The Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain. Logo designed by the late Abraham Gaines   Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain
Tracing Jewish Roots

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JEWISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
updated 08 December 2005

1. Please tell me about JGSGB.
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain (JGSGB) was formed in 1992 with beginners and experienced researchers joining forces to: The Society is open to all those interested in Jewish genealogy.

The scope of our members' interests covers all Jewish Communities world-wide although, as you would expect, we are the 'Centre of Excellence' for UK Jewish Genealogy. Our members are particularly interested in Eastern Europe, from where many of our ancestors can be traced.

2. What are the main benefits of JGSGB Membership? 3. What Programme of activities do the JGSGB offer? 4. I do not live near London - What about the Regions?
The Society has a number of Regional Groups that hold regular local meetings and activities. There are Regional Groups for the following areas: 5. Does the Society have any Special Interest Groups (SIGs)?
The Society has the following SIGs: These groups meet regularly and support members researching ancestors in these geographical areas. Members can find further details on Members' Corner

6. Does the Society have a Library? What can I find there?
The Society has a significant library containing the following: Please note that access to the Library is restricted to JGSGB members only. If you are not a Member of JGSGB then you may arrange research/lookups to be undertaken on your behalf at the Library by a professional researcher who is a member of the Society. See question 16 below.

7. Does JGSGB have an Online E-mail Discussion Group?
*All the messages go into a searchable archive that is an invaluable research source.

8. How can I join the JGSGB and how much does it cost?

Membership of the society is open to anyone who is interested in Jewish Genealogy. For details either contact the Membership Secretary or you can join on line at member1.shtml

9. What genealogical data does the Society hold?
The Society holds three main categories of databases:

10. Is there a JGSGB Website? And what can I find there?
The Society Website is www.jgsgb.org.uk. It is accessible to both members and non-members and is continually up-dated.
The site contains various databases including:

There is also a Members only section of our website called Members' Corner with special benefits and data for Members. The database includes over 35,000 records including:

11. Do you have a Family Finder Service?

Details of our Family Finder Service, and the full database, can be accessed via our website. Family Finder. Both Members and non-members can access the database.

12. Does JGSGB have a "Mentor" or "Buddy" System

Members are offered participation in a Mentor scheme and, on request, will be assigned a Mentor. Informal 'buddy' arrangements often develop between Members with similar research interests.

13. My family name is xxxxxx. How can I trace my ancestors? Is my family or family name Jewish?

Our Jewish Ancestors moved around and changed their names, often with great frequency. To answer this question you need not just names but times and places. Try to find out which towns, or at least regions, your ancestors lived in. The best way to identify if a person or family was Jewish is to work backwards to see if you can find records associating them with a Jewish event such as marriage in a Synagogue or burial in a Jewish cemetery. Other clues, but usually not conclusive, can sometimes be ascertained from the name, occupation or place of residence. 14. Does the Society have a Genealogical Enquiries Officer  or "Panel of Experts" who can answer my specific query?