Do you know the shtetl where your ancestors originated? Do you know what shtetl life was like? We will explore some of our ideas about the shtetl, where those ideas come from, and to what degree they represent the reality of shtetl life.

Julie Lieber is a lecturer on Jewish Intellectual History at the University of Colorado. She comes to CU from the University of Denver where she taught courses in Jewish history, European history, Jewish intellectual history and women’s history. Her students describe her as “passionate, extremely knowledgeable and personable.” Professor Lieber received her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in European history with a focus on Jewish women, gender and sexuality in Vienna at the turn of the 20th century. Her research on Jewish women in Vienna has been supported by numerous awards and fellowships in a variety of academic disciplines. Her article “Crafting the Future of Judaism: Gender and Religious Education in Vienna 1867-1914,” published in the Leo Baeck Institute Yearbook, examines the gendered religious education of Viennese boys and girls and the ways in which rabbinic gender norms were institutionalized within the turn-of-the-century Viennese Jewish community.

The session is open to all – membership is not required. Following this session (beginning at noon) will be a Jewish genealogy mentoring workshop for members and if you’re not already a member you’re welcome to join at the session. We’ll have some of our experts in attendance to help guide you and provide advice on your research. For more information, please go to our website at www.jgsco.org.

Please join us for what is sure to be a fascinating discussion!

For any questions, please feel free to contact Barry Halpern at barry.halpern@gmail.com.

This double session is a terrific opportunity for any of you who have interest in either Ukraine or Poland archival resources. Among other things, it will cover how you can understand the archives and the archival situation in Ukraine and Poland, collections content, how to get there, and general research procedures. This is based on two decades of experience by our presenter, Kahlile Mehr.

Kahlile Bliss Mehr, MA, MLS, AG, has over thirty years of experience working with the LDS Family History. Currently he is the manager of the Slavic Collection. He has visited archives throughout Eastern Europe. He has published twenty-three articles and a book on family and local history topics. He was the primary author for “Tracing your Jewish Ancestors From the United States to Europe, 1850-1930” that can be downloaded from the FamilySearch Website. He serves on the boards of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies and the Federation of East European Family History Societies.

Sunday, January 8th from 10:00 am to noon (Ukraine) and from noon to 2:00 pm (Poland).

Each session is independent of the other. Come to either one or come to both. If you plan on staying for both sessions, we suggest that you bring a bag lunch (note: must be dairy or vegetarian) with you.

DNA is quickly becoming an important part of genealogy research, and new genealogy DNA tests have become useful for determining ancestry. Each of us inherits a unique genetic code from our parents. This creates a molecular link between generations which reaches far back in time and can be of great help in reconstructing our family histories.

This session will focus on the basics of genealogy DNA testing and will discuss the following questions:
* What is genealogy DNA testing, and how does it work?
* Can I really find my ancestors using genealogy DNA testing?
* How can genealogy DNA testing prove or disprove my family tree research?

Following this program presentation, there will be a mentoring session which is open to JGSCO members only. If you’d like to attend and are not yet a member, you can join on-site for $30 for individuals ($40 for families).

We hope to see you there!

The first is open to all at no charge, on Sunday, October 16 at Har HaShem in Boulder, from 10:00 am to noon: “It’s More Fun to Seek Than to File” with Pat Roberts. If you need help or advice with organizing your genealogical research, then this is the talk for you! Topics covered include organizing your masses of papers and documents and putting into place a filing system and organizational plan that will grow as your research grows.

Pat Roberts has been doing family history research since 1973 and has held several senior positions within a variety of Colorado Genealogical Societies. She is currently a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, and of the National Genealogical Speakers Guild. She also teaches a beginning genealogy class at Front Range Community College,

Our second event for October will be held on October 30 in Denver at the Hebrew Education Alliance (HEA) on 3600 S. Ivanhoe, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.

The session will be conducted by Ellen Kowitt, President of the JGSCO and is the first of the seven session Jewish Family Tree Initiative mentoring and workshop series. Each session includes an instructional lecture and a hands-on workshop to assist with the creation of family trees and historical research utilizing genealogical resources and techniques. Mentoring assistance outside of class will be available. The sessions are open to everyone. There is a $30 one-time fee for non-members for a book and materials which includes one year of membership in the Jewish Genealogical Society of Colorado. Attendance is not required at all seven sessions to participate; jump in any time to get started!

So whether you’ve already begun your genealogical research or are thinking about starting, please consider joining us for one or both of the above!! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by emailing Barry Halpern.

Have you wanted to begin a family history project? Act quickly to attend this not-to-miss opportunity! Registration and payment is due Sept. 8th.

With over 20 million records, JewishGen (www.jewishgen.org) is the primary Internet site for Jewish genealogy, and a division of the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in New York City. This free, easy-to-use genealogy website features thousands of databases, research tools, and other resources to help those with Jewish ancestry research and find family members.

Warren Blatt is the author of Resources for Jewish Genealogy in the Boston Area; and co-author (with Gary Mokotoff) of Getting Started in Jewish Genealogy. He was the Chair of the 15th International Seminar on Jewish Genealogy, and in 2004, he was awarded the IAJGS’ Lifetime Achievement Award in Jerusalem. Mr. Blatt has over 35 years of research experience with Russian and Polish Jewish records, and is the author of the JewishGen FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Jewish Genealogy, and many other JewishGen InfoFiles.

Presented by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Colorado and sponsored by Feldman Mortuary, everyone is welcome at this annual All-Day Seminar on Jewish Genealogy and may attend one, two, three, or all four lectures.

Jewish Given Names: 9-10:30 AM
Learn why Mordechai Yehuda is also Mortka Leib is also Max. What are all of those religious, secular, nicknames, diminutives, patronymics, and transliterations about, and how to do genealogy when the name keeps changing!

