Tuesday, January 21
7pm GMT

Are you interested in your family history, but don’t know where to start? This talk will cover how to get started in your family’s genealogy, introducing some basic terminology along with examples of effective research to construct your family tree and discover a family you never knew existed.

Jewish Genealogy can be a fun hobby. Topics covered include family tree software, census records, where to look for help, and DNA research, Connecting your family’s past with Jewish history can make for some interesting and amazing finds.

We are delighted to welcome Leigh Dworkin the Chairman of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain who will give an introduction to the Society and what it offers.

Carl Kaplan from Boston, USA will then share insights into starting your genealogy journey using personal examples sharing some of his own amazing discoveries.

About Leigh Dworkin
Leigh Dworkin is the Chairman of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain (JGSGB). See https://www.jgsgb.org.uk. Genealogically speaking, Leigh considers himself to be 5/8ths Polish, ¼ Lithuanian and 1/8th Belarusian, judging by his great-grandparents’ nationalities, which is far more interesting and exotic than being just an Essex lad. Leigh is a passionate amateur genealogist and has been working on his own family tree for about 40 years.

Leign is currently studying for an MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies at the University of Strathclyde to help him become a professional genealogist but has already started “Your Kin by Dworkin”, his genealogical research business . Check out https://www.yourkin.co.uk for more information.

About Carl Kaplan

Carl lives in the Boston area in the US, is an amateur genealogist, and member of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston. Carl has been researching his family history for the last 6 years, starting with a hand-typed family tree from his uncle to a tree of over 2500 relatives, finding dozens of “new” cousins all over the world, along with tracing his family back almost 3 centuries in Belarus. During his research, Carl has employed various research tools. Most of all, Carl has learned some amazing stories from his family.

Carl is a volunteer caseworker for The Together Plan, a non-profit organization that conducts searches in the archives of Belarus. Besides his family research and volunteering with The Together Plan, Carl is also a certified historical tour guide in Boston, learning American Sign Language with his wife, and participates with his dog, Buster, as a therapy dog team, visiting hospitals and schools.

Coffee and tea will be served in the break