Rather than focusing solely on traditional genealogy research, the course will examine the wider historical forces that shaped Jewish journeys across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. Participants will discover how migration, displacement, identity, and resilience are reflected in family records, archives, and personal stories.
Sessions combine practical genealogy skills with historical insight, helping learners uncover family connections while understanding the broader Jewish experience across generations. The course concludes with a dedicated storytelling session, supporting participants to bring their discoveries to life.
Who It’s For
This course is suitable for beginners and anyone curious about Jewish ancestry, migration histories, and family storytelling.
It is ideal for:
- Individuals beginning their Jewish genealogy journey
- Learners interested in Jewish social and migration history
- People wanting to understand family records and archives
- Those wishing to preserve and share family stories
- Anyone with an interest in identity, heritage, and memory
No prior genealogy experience is required.
What You’ll Learn
You will learn and understand major patterns of Jewish migration across Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and beyond.
Your Teacher
Jeanette R Rosenberg OBE specialises in Jewish genealogy and Holocaust research, with extensive experience delivering lectures, training sessions, and guided archive research visits. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Genealogical Studies from the University of Strathclyde and is Education & Mentoring Lead for the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain, as well as Convenor of its German Special Interest Group and Co-ordinator of GerSig at JewishGen. Her expertise includes immigration, naturalisation, census and civil registration records, wartime internment, and family history research.
Course Outline
Week 1: Getting Started with Genealogy
New to family history research? This beginner-friendly session introduces the fundamentals of genealogy. Learn how to structure your research, keep records and use available tools to begin mapping your family tree. Perfect for those just starting their ancestral journey and useful information for those who have already started too.
Week 2: Researching Family History in the UK
Explore the rich resources available for tracing family roots in the UK. This session reveals the multitude of archives and online databases at your disposal to uncover the groundwork of your family history here so you can look backwards to your ancestral origins outside the UK.
Week 3: Jewish Genealogy in Europe and Beyond
Covering Jewish Immigration, Emigration & Transmigration. Learn about the patterns and routes of migration to the UK. Explore where other cousins went if they didn’t come to or stay in the UK. You will also learn about the effective use of JewishGen’s many online resources.
Week 4: Tracing Family During and after the Holocaust
A sensitive and in-depth session focused on the specific challenges of researching family history during and after the Holocaust. Learn how to navigate international archives, memorial databases and how to approach this period with historical and emotional care. Learning about Holocaust Victims in your family is a way of honouring their memory.
Week 5: Telling the Story – Bringing It All Together
In the final session, participants will learn how to compile their findings into a coherent narrative. Discover creative ways to preserve and present your family history, from writing memoirs to building digital archives and family trees. We will also explore sharing your stories with your family.
