We are writing to announce that the Call for Proposals for the 2025  IAJGS conference is now open. For full details please visit the Abstract Submissions using this link.

Be sure to note that the deadline for submission is Thursday, February 6,  2025 at 11:59 pm (Central Standard Time)

Some details (subject to change) are provided below. For the most current information, please visit the conference website at www.iagjs2025.org                                           

Themes

Every genealogy conference seeks to educate and inspire all who attend to expand their knowledge and their skills. “And We Settled Here…The Jewish Journey” is the unique goal of the 2025 Conference seeking to investigate the Jewish journey through different lands, time, and heritage. Based on this concept, we suggest our speakers consider the following themes:

• Journeys to the Midwest and Beyond Theme: How did we get here? How did our ancestors get there? What made people migrate? Did they settle in the Midwest? Were they pioneer Jews? Did they escape Europe or Arab lands? And how did they end up at their destination of all places? Whether our ancestors settled in Indiana, migrated from India, or signed Israel’s Declaration of Independence, these moving sessions will cover indispensable aspects of genealogy.

• Wide World of Experience Theme: Jews are a diverse people. Sephardim, Mizrahi, Iraqi, Persian, Yemeni, and Asian are just some of the many identities and ethnicities that we carry. Sessions in this category seek to explore that diversity and genealogy.

• Citizenship Theme: Wherever they lived, what did citizenship mean in terms of rights, privileges, and obligations and how did our ancestors obtain citizenship? In today’s nations, whether it is for nostalgia, jobs, or personal safety, what is the documentation we might need to obtain citizenship? These sessions will help unpack the facts and fiction of becoming a citizen in various nations then and now.

• Cultural Heritage Theme: Everyone has a story and genealogy provides a framework for understanding our family stories. Sharing the broad human and cultural dimensions of our family history engages us and those around us. For many, this might link us to the Shoah as 2G or 3G descendants, or for others, to triumphs or other tragedies.

•  Methodology and Archives Theme: Methodology consists of using best practices for developing, conducting, implementing, and evaluating effective and successful research. Often the nuts and bolts require in-person and remote mining of the vast data archives available at small and large public and private archives around the world. These presentations will cover the development of a methodology, as well as accessing latest resources available to the genealogical research community and often lesser-known databases to address genealogical questions.

• Tools and Technology Theme: Employing tools such as innovative photography analysis, genetics, AI, or other innovative tools enhances the next steps of genealogical research by using advanced computer technology. Tools and technology that were unavailable years ago but are now entering regular usage are the core of these sessions.

• Fundamentals Theme: For those who consider themselves new to Jewish genealogy, have never attended an IAJGS conference, or just feel a need to step up their skills in basic areas, these lectures offer guidance and a path to begin research.

The 2025 Program also offers an innovative way to share family and personal stories:

Family Journeys Showcase*: This concept invites speakers to share a specific family story or journey. In these concise sessions, a dedicated space will be filled with multiple tables or stations presenting 15-minute family stories with 5 minutes for Q&A. Attendees will be invited to circulate among the Journeys Showcase throughout the day. Speakers will be assigned specific time blocks to share their story.   *No speaker compensations or subsidies will be provided for these showcase sessions

Types of Sessions

• Presentations will be scheduled for 45 minutes of lecture, followed by 15 minutes of questions and answers, for a total presentation time of 60 minutes.

• Panels that group speakers with varying views on a shared topic are encouraged by the Program Committee. They are typically scheduled for the same time slots as sessions but may be longer. A panel proposal should be submitted by the main presenter or moderator. When you are prompted to “Review the Submission”, there will be an icon to “Add an Additional Presenter”, which allows the additional presenters to be attached to the proposal.

• Computer Labs/Workshop (hands-on) will be 1½ hours in length and limited to approximately 20 paying participants.

• Family Journeys will be limited to 15-minute family stories with 5 minutes for Q&A.

Speaker Compensation

Speakers may submit up to 4 proposals. It is not a reflection on the quality of your proposal if we do not accept all or any of your proposals. We greatly appreciate your willingness to share your expertise and knowledge. We generally receive about four times as many proposals as we can accept. Speaker financial compensation is based on the number of approved presentations. All Speaker Compensation is provided for only the primary speaker in any presentation, panel, or computer lab. Please go to the Abstract Submissions to see the details of compensation.