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcvcOmgrjssGNPuSsU1kvvw8rMQvRARn8qL July 25 at 10:00 am (Pacific time zone)
Megan Lewis: Using online resources at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum for researching Holocaust records 
Megan Lewis is a reference librarian at the USHMM (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum). The last time Megan spoke at one of our meetings, she got on an airplane to fly from Washington DC. Online via Zoom is SO much easier. We know from experience that Megan is a great speaker!
Register in advance for the virtual meeting by clicking this link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYocu2orDgjHd34jzQQQnJV80tgaICJINgg August 22 at 10:00 AM (Pacific time zone)
Direct from Jerusalem! Serafima Velkovich: Names and other genealogical sources at Yad Vashem 
Over 4.8 million of the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis and their accomplices are commemorated in Yad Vashem's online Central Database of Shoah Victims' Names. The lecture will highlight new features and materials, as well as "tips" on utilizing the database to the fullest. It will also include guidance on the use of other Yad Vashem sources online that are relevant for genealogists.
Serafima Velkovich has been working at Yad Vashem for 16 years. She is a PhD Candidate at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A researcher in the Reference and Information Department of the Yad Vashem Archives division, Velkovich was closely involved in the work on names material in Yad Vashem`s databases. She lectures on the use of Yad Vashem resources for genealogical and other research to various groups, as well as to visiting genealogists and organizations who make use of genealogical tools for their research. She participates in the international conferences and films on the Holocaust topics. Register in advance for the virtual meeting by clicking this link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEodOyqqD0iGd2THDbRr1f5yZ_xVskk-81q September 19 at 10:00 AM (Pacific time zone)
Greg Nelson: Procuring Eastern European records for the Family History Library 
FamilySearch microfilm and digital cameras have been filming continuously in Central and Eastern Europe since their initial agreement with Hungary in 1959. Since then, all but 3 countries in East Europe have had camera–capture projects to capture images of records that assist genealogists from around the world. Today there are nearly 30 digital cameras preserving records in archives in the area. These projects include a large number of Jewish records, especially those found in archives in the area of the Pale of Settlement. This presentation will give you an idea of where records have been digitized, what records have been digitized, how to access the records and indexes, and where FamilySearch and our partners are strategically planning to capture additional records in the next 10 years. It will also show you tips and tricks on FamilySearch on how best to access the images and searchable records as well as add your own information to the family tree.
Greg Nelson is the Content Strategy specialist for East Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, and various US States at FamilySearch. He holds a BA in Russian, MA in Slavic Linguistics and Literature, and a BS in Computer Science. He resides in Stansbury Park, Utah. Register in advance for the virtual meeting by clicking this link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIuc--rqDMuHtVrLkDN7NFIK0DHtmPN7s65 October 24 at 10:00 AM (Pacific time zone)
Arthur Kurzweil: In conversation... 
Arthur Kurzweil, author, educator, genealogist, and magician (who knew?). Another in our Pioneers of Jewish Genealogy series of conversations.
Register in advance for the virtual meeting by clicking this link:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIqfuGtqTgoGdTfoumFbprqcXiiFgdb8Kf5 November 21 at 10:00 am (Pacific time zone)
Aaron Ginsburg: Curing the "I can't find my shtetl" syndrome; Examples and techniques 
Sometimes it's not easy to find a shtetl using the JewishGen Communities Database (formerly known as the Shtetl Finder) on jewishgen.org. Either your shtetl is not listed, there are too many hits, or not enough information is available. This presentation will discuss Shtetl Finder and demonstrate alternate approaches, using examples. Techniques will include networking, detailed family histories, immigration and naturalization, military records, JewishGen records, Yad Vashem, and how to find and use detailed online maps for Poland and Austria-Hungary. Having found the shtetl, the examples will show how that may lead to more information. The talk will include slides showing the steps in solved.
Aaron Ginsburg was born in Newport, Rhode Island. His research into his family led to the creation of a non-profit organization, The Friends of Jewish Dokshitsy, to help local officials in Belarus restore a Jewish cemetery. Aaron has traveled frequently to Belarus and Ukraine and he has helped several families reunite after 50-100 years. His motto is, “Genealogy can be fun…if you are patient." Register in advance for the virtual meeting by clicking this link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcscu6grj4uHdYSAuAKLID_FTUKeczCnn3y December 19
Chanukah Party: Back to the old new normal... Here's a concept... we're planning a real, live, in-person Chanukah party. Not sure that we're quite ready to party like it's 2019, but we're looking forward to ditching Zoom and getting together face-to-face (or facemask-to-facemask) with our friends, both old and new!
Needless to say, details are still being worked out... But wait, there's more...Mark your calendars for these upcoming speakers:
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