Jewish Genealogy Society of Pittsburgh

10/08/2026

What does $12,000 buy?

It helps the JGS of Pittsburgh keep doing what we do — bringing great speakers to Pittsburgh, providing educational programs and resources, supporting Jewish genealogy research, and creating new opportunities for people to connect with their family and community history.

We launched our 2027 fundraising campaign last week, and we're off to a good start. But we've got a long way to go.

If the JGS has helped you learn something, find something, connect with someone, or simply become more interested in your family's history, please consider helping us make 2027 happen.

Every contribution helps.

👉 https://givebutter.com/pghjgs2027

Help us bring another year of Jewish genealogy programs, resources, and Jewish Genealogy Day to our community.

10/02/2026

October is Family History Month — so what better time to start thinking about the future of Jewish genealogy in Pittsburgh?

The JGS of Pittsburgh is looking ahead to 2027, and we're launching a fundraising campaign to help make the coming year possible.

Our goal is $12,000, which will help support the programs, resources, speakers, technology, and other work that keep JGS going throughout the year.

Whether you've been with us for years, joined recently, attended a program, watched a recording, or simply believe in helping people connect with their Jewish roots, we'd love your support.

Every contribution helps.

Help the JGS of Pittsburgh Make 2027 Happen: https://givebutter.com/pghjgs2027

09/23/2026

From the Pale to Pretoria: The Jewish Journey to South Africa

What happened when Jewish immigrants left the towns and villages of the Pale of Settlement and traveled thousands of miles to build new lives in South Africa?

Join us for **“A History of the South African Jews: From the Pale to Pretoria – Part 2”** with Ralph Cilevitz.

📅 Sunday, October 11, 2026
🕐 1:00–2:30 PM EDT
💻 Online via Zoom
💲 Free for JGS Pittsburgh members | $5 for non-members

Ralph continues the story of Jewish immigrants in early 20th-century South Africa—from gold and diamond mining towns to rural dorps—and the communities they built along the way.

🎥 The program will be recorded and made available to current JGS Pittsburgh members.

👇 Learn more and register:

…Carrying a Small Suitcase Filled with Courage, Faith and Hope

08/30/2026

🎉 **WE JUST HIT 500!** 🎉

Today, the Jewish Genealogy Society of Pittsburgh welcomed our **500th member since 2017!**

That’s **500 people** who have joined us to explore their family histories, uncover forgotten stories, connect with the past, and—sometimes after going down *a LOT* of rabbit holes—figure out just who those mysterious ancestors actually were. 🔎📜🧬

Over the years, our members have researched families from Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania to communities around the world. They’ve shared discoveries, helped one another break through brick walls, learned new research techniques, and preserved stories for the next generation.

**500 members. Thousands of family stories. Countless discoveries.**

To everyone who has been part of our journey since 2017:

**Thank you for helping us keep unearthing Jewish roots in the Steel City and beyond.** 💙💛

And to Member #500:

**Welcome! You picked a pretty good day to join us.** 😉

Here’s to the next 500 stories! 🎉



Want to come dig with us? Learn more about JGS Pittsburgh and membership:

Membership in the Jewish Genealogy Society of Pittsburgh connects you with a welcoming community of people who share an interest in Jewish family history, research, and preservation. Whether you are just beginning your genealogical journey or have years of experience, membership provides education,....

08/28/2026

We are 5 new members from 100 for the year and 2 new members from 500 over all since 2017!!!!

Membership in the Jewish Genealogy Society of Pittsburgh connects you with a welcoming community of people who share an interest in Jewish family history, research, and preservation. Whether you are just beginning your genealogical journey or have years of experience, membership provides education,....

08/11/2026

📣 The Call for Proposals for the 46th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy is officially OPEN.

Have a research breakthrough, a family story, or a method you've mastered?

We want to hear about it.

Submit up to 3 proposals: lectures, panels, or hands-on workshops.
💰 Speakers are compensated
🎟️ Registration waived for accepted presenters
🆕 New speakers welcome
📅 Deadline: September 15, 2026

👉 Learn more here: https://www.iajgs.org/help-shape-our-2027-conference-call-for-proposals-is-officially-open/

08/05/2026

We are 20 members away from beating our highest new member record, set in 2022, of 103.

Join Today!

Membership in the Jewish Genealogy Society of Pittsburgh connects you with a welcoming community of people who share an interest in Jewish family history, research, and preservation. Whether you are just beginning your genealogical journey or have years of experience, membership provides education,....

08/02/2026

📚 **The Admiral and the Submarine: The (South) Hills Are Alive with the Sounds of BBQ**

What does **BBQ** have to do with Pittsburgh? Not barbecue—**Brooklyn, Bronx, and Queens!**

When Admiral Hyman G. Rickover awarded Westinghouse the contract to build the first nuclear submarine, Jewish engineers and their families relocated from New York to Pittsburgh's South Hills. Their arrival transformed neighborhoods, inspired the creation of a new Conservative synagogue, and left behind one of the most comprehensive synagogue collections in the Rauh Jewish Archives.

Join native Pittsburgher **Jonina Duker** as she shares this fascinating and little-known chapter of Pittsburgh Jewish history. Along the way, you'll discover how community records, synagogue archives, and local history can help tell the stories of our families.

📅 **Sunday, August 16, 2026**
🕐 **1:00–2:30 PM EDT**
💻 **Zoom**
💲 **Free for JGS Pittsburgh members | $5 for non-members**

⚠️ **Please note:** This program **will not be recorded**, so be sure to join us live!

👇 Register today:
https://www.pghjgs.org/event-details/the-admiral-and-the-submarine-the-south-hills-are-alive-with-the-sounds-of-bbq-with-jonina-duker

BBQ? Brooklyn, Bronx, and Queens of course! When Admiral Hyman George Rickover awarded Westinghouse federal contracts to build the first nuclear submarine it was transformational. Many Jews, coming to work at the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, settled in a few small towns in Pittsburgh’s South Hi...

07/29/2026

Save The Date!!!

Your family's story is still waiting to be found.

📢 We hope you will SAVE THE DATE for the 46th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy. We are going fully virtual, April 4–6, 2027.

No flights. No hotels. No time zone left out. Just three days of learning, storytelling, and connection with genealogists and family historians from around the world.

The call for presentations is coming soon!

[Click the link in the comment to learn more. ⤵️⤵️⤵️]