Welcome to the Jewish
Genealogical Society of Oregon blog and our weekly
newsletter! We hope you find something here that helps you
with your research.
We are happy to provide
information to the genealogy community all over the world.
Our newsletter is a curated list of free presentations and
articles focused on or in some way relevant to Jewish genealogical
research.
Members of JGSO receive
the newsletter in their Inboxes every Wednesday night. If
you find the information here useful, please consider joining JGSO
or supporting us with a donation. Go to our site, https://jgsoregon.wixsite.com/home ,
and click on Get Involved.
Our next program:
The Impact of Weather on Family History, with Sydney
Lybrand
Sunday, 5 October 2025, 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time, via Zoom,
free
Weather-related
events altered the lives, and livelihoods, of individuals,
families, and even communities. Weather also served as a
backdrop to the daily lives of our ancestors, impacting them
in ways we might not have thought of. Learn about the many
resources and ways we can gain new insights into weather of
the past.
Sydney Lybrand is a scientist specializing in analysis of
precipitation data. She holds a bachelor's degree in Earth
System Science and a master's degree in Atmospheric Science.
She is also passionate about history and the role of weather
in both historic events and everyday lives.
Registering for this program will place you on the JGSO
mailing list, and you will receive our newsletters. Each
newsletter has instructions on how to unsubscribe.
Register
here:
All our programs feature closed captioning.
Program details and registration links for 2025
are on our Events page.
https://jgsoregon.wixsite.com/home/events-1/
https://jgsoregon.wixsite.com/
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Register early for
presentations. Space may be limited.
If it says "Join at" the time of the meeting, no registration is required.
==============================
If it says "Join at" the time of the meeting, no registration is required.
==============================
JEWISH GENEALOGY EVENTS and NEWS
Imagining Early American Jews,
Michael Hoberman
Sunday, 19 October 2025, 1:00 p.m.
Pacific Time, Zoom, free
Touro Synagogue Foundation
https://mailchi.mp/2fbc947d5e76/march-program-announcements-10593530
SEPHARDIC et al. EVENTS and NEWS
III International Congress of Sephardic
Studies: "Jews in the Mediterranean and
Their Diasporas"
JewishGen Discussion Group
JewishGen has an e-mail list where people share information about resources, request help with translations and identifying photos, post about upcoming presentations, and generally indulge in family history on a regular basis. While not a must for doing Jewish genealogical research, it is a very helpful resource. You must first register for a free account on JewishGen and then separately register for the discussion group.
https://tinyurl.com/yp7ce6zj
Jewish Mendoza Family of London
This project will create a migration map as a test for a larger project.
If you are a descendant of the London Mendoza family, please join.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/jewishmendozafamily
==============================
HOLOCAUST and WWII EVENTS and NEWS
Online Holocaust Survivor Talk: Rita Lurie and Leslie Gilbert Lurie
What History Teaches 4: Universities, Education, and the Role of Intellectuals
What History Teaches 5: Between Terror and Resilience—Jewish Life in Nazi Germany, Jordanna Gessler
What History Teaches 6: America & the Holocaust—Isolationism & Immigration
Josef Rosensaft and the Displaced Persons
Camp of Bergen-Belsen: Remembering My
Father, Menachem Rosensaft
Holocaust Reunion Project, reuniting survivors with family
Free DNA tests for survivors and descendants
https://holocaustreunions.org/
Living Links
Nationwide organization for grandchildren of Holocaust survivors
https://www.wearelivinglinks.org/
Austrian Gesture Payment for Living Survivors from Austria
Austria resolved to provide additional support to all living victims of National Socialism from Austria.
National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism
https://www.nationalfonds.org/gesture-payment
Share Your History: Preserve Films and Help Save Holocaust Evidence
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum is seeking home movies from before, during, and immediately after the Holocaust. The museum will restore and digitize the films.
