Genealogical Society of Broward County Monthly Program:
Forgotten and Untranslated Documents
Sunday, December 13
12:00pm - 3:00pm
We can help you with your genealogical research.
About the Event
Schedule:
Computer Research Lab | 12:00pm (In-Person) Explore genealogy resources with hands-on support.
General Meeting & Social | 1:30pm (In-Person) Join us for light refreshments and society updates.
(Registration not required for In-Person. Walk-ins welcome)
Program | 2:00pm (In-Person or Online)
ZOOM registration for online attendees: https://nova.zoom.us/meeting/register/DQ-UK7ilQBqqsVDh10jddQ
Discover Your Family History with Expert Support
We can help you with your genealogical research. Members of the Genealogical Society of Broward County (GSBC) will be on-site to assist you, answer your questions, and help you navigate the many tools available for uncovering your family’s story. It’s a welcoming space to share tips, troubleshoot challenges, and learn how to make the most of online and in library resources. During the Open Lab, you can:
Search the Genealogy Collection through NovaCat and check out physical materials on the 4th floor.
Access NSU databases that support genealogical research.
Sign up for a free NSU Alvin Sherman Library Card—available to anyone who lives, works, or studies in Broward County. Choose a physical card or an e Card.
Topic: Forgotten and Untranslated Documents: A journey of research and unexpected finds.
A Chance Discovery: A hand-colored family tree sent from Poland to America 120 years ago launched David Light on an extraordinary journey connecting generations. Through Ancestry.com, David met a Rabbi in Los Angeles and relatives in Montreal who each possessed versions of the same tree. Neither group knew how to interpret it as it held no meaning until David deciphered it as if it were the Rosetta Stone, revealing generations of family connections.
Preserving the Shtetl of Orla: Returning to Orla, Poland—the shtetl of his family’s origin—David partnered with the town’s mayor to restore its 17th-century synagogue, now recognized among Europe’s “7 Most Endangered Heritage Sites” for 2025.
Rediscovered Voices: Yiddish letters written by his great-great-grandfather surfaced in 1976 but remained untranslated for decades—their ornate script concealing family stories now revealed through AI tools such as ChatGPT.
Legacy and Collaboration: David compiled his findings into a Shutterfly family history book. He also collaborated with renowned genealogist Eli Rabinowitz of Perth, Australia, to create a Kehilalink for Orla, adding digital information to the JewishGen Orla Kehilla website to ensure the community’s history endures.
Speaker: David Light has been a resident of Miami-Dade County for over 51 years where he resides with his wife Lauren. The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Miami (JGSGM) continues to mentor David as his research continues to evolve. His story shows how curiosity, technology, and perseverance can reconnect us to our ancestors and preserve their memories.
As a membership benefit, we are pleased to inform you that this genealogical event will be recorded and made available exclusively to members of GSBC. Additionally, any handout will be uploaded to our website for members to access.
About GSBC
The Genealogical Society of Broward County meets on the first Sunday of every month, except when holidays require schedule adjustments.
Meetings are free and open to the public.
Learn more at www.gsbcfl.org
We are here to help you find your ancestors!
Nova Southeastern University Alvin Sherman Library, Research and Information Technology Center
| Mon, Sep 21 | 7:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Tue, Sep 22 | 7:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Wed, Sep 23 | 7:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Thu, Sep 24 | 7:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Fri, Sep 25 | 7:00AM to 10:00PM |
| Sat, Sep 26 | 7:00AM to 8:00PM |
| Sun, Sep 27 | 10:00AM to 11:00PM |

