Summer Special: $10 off new memberships
With so many folks signing up mid-year, we've decided it's only fair to give you a reduced rate for the partial year. So, head over to the MEMBERSHIP page and sign up today for unlimited access to great speakers and great content.
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. July 26 at 10:00 am (Pacific time zone)
Direct from The Ukraine! Alex Krakovsky: Jewish Records in Ukraine 
Alex Krakovsky, a Jewish Ukrainian, is using freedom of information laws and the court system in Ukraine to force archives to allow him to scan their records, as was never before permitted. Alex uses high resolution scanning equipment to scan virtually all records in an archive, posting to a wiki just for Jewish records. He has spent a great deal of time and his own money doing this important work and constantly battling a very difficult government system. He has also received funds donated for purchase of state-of-the-art scanners, which are now in use in most Ukraine archives.
You can access his main wiki page at this URL (use Google Chrome to translate - it is all in Ukrainian). Register in advance for the virtual meeting by clicking this link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIscOyurT4rHNYqq0o60y39EykpC6tm6pHM 
The IAJGS Virtual ConferenceRegistration is now open for the 2020 IAJGS conference, which will be held online from Aug 9 through 14. This will be the whole enchilada, with the usual collection of big-name speakers, keynotes, and "how to" sessions. There will even be SIG and Birds of a Feather meetings. For information, visit: www.iajgs2020.org August 23 at 10:00 am (Pacific time zone)
Direct from Belarus! Yuri Dorn: 19th Century Jewish Records in Belarus 
Yuri Dorn is a well known genealogist, specializing in Jewish genealogy and ancestral tourism to Belarus. He founded the Jewish Heritage Research Group in 2002, which consists of professional historians, genealogists and certified English speaking guides. In addition to genealogical research and ancestral tours to Belarus, Yuri and his staff put a lot of work into restoration and preservation of Jewish heritage in Belarus.
Register in advance for the virtual meeting by clicking this link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcrdOygqzojHtfVGdixXuXamORysy7GSHJq September 13 at 1:30 pm (Pacific time zone)
Direct from Montreal! Stanley Diamond: JRI-Poland (Jewish records in Poland) 
In addition to being Executive Director of JRI-Poland, Stanley Diamond's biography covers a lot of ground. He is a Founding Board Member of the International Institute of Jewish Genealogy, Jerusalem as well as a consultant to the producers of "Who Do You Think You Are?" television series. And that just scratches the surface of his Jewish Genealogy achievements. He is also an award-winning author, lecturer, and entrepreneur.
JRI-Poland is an award winning international project to create an Internet-searchable index of all surviving Jewish vital records of Poland (www.jri-poland.org). Register in advance for the virtual meeting by clicking this link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwlcOivqDgtHNahoGmbF5ifX3sy2IUjr9QZ October 25 at 1:30 pm (Pacific time zone)
Lara Diamond: [Subject TBD] 
Lara Diamond has researched her roots in Eastern Europe using records from the Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires. She is president of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Maryland, has leading roles in JewishGen’s Subcarpathian and Ukraine SIG groups, and runs projects collecting documentation from multiple towns. Her Jewnealogy blog is at https://larasgenealogy.blogspot.com.
Register in advance for the virtual meeting by clicking this link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMvdOqvqzwvH9Ag-9kWbDyw-qxPiE4-J8Wh November 22 at 1:30 pm (Pacific time zone)
Judy Baston: Jewish Genealogy in Lithuania 
Judy Bastin was awarded the 2015 IAJGS Achievement award in recognition for her tireless work as LitvakSIG board member, moderator of the LitvakSIG Discussion Group, membership of the JRI-Poland Board, Lomza Archive Coordinator, and moderator of the Lodz Area Research Group and BialyGen discussion groups. Judy was also involved in editing/proofreading Yizkor Book translations for Ciechanowiec, Eisiskes, and Ostrow Mazowiecka, and is a sought-after speaker.
Register in advance for the virtual meeting by clicking this link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJErf-qvqzgrGNKlHB6cDMwlmZiuWnbY_Y9h |
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