https://engage.ushmm.org/donate-collections
=============================
DNA EVENTS
YDNA Free Get Started Course, Diahan Southard
Attend on your schedule, online, free
Your DNA Guide
A Nation of Refugees:
Russia's Jews in World War I, Polly
Zavadivker
Wednesday, 11 November 2025, 9:00
a.m. Pacific Time, Zoom, free
JDC Archives
https://archives.jdc.org/a-nation-of-refugees/
AI & Jewish Genealogy: New Tools, New Concerns, Scott Meyer
Oldest Jewish Cemetery in Britain Uncovered
beneath the Barbican, Jane Prinsley
AI & Jewish Genealogy: New Tools, New Concerns, Scott Meyer
Sunday, 16 November 2025, 11:00
a.m. Pacific Time, hybrid (Zoom), free
JGS of Illinois
====
7 September, 2025
Jewish Chronicle
The Remarkable Story of the Lost
Shtetl Museum, Barbara
Kirshenblatt-Gimblett
3 September 2025
Forward
https://forward.com/yiddish-world/766186/lost-shtetl-museum-seduva-lithuania-cemetery/
New KehilaLinks page for Radomyshl, Ukraine
(formerly Radomysl)
Virtual Tour of "Most Fortunate
Unfortunates: The Jewish Orphans’ Home
of New Orleans", Marlene Trestman
posted 1 September 2025
Museum of the Southern Jewish
Experience
JewishGen Discussion Group
JewishGen has an e-mail list where people share information about resources, request help with translations and identifying photos, post about upcoming presentations, and generally indulge in family history on a regular basis. While not a must for doing Jewish genealogical research, it is a very helpful resource. You must first register for a free account on JewishGen and then separately register for the discussion group..
https://tinyurl.com/yp7ce6zj
JDays Worldwide Jewish Event Calendar
Calendar of upcoming programs with focuses on Jewish family history, history, and heritage.
L'Dor V'Dor Foundation
https://ldvdf.org/jdays/
IAJGS Jewish Roots Calendar
https://www.iajgs.org/calendar/
The Hub
Listings of mostly online Jewish events and classes, several of which are useful for family history.
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/the-hub/
==============================
JewishGen has an e-mail list where people share information about resources, request help with translations and identifying photos, post about upcoming presentations, and generally indulge in family history on a regular basis. While not a must for doing Jewish genealogical research, it is a very helpful resource. You must first register for a free account on JewishGen and then separately register for the discussion group..
https://tinyurl.com/yp7ce6zj
JDays Worldwide Jewish Event Calendar
Calendar of upcoming programs with focuses on Jewish family history, history, and heritage.
L'Dor V'Dor Foundation
https://ldvdf.org/jdays/
IAJGS Jewish Roots Calendar
https://www.iajgs.org/
The Hub
Listings of mostly online Jewish events and classes, several of which are useful for family history.
https://www.myjewishlearning.
==============================
SEPHARDIC et al. EVENTS and NEWS
Tuesday–Thursday, 21–23 October
2025, in person, Lisbon, Portugal
University of Lisbon Center for
History and Center for Jewish Studies of the
Amazon
https://www.ceja-cies.com.br/iiicies-eng/
Sebastián de Romero, the Spanish Diplomat Who
Saved Hundreds of Sephardic Jews
===
Is There Genetic Evidence of Jews in
Portugal?, Ines Nogueiro
recorded 25 April 2021
Sephardic Genealogical Society
17 August 2025
The Diplomat in Spain
JewishGen Discussion Group
JewishGen has an e-mail list where people share information about resources, request help with translations and identifying photos, post about upcoming presentations, and generally indulge in family history on a regular basis. While not a must for doing Jewish genealogical research, it is a very helpful resource. You must first register for a free account on JewishGen and then separately register for the discussion group.
https://tinyurl.com/yp7ce6zj
Jewish Mendoza Family of London
This project will create a migration map as a test for a larger project.
If you are a descendant of the London Mendoza family, please join.
https://www.facebook.com/
==============================
HOLOCAUST and WWII EVENTS and NEWS
Where They Settled: Holocaust
Survivors in Mexico, Dr. Yael Siman
Thursday, 18 September 2025, 4:00 p.m.
Pacific Time, online, free
Holocaust Museum LA
Passage to Sweden (documentary)
Friday–Sunday, 19–21 September 2025,
streaming online, free
Arizona Jewish Historical Society
The Dragon from Chicago: The
Untold Story of an American Reporter in Nazi
Germany, Pamela D. Toler
Thursday, 25 September 2025, 3:30 p.m.
Pacific Time, hybrid, free
National WWII Museum
Online Holocaust Survivor Talk: Rita Lurie and Leslie Gilbert Lurie
Sunday, 28 September 2025, 3:00 p.m.
