Jewish Genealogy for the Non-Jew – Schelly Talalay Dardashti

SESSION: NGS2104-HER-02 TRACK: Heritage

Today, with the advent of wide-spread DNA testing, few things are secret any longer. Many people who test receive surprises in their results, and for some it might be a shock because no one knew, or it was purposely suppressed, or they may have even suspected. It can truly be a fascinating journey to discovery.

Regardless of the reason, this program will assist those who now want to know more. The program includes many resources including archives, specific websites, definitions, linguistic challenges, and more. The section on history in a nutshell may provide answers as to why a family kept a secret or why it was simply forgotten in the context of expulsion, exile, and world-wide migration.

Understanding where to go for more information is an integral part of this program. This session will help attendees learn what to ask family elders about customs either they practice today or about traditions their own grandparents may have continued.

Life-cycle events often provide clues to one’s ancestry, and food traditions may continue hundreds of years in a family as the very last remnant of an ancient connection. Other customs may spark recognition as attendees remember certain traditions a grandparent may have continued to practice.

Attendees are welcome to join Tracing the Tribe–Jewish Genealogy on Facebook to learn even more from the many experts and translators in the group and to ask questions for additional resources and assistance.

BIO: A journalist and genealogist, Schelly Talalay Dardashti is the US Genealogy Advisor for MyHeritage.com. She has been tracking her families across Spain, Eastern Europe, and Iran for more than three decades. She is the founder of “Tracing the Tribe–Jewish Genealogy on Facebook,” with some 38,000 members in 101 countries.

The Virtual NGS 2021 On-Demand! Viewing Starts 15 June

This lecture series is available to view from home on your computer or mobile device and offers you the opportunity to develop exceptional genealogy skills with a highly comprehensive set of on-demand webinars from NGS’s expert conference speakers. On-Demand! packages of audio-visual lectures are now available for purchase.

Select from the 20 or 40 On-Demand! lecture packages with over 85 sessions to choose from. Watch starting 15 June 2021 through 31 December 2021. Both packages come with access to two full days of NGS 2021 Live! from 19-20 May 2021, the virtual conference syllabus, and sponsored bonus sessions. Plus, view the sessions from NGS 2021 Live! and any sessions you did not choose from the breakouts (nine more) beginning 15 June. All sessions will be closed captioned.

To learn more about the NGS 2021 Virtual Family History Conference’s week-long events, 17-21 May, visit the conference and download a copy of the program brochure.