Researching ancestry affected by the Holocaust

Join the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) for a program featuring a presentation by Mitchell Bloomer of The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida on April 7 from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. at the Maitland Public Library, located at 501 South Maitland Ave., Maitland. The program is open to the public and admission is free.

Millions of people were killed, and millions more suffered unbelievable horrors and persecution in The Holocaust. To help us learn more about this dark time in human history, Mitchell Bloomer, resource teacher for The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida will bring his years of researching and teaching this subject to the JGSGO at our April 7 meeting. He will also explain how one can research ancestors who were impacted by the Holocaust.

The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center is located on the JCC campus in Maitland. Its mission statement says the HMREC is "... dedicated to combating anti-Semitism, racism and prejudice with the ultimate goal of developing a moral and just community through its extensive outreach of educational and cultural programs. Using the lessons of the Holocaust as a tool, the Center teaches the principles of good citizenship to thousands of people of all ages, religions and backgrounds each year

Bloomer has been an Orange County Public Schools teacher for 30 years. He is the main educator for OCPS and the HMREC for Holocaust education. He has given classes on the Holocaust for 20 years.

Prior to the program, starting at 6:30 p.m., there will be time for newcomers to network and to receive free consulting assistance or mentoring from a Jewish genealogy maven.

JGSGO is a nonprofit organization founded in 1990 to share genealogical information, techniques and research tools with those interested in Jewish genealogy and family history. Anyone may join JGSGO. Annual dues are $35 for an individual and $40 for a family. For more information "like" them at http://www.facebook.com/jgsgreaterorlando or call 407-494-4230 or visit the JGSGO blog at http://www.jgsgo.blogspot.com.