Pacific Time, online, free
Holocaust Museum LA
Adventures of a Little Girl,
Holocaust survivor Ellen Bottner
Friday, 3 October 2025, 10:00 a.m. Pacific
Time, online, free
Arizona Jewish Historical Society
What History Teaches 4: Universities, Education, and the Role of Intellectuals
Wednesday, 29 October 2025, 9:00 a.m.
Pacific Time, Zoom, free
Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust and Humanity
Center
What History Teaches 5: Between Terror and Resilience—Jewish Life in Nazi Germany, Jordanna Gessler
Thursday, 13 November 2025, 12:00 noon
Pacific Time, Zoom, free
Holocaust Museum LA
What History Teaches 6: America & the Holocaust—Isolationism & Immigration
Tuesday, 9 December 2025, 10:00 a.m.
Pacific Time, Zoom, free
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education
Center
===
8 September 2025
Moment Magazine
Free AncestryDNA Kits for Holocaust
Survivors or Their Children
The Center for Jewish History has partnered
with Ancestry.com. Only for
first-time/new DNA tests at Ancestry.
Holocaust Reunion Project, reuniting survivors with family
Free DNA tests for survivors and descendants
https://holocaustreunions.org/
Living Links
Nationwide organization for grandchildren of Holocaust survivors
https://www.wearelivinglinks.
Austrian Gesture Payment for Living Survivors from Austria
Austria resolved to provide additional support to all living victims of National Socialism from Austria.
National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism
https://www.nationalfonds.org/
Share Your History: Preserve Films and Help Save Holocaust Evidence
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum is seeking home movies from before, during, and immediately after the Holocaust. The museum will restore and digitize the films.
https://engage.ushmm.org/
=============================
DNA EVENTS
YDNA Free Get Started Course, Diahan Southard
Attend on your schedule, online, free
Your DNA Guide
Breaking Down Brick Walls with Your DNA,
Kate Penney Howard
Saturday, 18 October 2025, 9:00 a.m.
Pacific Time, hybrid (Zoom), free
Bristol Chapter, Massachusetts Society of
Genealogists
Genetic Genealogy Today, Richard
Hill
Wednesday, 12 November 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Pacific Time, Zoom, free
Utah Genealogical Association DNA SIG
===
Is There Genetic Evidence of Jews in
Portugal?, Ines Nogueiro
recorded 25 April 2021
Sephardic Genealogical Society
==============================
GENERAL GENEALOGY EVENTS and NEWS
We list only events and news that have some relevance to Jewish genealogy research. Unless a presentation is particularly important to let you know about, we will not list talks from Legacy Family Tree, Salt Lake City FamilySearch Library, BYU FamilySearch Library, Lehi FamilySearch Center, or Los Angeles FamilySearch Center because there are so many. See our blog for links to those organizations and other resources: https://
Columbia County Genealogy
Conference: Many Lands, Many People,
Pam Vestal and Janice M. Sellers, 10 sessions
Saturday, 20 September 2025, 9:00
a.m.–5:15 p.m. Pacific Time, hybrid (St. Helens,
Oregon and Zoom), free
St. Helens Public Library, 375
S. 18th Suite A, St. Helens, Oregon
https://www.sthelensoregon.gov/library/page/columbia-county-genealogy-conference-many-lands-many-people
Finding and Using Obituaries More Effectively,
Sunny Morton
Creating an Ancestor Sketch, Thomas
MacEntee
Saturday, 20 September 2025, 9:00 a.m.
Pacific Time, hybrid (Zoom), free
Bristol Chapter, Massachusetts Society of
Genealogists
Saturday, 20 September 2025, 9:00
a.m. Pacific Time, Zoom, free
Castle Rock Colorado Genealogical
Society
Forgotten Family: Pauper
Records & Genealogy at the Delaware Public
Archives, Joseph Sullivan
Saturday, 20 September 2025, 10:00
a.m. Pacific Time, Zoom, free
Delaware Genealogical Society
Using the Virtual Treasury of
Ireland, Colin Whitney
Saturday, 20 September 2025, 10:30
a.m. Pacific Time, Zoom, free
San Diego Genealogical Society
British Isles SIG
It's All in the Clues!,
Diane Henrik
Saturday, 20 September 2025, 11:00
a.m. Pacific Time, hybrid (Zoom), free
Santa Barbara Genealogical Society
https://sbgen.org/meetings-classes/calendar-new/#!event/2025/9/20/monthly-meeting-hybrid-1
Digitizing and Documenting Family History, Ron Chan
Solving Your Picture (Photo) Problems,
Allyson Maughan
Digitizing and Documenting Family History, Ron Chan
Saturday, 20 September 2025, 1:00 p.m.
