Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto

Sugar, Slavery and the Sephardim of Barbados 1654-1934
2020-02-16 10:30 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1V8, Canada
Speaker: Simon Kreindler

Shaarei Shomayim Congregation
470 Glencairn Avenue
Entrance: North (parking lot) doors
Doors open at 10:00 am

The Portuguese brought sugar cane from their Atlantic colonies to Brazil in the early 1500s and within a relatively short time, that country became the largest sugar producer in the world. In 1630, the Dutch ousted the Portuguese and the Sephardi Jews from Holland followed and got involved in the production, trading and shipping of raw sugar.
Meanwhile, in 1627, Barbados was settled by the English and they introduced sugar cane from Brazil which rapidly replaced cotton and tobacco. When the Dutch lost control in Brazil in 1654, Sephardim with experience in the sugar industry came to the island and helped the planters with their technical expertise and shipping know-how. Within a few years Barbados had become England’s wealthiest Atlantic colony.
Simon’s presentation will look at the Sephardim’s success, their ultimate demise, and the legacy they left the Ashkenazi community that followed them.

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Simon Kreindler was born and grew up in Barbados. After completing high school there, he studied medicine at McGill University in Montreal and did post-graduate training in adult and child psychiatry in the United States. He recently retired after 48 years in private practice in Toronto.

Simon’s long-standing interest in his family’s history led to him writing an autobiography in 2013 for his children and grandchildren, incorporating his 40 plus years of genealogy research. His Ashkenazi research led to another book, Peddlers All, Stories of the First Ashkenazi Jewish Settlers in Barbados, which was published in 2017.

More recently, Simon has been researching the Sephardim who came to Barbados from Brazil in 1654 and who lived on the island for more than 250 years.

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Members: Free Guests: $5

JGS: Lithuania-Latvia-Belarus SIG
2020-01-30 19:30 - 21:15 | Family History Centre, 24 Ferrand Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Please note the next Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus SIG will be held on January 30th, 2020 at the Family History Center at 7:30 pm to 9:15 pm
Please add to your calendars, social media, etc..
Henry Blumberg will discuss:
“My hundred and fifty year journey from Grobina., Latvia to Greenville, Mississippi, via Las Vegas.”

The Man Who Salvaged French Jewish History in the Wake of the Holocaust
2020-01-27 15:30 - 17:30 | Munk School of Global Affairs, 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Annual Chancellor Rose and Ray Wolfe Chair in Holocaust Studies Lecture
“The Archive Thief: The Man Who Salvaged French Jewish History in the Wake of the Holocaust”
Lisa Leff (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and American University)
Date: Monday, January 27th at 4:00pm, a reception will precede the event starting at 3:30pm
Location: Vivian and David Campbell Conference Facility at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy (1 Devonshire Place)
Description: Zosa Szajkowski, a Polish-born Jewish historian, took tens of thousands of Jewish documents from Europe in the 1940s and ‘50s and moved them, illicitly, to New York. He eventually sold them to Jewish research libraries in the United States and Israel. Was this a heroic act of salvage, or simply theft? Join us for a lecture by Lisa Leff, author of The Archive Thief, Professor of History at American University, and Director of the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The event will be moderated by Doris Bergen (Chancellor Rose and Ray Wolfe Chair in Holocaust Studies), with responses by Eric Jennings (University of Toronto) and Sara R. Horowitz (York University).

This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and first-come, first-served. If you have any accessibility requirements, please emailcjs.toronto@utoronto.ca.

JGS Toronto Panel: Comparison of Genealogy Software: Advantages and Shortcomings
2020-01-26 10:30 - 12:00 | Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1V8, Canada
A Panel of experienced genealogists from our JGS membership will present their views on family tree software. They will delve into the pluses and minuses of each.
Shaarei Shomayim Congregation
Room to be Announced
Doors open 10:00 am

Store Front Stories
2020-01-07 08:00 - 21:00 | Ontario
https://mnjcc.org/browse-by-interest/arts-culture/visual-arts/gallery/1387-storefront-stories.html?utm_source=MNjcc+Insider+Newsletter&utm_campaign=57a662e0a5-&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9c54dabbe2-57a662e0a5-141918349

