2015 IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy in Jerusalem

IAJGS 2015

35th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy
July 6-10, 2015 in Jerusalem

JGSMI’s very own Corresponding Secretary, Diane Freilich, will be speaking at the conference on “U.S. City Directories – Unique Uses.”

The International Conference on Jewish Genealogy is the annual conference hosted by the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS). The IAJGS is an umbrella organization comprised of more than 70 national and local Jewish genealogical societies, Historical Societies and Interest Groups located in 14 countries. The conference is the leading genealogy event of the year for people researching their Jewish family history. The conference provides the latest information and tips for hundreds of researchers exploring their Jewish roots and building their family trees with common goals: to learn, to research, and to share.Some 800 professional and amateur genealogists from 30 countries and different religions are expected to attend the 35th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy in Jerusalem. Recent conferences have been held in Salt Lake City (2014) Boston (2013) Paris (2012), Washington DC (2011), and Los Angeles (2010). Approximately every 10 years this conference is held in Israel and attracts an unusually highly diverse worldwide audience. The 2004 Jerusalem Conference attracted close to 800 participants of whom 40% per cent were from North America, 40% from Israel, 15% from Europe and the remainder from South America, Australia and South Africa. Join our diverse global group of genealogy enthusiasts!

IAJGS ISRAEL 2015

Jerusalem, Wall and Dome - mtarlockThe 35th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy will be held at the Ramada Hotel Jerusalem July 6-10 2015. The Conference will include 200 breakout sessions, workshops, a keynote address, and meetings of dozens of special interest groups including UK, French, German, Austria, Sephardic, South African, Czech any many more. A resource center will enable attendees to use fee-based subscription computer databases at no cost.

The conference will feature programs in Hebrew, English, Russian and French on topics such as new trends in online research, methodologies for obtaining vital records from Israeli, American and European sources, using DNA testing and genetics research to find relatives, Holocaust research in all its aspects, and practical tips for starting and expanding family research. Pre-Conference events will include a Shabbaton (Friday/Saturday program July 3-4) and Exploration Sunday (July 5) which will flow into the Monday Conference Opening. Arrangements have been made with research institutions and archives throughout Israel to enable attendees to visit or reach out to these unique repositories to further their research.

800 attendees are expected because Israel has exceptional research resources that exist nowhere else in the world; many North Americans because of the large number of genealogical societies there; Europeans because this is the annual conference closest to them and Israelis because of the proximity and lower cost.