Schelly Talalay Dardashti Speaker on Sephardi and Conversos Research

The JGS of the Conejo Valley and Ventura County (JGSCV)– California, (USA) will hold a meeting on Sunday, June 6, 2010 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Program: Current Trends and Recent Discoveries in Sephardi and Converso/Bnai Anousim* Research

In addition to discussing the current trends and recent discoveries in Sephardic Judaism, the program will also include a discussion of the current state of Hispanics with Jewish roots (Conversos) in several Southwestern states. Sometimes termed «hidden Jews,» these very private and secretive families rarely talk to researchers.

Speaker: Schelly Talalay Dardashti, is a journalist, a top-10 genealogy blogger (Tracing the Tribe: The Jewish Genealogy Blog http://tracingthetribe.blogspot.com), online genealogy instructor and international speaker. A native New Yorker now based in Tel Aviv her personal and professional interests cover Ashkenazi, Sephardi and DNA genetic genealogy as well as Spain, Iran, Belarus, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia and more.

*Converso/Bnai Anousim: Bnai Anousim is the Hebrew term; Converso the Spanish term for Jews who were forced to convert to Catholicism due to the Spanish Inquisition in the 15th Century.

The Jewish Genealogical Society of the Conejo Valley and Ventura County is dedicated to sharing genealogical information, techniques and research tools with anyone interested in Jewish genealogy and family history.

There will be a schmoozing session starting 15 minutes before the meeting, facilitated by JGSCV founding member and board member Debra Kay Blatt –come and talk on your successes or problems.

Our monthly book report will be given by JGSCV board member and membership VP Helene Rosen on Harry Bernstein’s biographies:

The Invisible Wall and The Dream.

Our rotating traveling library will have Categories A and C. To see which books are listed under which category, please go to our website, www.JGSCV.org and look under traveling library. The books are available

starting 30 minutes before the program to shortly after the program.

The meeting is open to all and there is no charge. The meeting is co-sponsored with and held at Temple Adat Elohim, Thousand Oaks, CA For more information including directions to the meeting, see our website for directions and more information: www.jgscv.org