DNA Special Interest Group
2019-12-19 19:30 - 21:00 | Family History Centre, 24 Ferrand Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

JGS Toronto Event: "The Not So Mythological Village of Chelm"
2019-12-18 20:00 - 21:30 | Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1V8, Canada
Speaker: Steven Brock
Shaarei Shomayim Congregation
Sisterhood Hall
Doors Open at 7:30 pm
Jewish folklore is filled with stories about the village of Chelm. Outsiders consider the
villagers as fools, but they know that they are the great sages of the world and that
their logic always makes perfect sense – at least to them. Although Chelm seems like
a mythical place, it is in fact a real village in south-east Poland. In his presentation,
Steven will recount the history of the real life village and how it got its humorous and
less than flattering reputation.

Toronto Jewish Storytelling Guild
2019-12-15 19:30 - 22:00 | Congregation Habonim, 5 Glen Park Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M6B 4J2, Canada
The Toronto Jewish Storytelling Guild will be hosting evenings of stories, the 3rd Sunday of each month at 7:30 PM at Congregation Habonim (5 Glen Park Ave., Toronto, M6B 4J2 one street north of Bathurst and Glencairn)
Each evening will feature a blend of tales – traditional and personal – from some of the city’s most accomplished raconteurs, while offering a chance for audience members to share their stories. Listeners are welcome.
Admission is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of five dollars.
And with almost all Jewish events, refreshments will be available.
For more information contact:
jewishstorytelling@gmail.com

JGS - Ukraine SIG Meeting
2019-12-12 07:30 - 21:30 | Family History Centre, 24 Ferrand Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The members of the Ukraine SIG will meet at the Family History Centre.
Please see the link for details: https://mailchi.mp/9a151a5e3a51/next-ukraine-sig-meeting-to-be-held-on-thu-dec-12?e=1acbd9d9d2

Dec. 12, 2019
Time: 7:30 pm

Untold Learning Series
2019-11-28 19:30 - 21:00 | Schwartz/Reisman Centre, 9600 Bathurst St., Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
Jerry Scherer speaks on Nov. 28th at the Schwartz Reisman Centre at 7:30 pm.
See https://srcentre.ca/adults_seniors/untold-learning-series.html for information.

JGS Event: Resources for Genealogical Research at Ontario Jewish Archives
2019-11-27 20:00 - 21:30 | Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1V8, Canada
Donna Bernardo-Ceriz, Managing Director ONTARIO JEWISH ARCHIVES

Topic: Resources for Genealogical Research at OJA and Tips for Preserving your Historical Documents
Click on this link for details: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qEm5LOkqH8fQQ7TMTf9siGQRMbE_lSZH/view?usp=sharing

Shaarei Shomayim Congregation
Sisterhood Hall
Doors open at 7:30 pm

Memories of Brantford's Jewish Community
2019-11-26 14:30 - 20:30 | Ontario
Please see link for details:https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/memories-of-brantfords-jewish-community-tickets-77116277863?ref=eattnewsrecs&utm_source=eventbrite&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_algo&utm_content=toronto-canada.p2019_47&utm_term=eattnewsrecs&afu=152273198872&rank=3&aff=eattnewsrecs
Tuesday Nov. 26, 2019
2:30 pm to 830 pm

JGS Toronto - Poland SIG
2019-11-18 19:30 - 21:00 | Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1V8, Canada
The first Poland SIG will be held at Shaarei Shomayim Congregation

