Welcome to the
Santa Cruz Jewish Genealogy Society
The SCJGS is a nonprofit organization which functions through the voluntary efforts of its members. Our purpose is to share and promote the preservation of genealogical information, techniques, and research tools with people interested in Jewish genealogy and family history.
Lectures and Events
We host monthly ZOOM lectures and presentations with excellent speakers and professional genealogists. The SCJGS is a place to gain information and skills and to meet others who are interested in Jewish family research.
Programs are free for members, and $5.00 for guests. Guests are always welcome to attend our presentations by registering for an individual event. View our upcoming program HERE.
Membership
Anyone interested in Jewish genealogy is welcome to become a member regardless of skill level or geographic location. We welcome all members of all geographic areas as well as all research levels.
The SCJGS is committed to building a strong research member community. We often host additional meetings focusing on member research progress, hands-on mentoring for beginners, community meetings focusing on individual brick wall assistance, video watching with discussions and strategies that worked, research tips presented by our experienced members.
To join SCJGS and learn more about membership benefits and how to become a member; please visit our Membership page HERE.
Member-Only Access
Mailing List
Join Our Mailing List HERE to receive events and educational announcements.
Newsletter
Shorashim, the SCJGS newsletter, is published electronically three times per year and is free to SCJGS members. Click here for information on how to join the SCJGS.
For questions or to submit ideas or articles, please email editor@scjgs.org.
Upcoming Events
Sunday, February 6, 2022, 1pm Pacific Time Zone
Guest speaker, Robinn Magid
Finding your Eastern European Jewish Family on JRI-Poland.org
Sunday, March 13, 2022 at 1pm Pacific Time Zone
Guest Speaker: Todd Knowles
Using FamilySearch for Jewish Research
Non-Members pay $5, Zoom link will be sent the week of the event.
Update! This double presentation is now on zoom
Guest Speaker: Steve Morse
Sunday, April 3, 1pm Pacific Time Zone in Santa Cruz, CA
One-Step Webpages: A Potpourri of Genealogical Search Tools
Getting Ready for the 1950 Census: Searching with and without a Name Index
Non-Members pay $5, Zoom link will be sent the week of the event. Members automatically receive a free Zoom link.
Sunday, May 22, 2022 at 1pm Pacific Time Zone
Guest Speaker: Gil Bardige
Help! I Just Got My DNA Results and I’m Confused
Sunday, June 12, 2022, 11am Pacific Time Zone
Guest Speaker: Serafima Velkovich
The Central Database of Shoah Victims’ Names and Other Sources at Yad Vashem
Sunday, July 17, 2022, 1pm Pacific Time
Guest Speaker: Dr. Alexander Beider, PhD
Jewish Surnames from Eastern Europe
Sunday, July 31st, 2022 at 1pm Pacific Time Zone
Guest Speaker: Julie Roberts Szczepankiewicz
“I Found My Village! Now What?” Locating Vital Records in Poland Using Online Resources