Pacific Time, hybrid (Zoom), free
Santa Clara County Historical and
Genealogical Society
Tuesday, 23 September 2025, 10:00
a.m. Pacific Time, hybrid (Zoom), free
North San Diego County Genealogical
Society
https://nsdcgs.org/program-meetings/
Learn What School Records, including from
Residential Schools, of Your Ancestors Can
Teach You, Xenia Stanford
Organizing Your Files, Barbara
Northrop
Tuesday, 23 September 2025, 10:30 a.m.
Pacific Time, hybrid (Zoom), free
Rogue Valley Genealogical Society
Tuesday, 23 September 2025, 6:30
p.m. Pacific Time, Zoom, free
Kelowna & District Genealogical
Society and Okanagan Regional Library
https://orl.libcal.com/event/3895580
Finding and Using U.S. Obituaries More Effectively, Sunny Morton
Part I: Stuck? Have You Tried . .
.? Have You Overlooked . . .? and
Part II: What’s Next? Developing Step-by-Step Research Plans, Paula Stuart Warren, CB
Researching with Ancestry, Rich
Miles
Wednesday, 24 September 2025, 10:30 a.m.
Pacific Time, hybrid (Zoom), free
Rogue Valley Genealogical Society
From Clutter to Clean, Allyson
Maughan
Wednesday, 24 September 2025, 11:00 a.m.
Pacific Time, Zoom, free
Utah Genealogical Association
So You Have a Civil War Ancestor, Now
What?, Brian Rhinehart
Wednesday, 24 September 2025, 12:00 noon
Pacific Time, Zoom, free
Chula Vista Genealogical Society
Join at 11:50 a.m.: https://chulavistagenealogysociety.wildapricot.org/event-6101374
Researching with FamilySearch, Rich
Miles
Thursday, 25 September 2025, 10:30 a.m.
Pacific Time, hybrid (Zoom), free
Rogue Valley Genealogical Society
Finding and Using U.S. Obituaries More Effectively, Sunny Morton
Thursday, 25 September 2025, 4:00
p.m. Pacific Time, Zoom, free
Avon Lake Public Library
Creating an Ancestor Sketch, Thomas
MacEntee
Thursday, 25 September 2025, 7:00 p.m.
Pacific Time, Zoom, free
Marin County Genealogical Society
Using the U.S. Census in Your
Genealogical Research, Barbara Northrop
Friday, 26 September 2025, 10:30 a.m.
Pacific Time, hybrid (Zoom), free
Rogue Valley Genealogical Society
Using the News to Discover Family Events,
Kim Thurman
Saturday, 27 September 2025, 10:30 a.m.
Pacific Time, hybrid (Zoom), free
Rogue Valley Genealogical Society
Ukrainian Genealogy, Michelle Tucker
Chubenko, AG
Wednesday, 1 October 2025, 8:00 a.m.
Pacific Time, GoToWebinar, free
Tennessee Genealogical Society
Part II: What’s Next? Developing Step-by-Step Research Plans, Paula Stuart Warren, CB
Saturday, 4 October 2025, 10:00 a.m.–12:30
p.m., Zoom, free
San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society
GFO Free First Monday
Monday, 6 October 2025, 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., in person, free
Genealogical Forum of Oregon, 2505 SE 11th Avenue Suite B018, Portland, Oregon
https://gfo.org/
Monday, 6 October 2025, 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., in person, free
Genealogical Forum of Oregon, 2505 SE 11th Avenue Suite B018, Portland, Oregon
https://gfo.org/
Navigating the New Library and
Archives Canada Website, Ken McKinlay
Wisconsin Historical Society: An Overlooked Resource You Need to Explore!, Mary Risseeuw
Beyond the Brick Wall: Strategies for
Pre-1850 U.S. Research, Julia A. Anderson
Saturday, 11 October 2025, 6:00
a.m. Pacific Time, hybrid (Zoom), free
British Isles Family History
Society of Greater Ottawa
Wisconsin Historical Society: An Overlooked Resource You Need to Explore!, Mary Risseeuw
Saturday, 11 October 2025, 12:00
noon Pacific Time, hybrid (Zoom), free
Appleton Public Library
Tracing Your Railway Ancestors
Friday, 17 October 2025, 6:00 a.m. Pacific
Time, Vimeo, free
The National Archives (UK)
24th Annual Genealogy Lock-in, 8
sessions
Friday, 17 October 2025, 6:30 a.m.–5:00
p.m. Pacific Time, virtual, free
Waco-McLellan County Library
Saturday, 18 October 2025, 10:00
a.m. Pacific Time, Zoom, free
Delaware Genealogical Society
Goldmines & Landmines:
What to Look for in Genealogy Research,
Sharon Roth
Sunday, 19 October 2025, 11:00 a.m.