Members Only Event

7:30 pm to 9:00 pm

JGS Event: Family Tree Maker Seminar.
2019-11-17 10:30 - 12:00 | Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1V8, Canada
Opportunity for a Seminar about Family Tree Maker
A RESPONSE IS REQUESTED
Speaker: Mark Olsen of Family Tree Maker
Shaarei Shomayim Congregation
470 Glencairn Avenue
Entrance: North (parking lot) doors
Sunday, November 17, 2019, at 10:30 am
(Doors open 10:00 am)
JGS Toronto is being offered the opportunity for a seminar about Family Tree Maker, DNA and other related Family Tree products.
Before we agree to accept this offer, we need to know how many of our members would be interested in participating on that date. This seminar would be of prime interest to current and possible future users of Family Tree Maker, but would also be of interest to users of other software as an opportunity to compare capabilities.
In December, 2015, Ancestry.com announced that it would discontinue Family Tree Maker. The announcement was met by fierce protest from Family Tree Maker users. In February, 2016, Ancestry.com announced that Software MacKiev, the company that had developed the Mac version of the software for more than six years, would acquire the Family Tree Maker brand, and take over the development and publishing of Mac and Windows editions. Recently MacKiev issued Family Tree Maker 2019.
If you are interested in participating in this seminar, please send an e-mail to lkelman@jgstoronto.ca, by Nov. 14, 2019 indicating that you intend to participate.
Members: Free Guests: $5
Opportunity for a Seminar about Family Tree Maker
A RESPONSE IS REQUESTED
Speaker: Mark Olsen of Family Tree Maker
Shaarei Shomayim Congregation
470 Glencairn Avenue
Entrance: North (parking lot) doors
Sunday, November 17, 2019, at 10:30 am
(Doors open 10:00 am)
JGS Toronto is being offered the opportunity for a seminar about Family Tree Maker, DNA and other related Family Tree products.
Before we agree to accept this offer, we need to know how many of our members would be interested in participating on that date. This seminar would be of prime interest to current and possible future users of Family Tree Maker, but would also be of interest to users of other software as an opportunity to compare capabilities.
In December, 2015, Ancestry.com announced that it would discontinue Family Tree Maker. The announcement was met by fierce protest from Family Tree Maker users. In February, 2016, Ancestry.com announced that Software MacKiev, the company that had developed the Mac version of the software for more than six years, would acquire the Family Tree Maker brand, and take over the development and publishing of Mac and Windows editions. Recently MacKiev issued Family Tree Maker 2019.
If you are interested in participating in this seminar, please send an e-mail to lkelman@jgstoronto.ca, by October 11, 2019, indicating that you intend to participate.
Members: Free Guests: $5

Online Lecture - Movement Between Towns in Eastern Europe
2019-11-14 19:30 - 20:30 | Ontario
Please note: This lecture will be on Nov. 14 and not Nov. 12 as originally publicized. Time 7:30-8:30 pm

Nashi Predky 2019 Online Lecture (Thurs Nov 14 7:30pm to 8:30pm)
(please note date change to November 14)

Speaker: Lara Diamond President of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Maryland.
Nashi Predky 2019 Online Lecture (Thurs Nov 14 7:30pm to 8:30pm)
(please note date change to November 14)

Movement Between Towns in Eastern Europe (webinar)
Many researchers, once they have discovered the town from which their ancestors left Eastern Europe, assume that their families must have lived in that town or the vicinity for many generations. While this was true for some families, there significant movement through broad swaths of Europe by many Jews for a variety of reasons. The speaker (Lara Diamond) will demonstrate the breadth of some families’ movements with examples from her own research and will discuss the types of documents used to trace those families’ travels.
This is an online lecture: you can participate from anywhere in the world!
This is an online lecture: you can participate from anywhere in the world!
Get the full details and register.
For more about the entire Nashi Predky Online Lecture series, the link is here: Family History Group (https://www.ukrhec.org/family-history-group).

Limmud Toronto - A Festival of Jewish Learning
2019-11-10 08:30 - 17:30 | University of Toronto Law School, 78 Queens Park Circle, Ontario, M5S2C5, Canada
Sunday Nov. 10, 2019
8:30 am to 5:30 pm
University of Toronto Law School
78 Queens Park Circle
Museum Subway Station
Registration now open: http://Www.limmud.ca

Holocaust Education Week “Escape from Vienna”
2019-11-07 18:00 - 19:00 | Barbara Frum Library, 20 Covington Rd., Toronto, Ontario, M6A3C1, Canada
Henry Wellisch, Past President of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto delivers a lecture on his personal story of survival. Henry and his parents made a harrowing escape from Vienna in 1939. It is a very captivating tale of courage, desperation and endurance.
Barbara Frum Library
6:00 to 7:00 pm

