The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) was created in the late 1980s to advance our genealogical avocation, to provide a common voice for issues of significance to its members, and to ensure an annual Jewish Genealogy Conference. Approximately 75 Jewish Genealogical Societies (JGSs) and Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are members of the IAJGS. Member societies are located in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States and Venezuela. IAJGS is led by an 11-person board of directors elected by the membership.

Key activities of the IAJGS include:

• Presenting the annual Achievement Awards: Lifetime Achievement; Outstanding Contribution to Jewish Genealogy via the Internet, Print, or Electronic Product; Outstanding Programming or Project that Advances the Objectives of Jewish Genealogy; and Outstanding Publication by a Member Organization of IAJGS.
• Awarding a monetary grant to institutions to encourage the creation of new resources for Jewish genealogists. This grant honors the late Rabbi Malcolm Stern, who provided unique leadership in the establishment of modern Jewish genealogy.
• Maintaining a website with information on IAJGS member societies, legislative alerts, past and future conference information, Chat Room with periodic scheduled Chats for IAJGS Leadership, a link to the IAJGS Cemetery Project that includes a growing catalogue of Jewish cemeteries worldwide, a calendar of programs being held by our member organizations, and more.
• Issuing various publications of value to the overall Jewish genealogical community. These include a How to Create a JGS in Your Hometown, a JGS brochure template, a conference manual and the Jewish Genealogical Yearbook.
• Ensuring that there is an annual International Conference on Jewish Genealogy.
• Coordinating efforts to ensure continued availability of governmental records worldwide through its Public Records Access Monitoring Committee (PRAMC).
• Maintaining an ongoing agreement with the Jewish Community Library of Los Angeles to make its film library available to IAJGS member organizations at no cost.
• Sponsoring Jewish Genealogy Month with a poster competition.
• Enhancing Jewish genealogical professionalism by providing ethical guidance.
• Providing access to non-profit status and to pre-arranged liability insurance for its US-based member organizations.

The IAJGS is a non-profit organization.

To learn more about the IAJGS, please visit our website at www.IAJGS.org.