Virtual Workshop to Focus on Jewish Family Roots in Ukraine while Benefitting Relief Efforts There

March 25, 2022 JMORE Staff

Jennifer Mendelsohn of Baltimore will be among the genealogists participating in the virtual workshop, "Jewish Roots in Ukraine: Context and Connection." (File photo)

Since the outset of the Russian invasion on Feb. 24, many American Jews have become increasingly curious about their families’ origins in Ukraine, which has been the home of a Jewish community for more than a millennium.

Now, these folks can acquire more knowledge and insight into their roots there while providing much-needed financial assistance to the people of Ukraine.

On Sunday, Apr. 3, a one-day, four-part virtual workshop will be held to reconstruct Jewish family histories in Ukraine and interpret them within the larger context of that war-torn country’s history.

In 2006, Valentina Polyakova, director of the Kerch Jewish Museum in the southern Ukrainian city of Kerch, displayed some of the town´s historic Jewish tombstones. (Vladimir Matveyev, via JTA)

While the workshop — which will be held from noon to 4:30 p.m. — is designed for newer family history researchers, there will be information provided for individuals with all levels of genealogical experience, taught by leading Jewish genealogists.

Among them will be Baltimore-based Jewish genealogists Lara Diamond (larasgenealogy.blogspot.com) and Jennifer Mendelsohn (resistancegenealogy.com).

One-hundred percent of all proceeds from “Jewish Roots in Ukraine: Context and Connection” will benefit the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and Razom for Ukraine, a pair of leading nonprofits providing extensive on-the-ground support to Ukrainians affected by the humanitarian crisis. Donations are tax-deductible where allowed by law.

All three ticket prices — $36 (“mensch”), $54 (“super mensch”) and $72 (“extra super mensch”) — provide the same level of access to the workshop, but organizers note that additional generosity provides more humanitarian support to Ukrainians.

Logistical support for the event will be provided by the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. “Jewish Roots in Ukraine” will be recorded, and videos will be made available to all donors.

For information, click here.