Holocaust Education Week - Bernard Betel Centre - Displaced Persons to Canadian Citizens
2019-11-06 14:00 - 16:00 | Bernard Betel Centre, 1003 Steeles Ave. West, Tornto, Ontario, M2R3T6, Canada
JGS Toronto”s Jerry Scherer speaks on the research he has done that documents the survival of his parents during the Holocaust See this link: https://www.holocaustcentre.com/hew-2019/displaced-persons-to-canadian-citizens
Bernard Betel Centre
2:00 – 4:00 pm

JGS Toronto Event: DNA Testing - Why get tested? and What do I do with the Results Afterward?
2019-10-30 20:00 - 21:30 | Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1V8, Canada
Genealogical DNA Testing:
What Does It Mean for You (and Others)?
Speaker: Dr. Eric Mercer
Shaarei Shomayim Congregation
470 Glencairn Avenue
Entrance: North (parking lot) doors
Wednesday, October 30, 2019, at 8:00 pm
Doors open at 7:30 pm
Have you completed DNA testing but don’t know how to use the results? Or, are you interested in testing, but concerned about legal, medical, or social risks?
Eric Mercer, a JGS Toronto member, is the leader of our DNA Special Interest Group (SIG). He has a Post Doctorate in the field of Biological Sciences and is currently active in this field. Eric was not always comfortable with the advent of commercial DNA home testing; however, when contacted by a potential cousin who was desperate to find his genetic connections to Eric’s tree, his compassion for this individual’s search led him to test with FamilyTree DNA. What he learned influenced the growth of his own tree. From there he began to explore the area of ethics, privacy, and law enforcement as well as what is happening in the genetic genealogy field internationally and between various countries.
In this presentation, Eric will show us how to start the DNA testing process and how to use the DNA test results to advance our genealogy research. He will also explore issues of privacy, benefits, and risks for personal and public medicine and the use of results in the sphere of law enforcement. Join us for an insightful evening that is sure to include a lively discussion.
Members: Free Guests: $5
info@jgstoronto.ca www.jgstoronto.ca Tel: 647-247-6414
twitter: jgsoftoronto facebook: Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto

Confronting Devastation - Memoirs of Hungarian Holocaust Survivors
2019-10-28 19:30 - 22:00 | Isabel Bader Theatre, 93 Charles St. West, Toronto, Ontario, M5S2C7, Canada
See link for details: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/hungarian-anthology-book-launch-tickets-73187278119?utm_campaign=f2d91ef306-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_09_24_02_19&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Azrieli+Holocaust+Memoirs+Program&utm_term=0_9127a05633-f2d91ef306-591474549

JGS Toronto - Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus SIG
2019-10-24 19:30 - 21:00 | Family History Centre, 24 Ferrand Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The first Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus SIG for this season will be held at the Family History Centre
For Members Only
7:30 pm to 9:00 pm

JGS Toronto - DNA SIG
2019-10-17 19:30 - 21:00 | Family History Centre, 24 Ferrand Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

JGS Toronto Workshop: Maximizing Member Benefits Through Effective Use of the JGS Toronto Website and JewishGen.org
2019-09-25 20:00 - 21:30 | Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1V8, Canada
Getting the Most Out of the JGS Toronto Website and Jewishgen.org
Workshop Leaders:
Harvey Glasner
Ruth Mallin
Neil Richler
The jgstoronto.ca website was completely redeveloped in 2017. It offers a plethora of resources that can be accessed by our members in facilitating their family research. It also offers discussion groups or forums that allow Special Interest Group members to share information as well as ask for help or suggestions in resolving their brick walls. In addition, the latest issues of Shem Tov are only found in the Members Area of the website. Harvey and Ruth will review the process of registration, effective use of the Events Calendar, searching the site for resources, Forums and more.
Jewishgen.org is one of the primary starting points for Jewish genealogists when first embarking on a family research journey. It is vitally important to keep referring back to this website as new resources are continually being added to and improved. Neil Richler will lead this session and guide members through the essential parts of the site: e.g. data bases, such as Jewish Online World Burial Registry, special interest groups (Gesher Galicia, Litvak etc.), Yizkor Books, and shtetl information.
Members are encouraged to bring their tablets or laptops.