Pacific Time, hybrid (Zoom), free
JGS of Illinois
https://jgsi.org/event-6289355
Alienation of Affection: Divorce in the United States, Christine Cohen
Memento Mori: Records of the Dead and
Dying, Jennifer Roodzant
Society Briefs, Village News . . . or the Other “Gossip Columns", Mary Risseeuw
Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan: The Key to Thorough Research, Cheri Hudson Passey
Alienation of Affection: Divorce in the United States, Christine Cohen
Tuesday, 21 October 2025, 5:00 p.m. Pacific
Time, GoToWebinar, free
Wisconsin Genealogical Society
Indexes and Databases: What
Indexers, Proofreaders, and Genealogy
Researchers Should Know, Ken Ryesky
Monday, 27 October 2025, 10:00 a.m.
Pacific Time, Zoom, free
Israel Genealogy Research Association
Wednesday, 29 October 2025, 8:00 a.m.
Pacific Time, GoToWebinar, free
Tennessee Genealogical Society
https://tngs.org/event-6004104
Voting Records: Genealogy's Best Kept Secret, Pam Vestal
Voting Records: Genealogy's Best Kept Secret, Pam Vestal
Saturday, 8 November 2025,
12:00 noon Pacific Time, hybrid (Zoom), free
Appleton Public Library
Society Briefs, Village News . . . or the Other “Gossip Columns", Mary Risseeuw
Tuesday, 18 November 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Pacific Time, GoToWebinar, free
Wisconsin Genealogical Society
Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan: The Key to Thorough Research, Cheri Hudson Passey
Saturday, 13 December 2025,
12:00 noon Pacific Time, hybrid (Zoom), free
Appleton Public Library
===
Keeping Track of Your Ancestors with
Google Maps, Natalie Webb
9 September 2025
Family Tree Tech
==============================
CONFERENCES and SEMINARS
2025 New York State Family History
Conference: Echoes of New York
Friday–Saturday, 19–20 September 2025, hybrid (Kingston, New York and online)
Friday–Saturday, 19–20 September 2025, hybrid (Kingston, New York and online)
On-demand sessions 3 September–16 November
2025
New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
VI International Conference on Jews in
Galicia: Histories, Topographies, and
Texts
Monday–Tuesday, 20–21 October 2025, in
person, Kraków
Send message to JewsInGalicia@gmail.com
RootsTech 2026
Thursday–Saturday, 5–7 March 2026, hybrid
(Salt Lake City, Utah and online; online will
be free)
FamilySearch
==============================
Visit JGSO online
https://jgsoregon.wixsite.com/
To join JGSO, click on Get Involved.
JGSO Is a member of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies.
https://www.iajgs.org/
For JGSO questions, send a message to JGSOregon@gmail.com
For help with your genealogy (a members-only benefit), contact our Help Desk
genportland972@gmail.com
Visit the Portland KehilaLinks Page
History of the Portland, Oregon Jewish community, 1849–present
https://kehilalinks.jewishgen.
Do you have information to contribute? Contact us at JGSOregon@gmail.com
JGSO YouTube Channel
recorded presentations we have permission to post online
https://www.youtube.com/@
JGSO Blog
updated weekly with current news and events
https://jgsojewishgenealogyportland.blogspot.com/
Shopping at Fred Meyer
Please enroll in the Community Rewards program and designate Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon as your chosen charity.
https://www.fredmeyer.com/i/community/community-rewards
Thank you,
JGSO Board
Shopping at Fred Meyer
Please enroll in the Community Rewards program and designate Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon as your chosen charity.
https://www.fredmeyer.com/i/
Thank you,
JGSO Board