The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies, Inc. (IAJGS) is an independent non-profit

umbrella organization An umbrella organization is an association of (often related, industry-specific) institutions who work together formally to coordinate activities and/or pool resources. In business, political, and other environments, it provides resources and ofte ...

coordinating the activities and annual

conference A conference is a meeting of two or more experts to discuss and exchange opinions or new information about a particular topic. Conferences can be used as a form of group decision-making, although discussion, not always decisions, are the main p ...

of 84 Jewish

genealogical societies A family history society or genealogical society is a society, often charitable or not-for-profit, that allows member genealogists and family historians to profit from shared knowledge. Large societies often own libraries, sponsor research semina ...

worldwide.

History

The IAJGS was formed in the late-1980s. Rabbi

Malcolm H. Stern Malcolm Henry Stern (January 29, 1915 – January 5, 1994) was an American rabbi, historian, and genealogist. Through the work he did that supported secular genealogical communities and resources, as well as created what is the structure and backbo ...

and

Sallyann Amdur Sack Sallyann Amdur Sack is an American genealogist and psychologist, and editor of ''Avotaynu Magazine'', a journal of Jewish genealogy and scholarship. Sack is the only genealogist listed in Jewish Women in America. She was instrumental in founding ...

were instrumental in creating the initial concept, and assisted various member organizations with their formation.

Annual conferences

The IAJGS coordinates an annual conference on Jewish

genealogy Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kins ...

, which takes place in a different city each year. The conferences have an educational track and include opportunities for networking and meetings with SIGs and BOF groups. Topics like DNA testing are typically covered. In recent years, attendees have described success stories after hitting research roadblocks.

Future conferences

* 2020: San Diego, CA, 40th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy. August 9–14, 2020 at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina

Past conferences

* 1981: New York City, Summer Seminar on Jewish Genealogy * 1982: Washington DC, Summer Seminar on Jewish Genealogy II * 1983: Los Angeles, 3rd National Summer Seminar on Jewish Genealogy * 1984: Chicago, 4th National Summer Seminar on Jewish Genealogy * 1984: Jerusalem, International Seminar on Jewish Genealogy * 1985: New York City, 5th National Summer Seminar on Jewish Genealogy * 1986: Salt Lake City, 6th National Summer Seminar on Jewish Genealogy * 1987: London, 2nd International Jewish Genealogy Conference * 1988: Washington DC, 7th Summer Seminar on Jewish Genealogy * 1989: Philadelphia, 8th National Seminar on Jewish Genealogy * 1990: Los Angeles, 9th Annual Seminar on Jewish Genealogy * 1991: Salt Lake City, 3rd International Seminar on Jewish Genealogy * 1992: New York City, 11th Annual Seminar on Jewish Genealogy * 1993: Toronto, 12th Annual International Summer Seminar on Jewish Genealogy * 1994: Jerusalem, 4th International Seminar on Jewish Genealogy * 1995: Washington DC, 14th Summer Seminar on Jewish Genealogy. June 25–29, 1995 * 1996: Boston, 15th Summer Seminar on Jewish Genealogy – hosted by the JGS of Greater Boston. July 14–19, 1996, at the Boston Park Plaza * 1997: Paris, 5th International Seminar on Jewish Genealogy / 5e Congrès International de Généalogie Juive * 1998: Los Angeles, 18th Annual Seminar on Jewish Genealogy. July 12–17, 1998 * 1999: New York City
19th Annual Conference on Jewish Genealogy
– hosted by the Jewish Genealogical Society New York (JGSNY). August 8–13, 1999, at the New York Marriott * 2000: Salt Lake City, 20th Annual Conference on Jewish Genealogy. July 9–14, 2000, at DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Salt Lake City * 2001: London
21st International Conference on Jewish Genealogy
– hosted by the JGS of Great Britain. July 8–13, 2001 at the Hotel Inter-Continental London * 2002: Toronto, 22nd IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy – hosted by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Canada (Toronto). August 4–9, 2002, at Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel * 2003: Washington DC
23rd IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy
– hosted by Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington. July 20–25, 2003, at the JW Marriott Hotel * 2004: Jerusalem, 24th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy – hosted by the Israel Genealogical Society. July 4–9, 2004, at the Renaissance Jerusalem Hotel * 2005: Las Vegas, 25th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy – hosted by Jewish Genealogy Society of Southern Nevada. July 10–15, 2005, at the Flamingo Las Vegas * 2006: New York City, 26th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy – hosted by Jewish Genealogical Society (NY). August 13–18, 2006, at New York Marriott Marquis Hotel * 2007: Salt Lake City, 27th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy – hosted by IAJGS. July 15–20, 2007, at Hilton City Center * 2008: Chicago, 28th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy – co-hosted by IAJGS, Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois and Illiana Jewish Genealogical Society. August 17–22, 2008, at Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile * 2009: Philadelphia, 29th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy – co-hosted by IAJGS and Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia. August 2–7, 2009, at Sheraton Philadelphia City * 2010: Los Angeles, 30th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy – hosted by Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles. July 11–16, 2010, at JW Marriott Los Angeles LA LIVE * 2011: Washington DC, 31st IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy – hosted by Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington DC. August 14–19, 2011, at Grand Hyatt Washington Center Hotel * 2012: Paris, 32nd IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy – hosted by Cercle de Généalogie Juive in partnership with Jewish Genealogical Societies of Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg. July 15–18, 2012, at Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel & Conference Center * 2013: Boston, 33rd IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy – co-hosted by IAJGS and Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston. August 4–9, 2013, at Boston Park Plaza * 2014: Salt Lake City, 34th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy – co-hosted by IAJGS and Utah Jewish Genealogical Society. July 27–August 1, 2014, at Hilton City Center * 2015: Jerusalem, 35th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy – co-hosted by IAJGS and Israel Genealogy Research Association and IGS. July 6–10, 2015, at the Ramada Hotel Jerusalem * 2016: Seattle, 36th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy – co-hosted by IAJGS and Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State and local host Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon. August 7–12, 2016, at the Sheraton Seattle * 2017: Orlando, 37th Annual IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy – co-hosted by IAJGS and the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando. July 23-28, 2017, at Walt Disney World Swan Resort Orlando * 2018: Warsaw, 38th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy co-hosted by POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Emanuel Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute of Warsaw in cooperation with The Polish State Archives. August 5–10, 2018, at Hilton Warsaw Hotel and Convention Centre * 2019: Cleveland, 39th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy – 39th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy with local host The Jewish Genealogy Society of Cleveland. July 28–August 2, 2019, at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown Hotel

