Speaking

Beyond the Jewish Press: Using Local Newspapers to Trace Small-Town Jewish Life

Jewish Genealogy Society of Cleveland (Virtual – August 2025)

When other records are scarce, local newspapers often hold the key to uncovering Jewish history in small towns. In this talk, I shared practical strategies for using general newspaper archives to recover overlooked names, events, and communal milestones—drawing from real examples in my research on Jewish communities across America. 

Vanished but Not Forgotten: The Legacy of Cayuga County’s Jewish Community

Cayuga Museum of History & Art (Auburn, NY – April 2025)

Explored the legacy of Congregation B’nai Israel and Jewish civic life in upstate New York, highlighting figures such as George Michaels and Maurice Schwartz. 

Newark's Jewish Pioneers
Licking County Library (Virtual – November 2024)
Brought Newark’s early Jewish history to life through stories drawn from community records and local press archives.

Celebrating the Jewish History of the Mahoning Valley
Jewish Community Center of Youngstown & Mahoning County Historical Society (Virtual – May 2024)
Delivered a Jewish American Heritage Month lecture highlighting the region’s Jewish history and cultural legacy.

Small Town Jews: Exploring Ohio’s Outlying and Vanished Jewish Communities
Congregation Beth Tikvah (Virtual – February 2024)
Shared the histories of Ohio’s lesser-known Jewish communities and examined the demographic and economic shifts that shaped their trajectories.