Researching Chicago-area Jewish ancestors is topic of Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois hybrid talk

"Resources for Jewish Genealogy in Chicagoland- What's New" will be the topic of a presentation by genealogist Mike Karsen for the Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, hybrid meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois. His talk will begin at 2 p.m. via Zoom and at Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois.

The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth-El will open at 12:45 p.m. to accommodate those who want to use or borrow genealogy library materials, get help with genealogy websites or ask genealogical questions before the main program begins at 2 p.m.

In-person event details and registration are at: https://jgsi.org/event-5022805. Online details and registration for Zoom are at: https://jgsi.org/event-4910652. Participants may register for both online and in-person events if they are undecided. In-person attendance will be limited.

Please keep in mind that JGSI will maintain certain procedures for our in-person meetings. This includes:

• We request all attendees to in-person meetings to be vaccinated.

• Face masks will be required.

• You will be asked to complete a Temple Beth-El waiver form upon arrival. We will retain all waiver forms on behalf of TBE.

• Water will be provided; however, no food will be allowed at this time.

• Seating will be set up to allow for social distancing.

• And MOST IMPORTANT, if you are sick or not feeling well or recently tested positive for COVID, please do not come into TBE.

The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth-El will open at 12:45 p.m. for those who want to use or borrow genealogy library materials, get help with genealogy websites or ask genealogical questions from genealogy expert volunteers before the main program begins at 2 p.m.

At each in-person JGSI monthly meeting, its "help desk" will operated from 12:45 to 1:50 p.m. Member volunteers will access online databases and answer genealogical questions one-on-one for members and visitors as time allows.

The JGSI library has more than 800 volumes of interest to Jewish family historians. Many are available for borrowing by JGSI members for a limited time. All are available for perusing from 12:45 to 1:50 p.m. at each regular monthly meeting.

This event will feature JGSI past president Mike Karsen giving his annual update covering various resources available to discover your Jewish roots in Chicagoland. He will include a wide range of records and research resources, including cemeteries, death certificates, death notices/obits, marriage records, birth records, and city directories. He will also cover some uniquely Jewish resources. Today, with so many records available online, you hardly have to leave your home to research your Chicago roots. Case studies will be utilized to demonstrate the research process.

A professional speaker, Mike Karsen is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speakers Guild, and is a past president of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois. He has presented over 300 talks on genealogy topics locally, nationally, and internationally, including for the Newberry Library and the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago. Mike is the author of the JewishGen website's "Guide to Jewish Genealogy in Chicagoland" and has published articles on genealogy.

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping members collect, preserve, and perpetuate the records and history of their ancestors. JGSI is a resource for the worldwide Jewish community to research their Chicago-area roots. The JGSI motto is "Members Helping Members Since 1981." The group has more than 320 members and is affiliated with the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies.

JGSI members have access to useful and informative online family history research resources, including a members' forum, more than 65 video recordings of past speakers' presentations, monthly JGSI E-News, quarterly Morasha JGSI newsletter, and much more. Members as well as non-members can look for their ancestors on the free searchable JGSI Jewish Chicago Database at https://jgsi.org/JGSI-Jewish-Chicago-Database.

For more information, see https://jgsi.org or phone (312) 666-0100.