German-Jewish SIG (GerSIG) Seminar

Overview

You are invited to book your place at our first ever day seminar for those who have German-Jewish ancestors.
The seminar will take place on Sunday January 19 2025 via Zoom at:09:30 - 15:30 in New York (EST)14:30 - 20:30 in the United Kingdom (GMT)16:30 - 22:30 in Israel06:30 - 12:30 in Los Angeles (PST)
Each talk is 45 minutes long followed by 15 minutes for questions and answers. There will be a one hour break.
If you can't join at the scheduled time of the talks, all associated handouts and recordings of four of the talks will be made available to all registrants for one month following the seminar.
Fee: $25. We have made this a paid-for event so that we can remunerate our guest speakers.
To reserve your place please book using the following link: https://tixoom.app/gersig/nfopwiyd

Seminar Schedule

09:30 EST / 14:30 UK / 16:30 Israel

Old and New Sources for Genealogical Research at the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People

Speaker: Dr. Yochai Ben-Ghedalia, Director of the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People (CAHJP) at the National Library of Israel (NLI)

The Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People (CAHJP) is the biggest repository for the history of German Jews from late medieval period till WWII and its aftermath. In recent years the Archives is undergoing a renewal process, and additional records become available online on a daily basis. The talk will give an overview of German holdings at the CAHJP relevant for family historians, and will manifest recent developments in making those treasures available online.

10:30 EST / 15:30 UK / 17:30 Israel

Between Sails and Steam: Jewish Emigration from German Ports

Speaker: Andrea Bentschneider, Beyond History

In the 19th and 20th centuries, millions of people emigrated through the ports of Hamburg, Bremen and Stettin to distant countries on the other side of the Atlantic. This lecture gives a historical overview of German emigration and the reasons for this great step, one of which was the Jewish pogroms in Russia in the 1890s. Crucial aspects of the emigration will be highlighted, such as costs, travel times, but also the conditions on board the ships during the crossing. Since Hamburg was the number one port for so-called indirect emigration, many emigrants were stranded in Great Britain and never reached their destination. In the third part of the presentation, the various sources for emigrant research will be presented, including special lists of Jewish emigrants from the port of Hamburg and other sources for finding emigrant ancestors who do not appear in the well-known passenger departure lists.

11:30 EST / 16:30 UK / 18:30 Israel

The Leo Baeck Institute: Who We Are and What We Collect

Speaker: Michael Simonson, Director of Public Outreach and the Head of the Dr. Robert Ira Lewy Reference Department of the Leo Baeck Institute
Michael Simonson will provide an overview of the collections of the Leo Baeck Institute and their importance for genealogists and other researchers of German-speaking Jewish history. The presentation will include information for those interested in donating their family history material to the Leo Baeck Institute archive and library.

12:30 EST / 17:30 UK / 19:30 Israel

Resources about Individuals at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Speaker: Dr. Diane F. Afoumado
This presentation will focus on the free research services offered by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to provide people with information and documentation about their loved ones. The Museum has been acquiring personal and institutional research collections for more than 30 years. These collections are used daily by a large variety of people: Holocaust survivors and members of the Second Generation, scholars, genealogists, teachers, documentary filmmakers, and others. The Museum has built unique Holocaust-related collections, and this presentation will show how these are used for research about individuals. It will also distinguish between resources that are accessible online and those whose access is restricted to onsite only.
Note: This talk will not be recorded.

13:30 EST / 18:30 UK / 20:30 Israel

1-hour Break

14:30 EST / 19:30 UK / 21:30 Israel

From Dusty Archives to Digital Access: German-Jewish resources at FamilySearch

This class explores various resources spanning the breadth of the German Empire that can be accessed from FamilySearch. From religious records to censuses and beyond, come learn how FamilySearch is an essential website in researching your Jewish roots.

Speaker: Daniel Jones, FamilySearch

Speaker Biographies

Dr. Diane F. Afoumado

Dr. Diane F. Afoumado is chief of the Holocaust Survivors and Victims Resource Center at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Formerly an assistant professor of contemporary history at the University of Paris X-Nanterre and the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (INALCO) in Paris, she worked for the two French commissions related to compensation to Jewish victims. She also worked as a historian for the Archival Division of the Centre de Documentation Juive Contemporaine - Mémorial de la Shoah.

Dr. Yochai Ben-Ghedalia

Dr. Yochai Ben-Ghedalia serves as the Director of the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People (CAHJP), now a subsidiary of the National Library of Israel, since 2012. His book: 'European Jewish Philanthropy and Jerusalem during the Crimean War' was published last year (in Hebrew) by the Ben-Zvi Institute.

Andrea Bentschneider

Based in Hamburg, Germany, Andrea Bentschneider is a leading figure in German genealogy, renowned for her expertise since founding "Beyond History" in 2004. She has appeared on international shows such as "Who Do You Think You Are?" and "Finding Your Roots," and is a frequent contributor to German radio and television programs. Her company specializes in genealogy, world war documentation, Jewish family history, and citizenship applications.

With over 20 years of experience, Andrea and her team have completed over 2,000 projects worldwide. Her philosophy, "We give your ancestors a voice and tell their stories," underscores her dedication to honoring family narratives. For more information, please visit the Beyond History website. www.beyond-history.com

Andrea has served as president of the Association of German-speaking Professional Genealogists since 2013, and joined the IGGP board as a Director at Large in 2024. A passionate educator, she regularly offers webinars and presentations in both English and German.

In October 2024, Andrea launched the German Genealogy Collective (GGC), a membership site focused on German genealogy research. The GGC offers tips, monthly Q&A sessions, specialized training, and exclusive content for those exploring their German heritage. For more information, visit the German Genealogy Collective website: https://germangenealogycollective.com

Daniel R. Jones, MS, AG®

Daniel R. Jones, MS, AG® is an Accredited Genealogist specializing in Germanic and Slavic research. After graduating magna cum laude from Brigham Young University, Daniel worked professionally for over a dozen years in helping several high-profile clients with research all over Europe. He has experience in numerous archives across more than a dozen countries in Europe, North America, Africa, and Australia. Daniel has also presented at multiple national conferences, including FGS, IGHR, SLIG, IGGP, FEEFHS, and RootsTech. He is currently managing the Germanic and Slavic research specialist teams for the FamilySearch Library.

Michael Simonson

Michael Simonson has been part of the Leo Baeck Institute since 2002. Since his beginnings as a new archivist, he has taken on many roles, including the position of Director of the Dr. Robert Ira Lewy Reference Services and as Director of Public Outreach. Michael works closely with researchers and their needs, be it academic or personal genealogy. He has coordinated a number of programs online, as well as the monthly meetings of the Leo Baeck Institute book club. You are always welcome to write him with any questions you have related to your research.

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