Save the dates
Programs usually start at 1 p.m. CT on Zoom unless otherwise stated.
On Sunday, June 28, Ellie Vance Christensen will present "Reading Records from the Russian Empire."
On Sunday, July 26, Archivist Serafima (Sima) Velkovich will speak on "Using Yad VaShem Databases for Genealogical Research ." Velkovich serves as Head of the Family Roots Research Section in the Yad Vashem Archives, where she has worked for roughly 20 years. She specializes in researching the names and fates of Holocaust victims, facilitating genealogical research, and lecturing on how to utilize Yad Vashem's extensive databases.
OTHER ONLINE EVENTS
Many of our traditional gatherings have moved to webinars and many learned the benefits of online access. This enables us to explore offerings of other organizations as our community has widened beyond our geographic area. Check below for upcoming events, both local, and from other genealogical organizations.
AI for Jewish Genealogy Virtual Summit.
Save the date! On Sunday, April 26, 11:30-4 p.m. CDT,
the (International Association of Jewish Genealogical
Societies (IAJGS) will offer a free AI for Jewish Genealogy
Virtual Summit.
Click here for more information and to register.
Family History and the Myths of Jewish Migration:
David Blumenfeld’s Journey From Courland to Minnesota — and His Return
Monday, April 27, 2026
3:30 -6:00 pm
Elmer L. Anderson Library
University of Minnesota
To register and more information: https://www.jhsum.org/davidblumenfeld
An evening of learning about the myths of Jewish migration, as viewed
through the life story of David Blumenfeld, whose papers are archived
in the Upper Midwest Jewish Archives. Guests will enjoy presentations
by two of Blumenfeld’s family members, Professor Deborah Hertz and
Frederick Hertz, with introductory remarks by Robert Hertz. Blumenfeld’s
original manuscripts and his self-published books will be on display.
Jews in Small-Town Minnesota
On Sunday, May 3, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. CDT, Hadassah Minneapolis St. Paul will host a Zoom program, Jews in Small-Town Minnesota, featuring Vicki Pieser, the author of Jews in Germantown: The Diaspora in Brown County, Minnesota. The book is available from the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest. To register for this free program, click here; the deadline to register is April 30.
Coming Soon
Did you know that IAJGS has a calendar of events offered by JGSs around the world? You can find it here. Many groups offer virtual or hybrid meetings. If you have family from a particular geographic area, you may want to look for events by organizations in those areas. Some groups are member only, but others may charge a non-member fee similiar to MNJGS.
RootsTech
Every year RootsTech holds its conference in Salt Lake City. It is the largest family history conference in the world and is provided free of charge on-line or $99 for the early bird rate in person. You will need an account on FamilySearch first. They are free of charge and provide access to many valuable records as well as RootsTech videos. Many recorded sessions from earlier sessions remain freely accessible here.Search the library for specific topics by keywords.
WHAT: Tune into the Center for Jewish History's Facebook page for Genealogy Coffee Break, a short talk on a specific topic with one of their genealogy librarians. Discover recommended resources and strategies for online research, and have your questions answered live. If you have a topic you'd like them to cover, write to them at gi@cjh.org. Catch up on the entire series here.
WHEN: Ongoing every Tuesday at 3:30 pm EST
Welcome to Exile, a podcast about Jewish lives under the shadow of fascism. Narrated by award-winning screen and stage actor, Mandy Patinkin, the podcast presents untold stories and firsthand accounts drawn from intimate letters, diaries, and interviews found in the Leo Baeck Institute's vast archive. Each episode is a story of beauty and danger that brings history to life — because the past is always present.