Jewish genealogists to share family history discoveries in ‘Kvell & Tell’ session on June 29
On Sunday, June 29, several Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois members will share family history discoveries and genealogy research tips in the annual “Kvell and Tell” session, in a hybrid meeting at Temple Beth-El in Northbrook.
The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth-El at 3610 Dundee Road will open at 12:30 p.m. for those who want to use genealogy library materials, including maps; get help with family history websites, ask genealogical questions, or just chat, before the main program begins at 1:45 p.m.
Register at jgsi.org/event-5653567.
Presenters for the June 29 meeting include the following:
• “Kanelsztejn, Kochanek, Conick, and Stone” by Barbara Aronson: “My brother from my father’s first marriage knew little about his maternal birth family. I set off on a mission to explore his maternal genealogy. Over the course of nearly two years, I learned that the family originated as the Kanelstzejns of Poland and intermarried with the Kochaneks. As they left their homeland, spreading to New York City, London, and Cape Town, many of their names changed to Kanelstein, Conick, and Stone. Through the use of RootsMagic software, Ancestry.com, and MyHeritage.com, I have pieced together the genealogy of my brother’s family and have presented it to him for his 75th birthday.”
• “Searching for Needles in Haystacks: Finding Family Records in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Latvia, Ukraine, Romania, England, Australia, and Israel” by Karen Glinert Carlson, who will present research strategies she employed to uncover her family’s story in Europe and beyond.
• “Adding Context: The Story of Rosa Arnow” by Paul Epner: “My great-great-grandmother (my mom’s namesake) came to the U.S. in 1857 as a 16-year-old girl with a 14-year-old brother in tow and no connections to the U.S. I can’t imagine the courage and fortitude it took, but wanted to see if I could bring some life to her beyond the available vital statistics and census records. This led me to merge her life with historical events independently researched with surprising results. This presentation will share what I learned about the woman and how she lived her life. I will also share the research methods I used to get my results.”
• “Where Did Jack Ferdie Actually Die? by Moreen Ferdie: “The process of using newspapers to find out where my grandfather actually died. Plus other tidbits I learned about him from using newspapers.”
• “How Eddie Cantor Became Part of my Larger Family History” by Sheldon “Shelly” Isenberg: “This talk will illustrate how a simple fragment of a family rumor can develop into a multifaceted history of one New York immigrant family. My research resulted from my overhearing, when I was a child, a Bronx relative say that we were connected to Eddie Cantor’s rabbi. Through genealogical research, I was able to connect a friend of Cantor’s to my family tree. It also introduced me to how Jews began to be part of the financial establishment in New York.”
• “The Forgotten Jews of DePue, IL” by Dana Steingold: “In the heart of the Illinois River Valley, a nearly forgotten chapter of Jewish American life unfolds through old photographs, handwritten records, and firsthand memories. This story follows the Jewish families who settled in towns like DePue, LaSalle, Peru, and Spring Valley — immigrants who built synagogues, started businesses, and formed close-knit communities. Through interviews with descendants and historical research, this story demonstrates how these communities thrived, adapted, and eventually dwindled, leaving behind only traces. The narrative weaves personal stories with broader themes of migration, memory, and the quiet disappearance of a once-vibrant Jewish presence.”
The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth-El will open at 12:30 p.m. CDT for those who want to use genealogy library materials, including our collection of maps; get help with family history websites, ask genealogical questions, or just chat, before the main program begins at 1:45 p.m. CDT. Walk-ins are welcome; however, registration is strongly encouraged.
For more information on JGSI, visit jgsi.org.