Shaarei Shomayim Congregation
Sisterhood Hall
Doors Open at 7:30 pm

Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett - The Future of the Holocaust in a World Without Survivors
2019-09-18 19:30 - 21:30 | Adath Israel Congregation, 37 Southbourne Ave., Toronto, 37 Southbourne Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Adath Israel Congregation
in association with
UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
Sarah & Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre

Presents

Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett,
Author, historian, scholar, curator, consultant to international museums

Wednesday, September 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Topic: The Future of the Holocaust in a World without Survivors

Refreshments served

$15 in advance
$20 at the door.

Click HERE
to Register

My Heritage Live -
2019-09-06 08:00 - 2019-09-09 17:00 | Ontario
Click on link for more information regarding registration for MyHeritage Live. Sept. 6 – 8th. https://live2019.myheritage.com

Cleveland Conference - IAJGS
2019-07-28 - 2019-08-02 | Ontario

General Meeting - Break Throughs and Brick Walls
2019-06-19 20:00 - 21:30 | Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1V8, Canada
Break Throughs and Brick Walls
Click on this link for details: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rmSmYjUm_RwSpmLNgnilYfIFoEsuBwQ5/view?usp=sharing
Location: Shaarei Shomayim Congregation (see map below)
Doors Open: 7:30 pm
Venue: Sisterhood Hall

JGS Toronto - Ukraine SIG
2019-05-30 19:30 - 21:00 | Family History Centre, 24 Ferrand Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Marla Waltman will be leading the Ukraine SIG. Click on this link to view the program https://mailchi.mp/49f174df5810/next-meeting-of-ukraine-sig-thu-may-30-at-family-history-centre?e=1acbd9d9d2
Venue: Family History Centre
Time: 7:30

Central European SIG - Some Resources to Find Victims and Survivors
2019-05-27 19:30 - 21:30 | Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, 470 Glencairn Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1V8, Canada
CENTRAL EUROPE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (SIG) MEETING
Monday, May 27, 2019 at 7:30 pm
At Shaarei Shomayim, 470 Glencairn Avenue, Toronto
SOME RESOURCES TO FIND VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS
FROM CENTRAL EUROPE
Led by Henry Wellisch
First we will do a short survey of WW II history concerning the various
Jewish communities of Central Europe, such as Austria, Czech and Slovak Republics, Galicia, Hungary, Carpatho-Ukraine and Transylvania.
Then we will look at the main resources on Holocaust research and after that focus on Holocaust sources available, mainly internet resources,
dealing with the areas mentioned above.

Only JGS Toronto members may attend Special Interest Group meetings.
Non-members may attend one trial SIG meeting.
Please remember that only kosher food items may be brought
into Shaarei Shomayim.
Also, please note that entry is through the north (parking lot) doors only.
For information, contact sigs@jgstoronto.ca

Lithuania Special Interest Group - Workshop
2019-05-16 19:30 - 21:30 | Family History Centre, 24 Ferrand Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Bring your own computer for an evening of exploration.
Location: Toronto Family History Centre
Thursday, May 16th 2019 at 7:30 pm
At the Family History Centre, 24 Ferrand Drive, Toronto
The focus of our next SIG meeting will be “Useful Resources”
led by Les Kelman.
Based on input from SIG participants. we will aim to create a list of the
best resources for Genealogical Research in Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus.

The list will include Archives, Websites, Books, Maps. Libraries
and possibly more.
So please come to the meeting with specific examples of resources
that you have used. If you can provide an assessment
of how valuable a resource is, that would also be helpful.

From the input at the meeting, we will create an integrated list of resources
with URLs and/or addresses, etc. to be distributed to all SIG members
and placed on the JGS Toronto website.

Only JGS Toronto members may attend Special Interest Group meetings.
Non-members may attend one trial SIG meeting.
Please remember that no outside foods or drinks are to be brought into the Family History Centre.
For information, contact sigs@jgstoronto.ca

24 Ferrand Drive
Toronto