Jewish Surnames: 10:45- 12 noon
Journey through the history of Jewish surnames. Learn about origins, types, and etymologies, when they were first used in various countries, how they developed, and their transformation upon immigration.

Navigating JewishGen Databases 1-2:30 PM
This session will take you step-by-step through the process of using JewishGen’s extensive catalogue of Internet databases, how to search the databases, and how to add your own data. The Family Finder, Communities Database, Family Tree of the Jewish People, and Discussion Group Archives will be featured.

Polish-Jewish Genealogical Research: 2:45-4 PM
An overview to researching Polish-Jewish ancestry will include the history of Polish border changes, geography and place-name changes; How to find and locate your ancestral shtetl and historical information; How to find and translate birth, marriage and death records; Using Mormon microfilms, and more.

A Kosher lunch will be provided, and there will be generous door prizes including an Ancestry World Deluxe Membership, a DNA test from Family Tree DNA, subscriptions to Avotaynu, and more.

The cost to attend the Seminar is $18 for JGSCO members, and $40 for non-members, which will include membership in JGSCO through December 2012.

RSVP and payment is mandatory by September 8th to treasurer@jgsco.org or use PAYPAL here. You can also download a registration form and mail it in with cash or check made out to “JGSCO” to Barry Levene, 12449 E. Amherst Circle, Aurora, CO 80014.

Visit the  Jewish Genealogical Society of Colorado booth at the Boulder Jewish Festival

Sunday, June 12th from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on Pearl Street in Boulder

The JGSCO will again participate in the Boulder Jewish Festival on the Pearl Street Mall and Boulder County Courthouse. This is a one-day celebration of Jewish culture, featuring live entertainment, fine art and Judaica, ethnic food, community organizations and activities for all ages. No entry charge!!

Be Your Own Bubby or Zayde!!!

Have you ever seen a photo of your grandparents or someone from the “Old Country” dressed in their finest garb?

At the JGSCO booth, you will be able to have your photo taken in a display which will make you into your own Bubby and Zayde!

Show us your Shtetls!!

Our very popular map display will again enable you to “pin” your ancestor’s shtetl locations. Are your ancestral roots unique? Find out at our booth!

Whether or not you are a member of the JGSCO, come to the Boulder Jewish Festival! Stop by our booth and say hello.

If you’re not a member of the JGSCO and are interested in learning about who you are and where you come from, we can talk to you about our wonderful organization . . . . It might be a great time for you to join!

Remember, YOU DON’T NEED TO BE FROM COLORADO to join the Society and begin Your Journey of Genealogical Discovery!

Ava "Sherlock" Cohn

A reminder about JGSCO event on Sunday, May 15 at Congregation Har Hashem (North Building), 3950 Baseline Road, Boulder from 10:00 am to noon.  There is no fee for this event and it is open to all!

All Jewish genealogists, at heart, are detectives. By the very nature of Jewish genealogy, analyzing Jewish family photographs presents unique challenges unlike those of any other ethnic groups.

Using all available clues, Sherlock Cohn, The Photo Genealogist will discuss how this evidence can help us overcome our brick walls by dating our family photographs and learning the stories our mishpacha (family) purposely left for us. Ava will illustrate this by presenting two of her challenging cases.

For more about Ava Cohn aka Sherlock Cohn, please read the accompanying article. See you Sunday!

Presented by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Colorado.

Join us on Sunday, May 15 for what is sure to be a fascinating Jewish Genealogical Society of Colorado session with Ava Cohn!  There is no fee for this session and it is open to all!

All Jewish genealogists, at heart, are detectives. We search for the tiniest scraps of evidence that can help us solve the mysteries of our families’ lives. Whether our families came from Belarus, Ukraine, Galicia, Romania, Germany or other parts of Eastern Europe or the world, whether they were Ashkenazi or Sephardic, they left us very personal records of their lives in the photographs and portraits for which they sat.  But by the very nature of Jewish genealogy, analyzing Jewish family photographs presents unique challenges unlike those of any other ethnic groups. An understanding of the effects of immigration and assimilation, religious customs and practices of Jews, more often determine the stories hidden within the photos than mere fashion clues can provide. Using all available clues, Sherlock Cohn, The Photo Genealogist will discuss how this evidence can help us overcome our brick walls by dating our family photographs and learning the stories our mishpacha (family) purposely left for us. Ava will illustrate this by presenting two of her challenging cases.

Ava "Sherlock" Cohn

Ava Cohn aka Sherlock Cohn, The Photo Genealogist, brings a lifelong fascination with heirloom photographs and a multidisciplinary background to photo dating and interpretation. She grew up, surrounded by antique furniture and the distinctive architecture of the 19th and early 20th centuries in Saratoga Springs, New York, a Victorian-era town. Ms. Cohn holds a BA degree in Theatre Arts from Brandeis University with coursework in decorative arts, art history, and costume history at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. A former marketing executive, she has been studying her family history as a hobby for over 30 years and full time since 2005. As she began to recover her own Jewish family history, she recognized the need for accurate dating of family photographs combined with specialized knowledge of Jewish immigrant and Eastern European culture and traditions to tell the background stories within our photos. She has made it her mission to help as many Jewish genealogists as possible to recover the personal information that our ancestors knew when they had their portraits originally taken, and as such, specializes exclusively in Jewish family photos of the period 1880-1960. Ms. Cohn maintains an extensive library of primary and secondary-source history, costume and furniture references. Her personal family history locales include Belarus, Ukraine, Romania, the Austrian Empire, Israel, Montreal, Philadelphia, upstate New York and Los Angeles.

The session is at Congregation Har HaShem (North Building) at 3950 Baseline Road, Boulder, from 10 am to noon.  Bring your photos!