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Jewish Genealogy Society
of Cleveland

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We research and support programs by renowned genealogy experts and offer free monthly educational programs. We meet on Zoom (and occasionally in-person following COVID regulations) typically on the first Wednesday of the month at 7 pm ET.  Advance registration is required for all programs and must be posted by noon on the day of the program.  Please contact our Vice President for Programming to discuss speaker opportunities and program ideas.

You can also check out the IAJGS Calendar for a listing of Jewish Genealogy Events.



Upcoming events

    • 01/03/2024
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • Zoom
    Register

    Reclaiming our Story: The Promise and Potential of Jewish Genealogy

    Date & Time:  Wed, Jan 3, 2024 at 7:00 - 8:30 PM ET

    Location:  Zoom

    Program:  TBA

    Speaker:   Jennifer Mendelsohn is a sought-after genealogist who specializes in helping Eastern European Jewish families shattered by the Holocaust reclaim their history. Her journey began in 2013, when she reunited her husband's grandmother—a Polish Holocaust survivor who had lost her entire immediate family and most of her extended family—with three living first cousins she had never known. Since then she has worked on scores of cases, solving complex family mysteries using a blend of traditional and genetic genealogy. Her sleuthing was featured in the 2019 bestseller Inheritance by Dani Shapiro. In 2022, she co-founded the DNA Reunion Project at the Center for Jewish History, which seeks to promote DNA testing as a tool for helping Holocaust survivors find family.

    Mendelsohn is also known for the innovative use of genealogy as a tool for activism. She created the viral hashtag #resistancegenealogy, which uses genealogical and historical records to fight disinformation and honor America’s immigrant past. The project received international media attention, including being featured on CNN.com, The New Yorker, The Washington Post and Yahoo News.

    A native Long Islander now based in Baltimore, Mendelsohn serves on the board of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Maryland and is the administrator of Facebook's Jewish Genetic Genealogy group, with over 10,000 members worldwide.

    Prior to her work as a genealogist, Jennifer spent many years as a freelance journalist. Her work has appeared in countless publications including PeopleSlateThe New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, Time, and Tablet. In addition, she is the author of a children's book and helped fashion guru Carson Kressley pen his New York Times best-selling mens' style manual Off the Cuff.

    Registration:  


    • 02/07/2024
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    Register

    Hidden Inheritance: Family Secrets, Memory, and Faith

    Date & Time:  Wed, Feb 7, 2024 at 7:00 - 8:30 PM ET

    Location:  Zoom

    Program:  TBA

    Speaker:   Heidi B. Neumark 

    Registration


    • 03/06/2024
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • Zoom

    Making the Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne Your Research Assistant with an Emphasis on Jewish Genealogical Research

    Date & Time: Wed, Mar 6, 2024 at 7:00 - 8:30 PM ET

    Location: Zoom

    Program:  Learn how you can use the resources of this national family history repository for free from anywhere in the world while also discovering what research gems are available for those who can come to the Genealogy Center in person.