No Class: October 24 & 31

When I was a child, I thought that family trees were something like Christmas trees, that only Christians could have them and definitely not Jews. This was because when I asked my mother about the grandmother after whom I am named, she told me that “Hitler killed everyone; there is nobody and nothing left to find.” Happily, my mother was wrong.

Jewish genealogy is alive and well, and people all over the world who once held my mother’s opinion are tracing their Jewish families back hundreds of years. Contrary to commonly held belief, all traces of Jewish life in Europe were not lost during World War II. Although the Nazis destroyed communities and murdered the inhabitants, most records of their lives survived and are being recovered as part of a burgeoning interest in tracing Jewish family history.

This practical, hands-on course guides participants to discover their own family histories. It’s designed for beginners, but more experienced researchers are welcome. Topics include interviewing family and friends; determining the “old country” place of residence and the original family name; locating, understanding and accessing records; the use and value of DNA testing; the special role of rabbinic genealogy; and the value and usefulness of the worldwide Jewish genealogical community.