Past Programs - 2011

The following programs and workshops were held in 2011; they are shown here so that you may view the range of activities of JGSGW.

Dr. Isaacs returns to JGSGW after a two-year absence. She will first speak in general terms about how cultures can be transmitted and what factors lead to cultural disruption. She will then draw on the traditional notion of the Golden Chain, di goldene keit (in Yiddish), a chain that links generations. She will give concrete examples of stories, beliefs and ideas that have been kept across generations and how they are adapted and readapted to different locations and situation. Examples will be drawn from folklore, literature and contemporary culture, and how traditional themes have entered the area of Holocaust studies. "Ghosts and Golems" will certainly come into the mix.

The meeting is free and open to all.

My Journey in Genealogy: Tips, How-To's & Rewards

"This multimedia presentation provides an overview of my journey in genealogy from beginner to intermediate, including the joys, frustrations, and insights that come with researching one's family history. I discuss techniques that I learned and developed for improving research, data collection and presentation, providing tips that can only come with experience. I emphasize where and how digital technology is valuable to a genealogist.  For example, software can sometimes be used to make unreadable documents readable. I discuss preparing for and conducting a video-recorded oral interview and the value of adding a scanner to the bag of researcher's tools. Throughout this presentation, I convey my enthusiasm for what I have learned from my involvement with Jewish genealogy."

This will be a 2-hour session jam-packed with resources, helpful hints and motivation.

No charge for JGSGW members. The workshop is limited to 40 participants, and will be held in the Learning Center at Beth El. Non-members wishing to participate in this workshop may join JGSGW up to the day of the workshop and participate if there is space available.

Women Against Tyranny: Poems of Resistance During the Holocaust (Clemson University Digital Press, to be published in April, 2011) tells the stories of women who resisted throughout Europe—Christian and Jewish, those who survived the war and those who did not, women whose stories are known and unknown. Although a few of the women have received recognition, the range and depth of women’s resistance has been largely overlooked or forgotten. These women’s stories take place in such countries as Germany, Poland, France, Yugoslavia, Denmark, Slovakia, Albania, Greece, and elsewhere. 

The collection includes stories of such women as Dr. Rita Levi Montalcini, a Nobel Prize in Medicine recipient; Dr. Roza Papo, doctor and first female general in Tito’s army; Emilie Schindler, Oskar Schindler’s wife whose efforts were critical in saving hundreds of people, but who was left out of the  movie, Schindler’s List; and Magda Trocme, of Chambon sur-Lignon, the French village which hid thousands of Jews and other refugees. 

There will be a book signing at the conclusion of the program.

Marlene Bishow will present a preview of the 31st IAJGS Conference at the conclusion of the afternoon program: “Everything you wanted to know about the 31st IAJGS International Conference, but were afraid to ask.”

June

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Jews and Chocolate - A Love Story         
 Member Appreciation Potluck Luncheon   Note: This meeting is for members only.

Potomac Community Center, Potomac, MD

Sheilah Kaufman never met a chocolate she didn't like and she’s certainly not alone! Chocolate is the most craved food in the United States.  

Come and meet Sheilah Kaufman, cooking instructor, cookbook author (26 books), culinary lecturer, and food editor as she tells the story of the History of the Jews and Chocolate, learn valuable information about using/cooking with chocolate, and enjoy a chocolate tasting and cooking demo/class. Several of Sheilah's books will be available for purchase and she will be happy to autograph your copy.

Sheilah Kaufman is prolific cookbook author, popular cooking teacher and culinary lecturer, food editor, and mentor for those wanting to learn how to write a book, or teach. With her engaging personality and natural ease in front of an audience, 40 years ago, Sheilah began a new career in the culinary arts, traveling from Alaska to Hawaii, Maine to Mexico, teaching easy, elegant, fearless, fussless, international cooking.  She takes the intimidation out of cooking, while teaching how to entertain without stress or becoming a kitchen slave.  She has been a frequent guest on television and radio programs across the nation and in Canada.

In the In the first presentation, “DNA for Dummies,” Arline Sachs will explain the basics of DNA, where it is found and how it is used for genealogical purposes. It will explain the difference between the Y-DNA tests that have become well known, as well as how they can be used. It will also discuss the newer tests to find relatives beyond the male line. DNA projects for finding genetic cousins will be explained. It is designed for those without a science background but those who want to understand what is happening. It will also touch on the advisability of using DNA testing for diseases and some of the pitfalls in making assumptions.

In Honor of International Jewish Genealogy Month, JGSGW will host this session of Assisted Research at our meeting and in our Library. 

The program will consist of members assisting members on specific areas of Jewish genealogy research. Research Centers will consist of member specialists in the following areas:

•     Getting Started In Jewish Genealogy

•     Get Registered As A Researcher on JewishGen

•     Hebrew Gravestone Translations

•     Getting Results in the Yad Vashem Database

•     Searching the Social Security Death Index

•     Exploring Sources for Sephardic Research

                  And more.......................... 

We have arranged for FREE access to Ancestry.com (Worldwide edition) in our library for one week! Our library (with 12 computers) will be open from 2:00 – 5:00 PM on Sunday, October 23 and during the following week on Wednesday (October 26) and Thursday (October 27) from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. 

When the 1940 census is released in April 2012, it will not have a name index. Such an index will not be available for perhaps up to six months after opening day. So finding people in the census will involve searching by location instead. 

The census is organized by Enumeration Districts (EDs), so the location needs to be converted to an ED before the census can be accessed. The One-Step website contains numerous tools for obtaining  EDs. This talk will present the various tools and show circumstances in which each can be used. It will also demonstrate a tutorial quiz for determining the best tool to use in each specific situation. 

Mastering Internet techniques is key. Finding genealogy sites is relatively easy, but each requires different access methodologies. Then, once you find what you want, how do you save it? Site techniques will be demonstrated through PowerPoint and ScreenCasting, then we will practice together using keywords, soundex and shortcuts to find: Shtetls via JewishGen, Manifests via SteveMorse, Vital Records via JRI-Poland & Italiangen. Time permitting we will cover Ancestry, Cyndi’s List and SSDI.  We will practice using screen savers and moving the search results into Word documents. We hope to have time to delve into metasearches, bookmarking, Google, Rootsweb and the CDC vital records site. This workshop is geared to beginners – intermediate researchers.

This workshop will be open to paid-up members only. Advance registration is not required. Bring your own dairy lunch and we will provide dessert and beverages.