International Jewish Genealogy Month

International Jewish Genealogy Month honors Jewish ancestors through the pursuit of Jewish family history research. IAJGS sponsors and supports International Jewish Genealogy Month by holding an annual poster contest. The goal of International Jewish Genealogy Month is to encourage Jewish genealogy and publicize JGS organizations and activities all over the world. It is celebrated annually on the

Hebrew month The Hebrew calendar ( he, הַלּוּחַ הָעִבְרִי, translit=HaLuah HaIvri), also called the Jewish calendar, is a lunisolar calendar used today for Jewish religious observance, and as an official calendar of the state of Israel. I ...

Cheshvan Marcheshvan ( he, מַרְחֶשְׁוָן, Hebrew language#Modern Hebrew, Standard , Tiberian vocalization, Tiberian ; from Akkadian language, Akkadian , literally, 'eighth month'), sometimes shortened to Cheshvan (, Hebrew language#Modern Hebrew ...

. From 1999 through 2006, Avotaynu, Inc. promoted Jewish Genealogy Month until 2007 when IAJGS began sponsoring the event.

Member organizations

IAJGS supported member organizations offer regular meetings and educational events, often centered around genealogical subjects like

DNA genealogy Population genetics is a subfield of genetics that deals with genetic differences within and between populations, and is a part of evolutionary biology. Studies in this branch of biology examine such phenomena as Adaptation (biology), adaptation, ...

and other specialized research.

Jewish Genealogical Societies

Non-USA members

* Argentina ** Asociación de Genealogía Judía de Argentina * Australia *
Australian Jewish Genealogical Society, Inc.
*
Australian Jewish Genealogical Society (Victoria), Inc.
** Jewish Genealogy & History Society of South Australia * Belgium ** Cercle de Généalogie Juive de Belgique aka Kring voor Joodse Genealogie in Belgie * Brazil ** Sociedade de Genealogia Judaica do Rio de Janeiro (SGJRJ) ** Sociedade Genealógica Judaica São Paulo * Canada *
Genealogical Institute of the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada, Inc.
*
Jewish Genealogical Society of British Columbia
*
Jewish Genealogical Society of Hamilton & Area
*
Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal
*
Jewish Genealogical Society of Ottawa
*
Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto
* Denmark *
Jewish Genealogical Society of Denmark
* France *
Cercle de Généalogie Juive
* Germany *
Hamburger Gesellschaft für Jüdische Genealogie e.v.
* Great Britain *
Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain
* Israel *
Amoetat Akevoth (Dutch Jewish Genealogical Data Base)
*
Israel Genealogy Research Association (IGRA)
*
Israel Genealogical Society
** Israeli “Family Roots” Forum (Hebrew) * Jamaica ** Jamaica Jewish Genealogical Society * South Africa ** Jewish Genealogical Society of South Africa * Sweden *
Judiska Släktforskningsföreningen i Sverige
* Switzerland ** Schweizerische Vereinigung für Jüdische Genealogie * Venezuela ** Asociación de Genealogía Judía de Venezuela

USA members

Topical members

Sephardic Heritage Project
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Associate members

* Anyksciai Cousins‘ Club – Worldwide * Bene Israel Heritage Museum & Genealogical Research Centre – Mumbai, India * The Jewish Genealogy Group of the Tiszafüredi Menóra Nyílt Alapítvány – Tiszafüred, Hungary *

JewishGen JewishGen is a non-profit organization founded in 1987 as an international electronic resource for Jewish genealogy. In 2003, JewishGen became an affiliate of the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in New York Ci ...

MyHeritage MyHeritage is an online genealogy platform with web, mobile, and software products and services, introduced by the Israeli company MyHeritage in 2003. Users of the platform can obtain their family trees, upload and browse through photos, and sear ...

Gesher Galicia Gesher Galicia is a Jewish genealogical nonprofit organization, operating as a special interest group for those with Jewish roots from the former Austrian-ruled province of Galicia, part of modern-day western Ukraine and southeastern Poland. ...

References

External links

* {{Authority control Jewish organizations Jewish genealogy Genealogical societies in the United States