There will be 2 lectures and an optional lunch, starting at 11 AM at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton Centre, MA

Bennett Greenspan, president and founder of FamilyTreeDNA, will give two presentations on the use of DNA for Jewish genealogy research.

11:00 am Understanding, Interpreting, and Using DNA Results
Greenspan will discuss the three different types of DNA tests—Y, Mitochondrial, and Autosomal—including what results look like, what they mean, and what to do next once results are received. He will explain what is typical for a Jewish person to see, what is not, and what the “typical” result for an Ashkenazi or Sephardi Jew will usually look like.

Lunch 12:30 pm
Please note: the Temple does not permit people to bring their own food from outside.

1:30 pm Haplogroups: What are They and What They Mean for Jews
DNA testing also tells us what haplogroup—the branch of the tree of mankind on which one descends—we each belong to. As romantic as it is to presume that all our ancestors stood at Mt. Sinai, in truth only some of our ancestors were Jews 3200 years ago. Our haplogroup can tell us about our most distant ancestors and even give us an idea of when our ancestors became Jews. It may also give us clues as to where our ancestors joined the Jewish people. The lecture will deal primarily with Ashkenazim, both males and females.

Ask the Experts will meet from 12:30-1:20.

The Bessarabia SIG will meet from 12:30-1:20.  Contact kogan@jgsgb.org

The Poland SIG will meet from 12:30-1:20.   Contact gordon@jgsgb.org

The Litvak/Baltic SIG will meet from 12:30-1:20.   Contact joelrat1@hotmail.com