JGS of Greater Boston presents Harold Rhode, “A Litvak Traces his Roots to Sicily and Ancient Israel Using Y-DNA” and “Adventures in Baghdad 2003: Discovering Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi Jewish Archives.”
Forty-five years of painstaking research allowed Harold Rhode to trace his family back 2,000 years to Eretz Yisrael. Rhode relied on Y-DNA analysis, documentary evidence, interviews, and family lore to discover ancestral homes in Lithuania and Sicily. He found a DNA connection to Maronite Christians in Lebanon who have family traditions that makes a plausible case for his family’s Jewish origins in ancient Israel.
Spotlight Talk: Adventures in Baghdad 2003: Discovering Sadam Hussein’s Iraqi Jewish Archives
During the U.S. led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Iraqi Jewish archives were discovered in the Baghdad headquarters of Saddam Hussein’s secret police. Hear Harold Rhode’s first-hand account of this discovery and rescue by U.S. armed forces, and the controversy over the future of this rare collection.
Harold Rhode worked as an analyst and advisor on the Islamic world at the Pentagon for 28 years in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. He has been researching his Litvak roots even longer! Rhode has written many articles and given many lectures combining DNA research, archival material and family lore. He has been active in the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Washington since 1982, and served as its President twice. Rhode has a Ph.D from Columbia University in Islamic History.
Admission is free for members, $5 for non-members.
Refreshments will be served.
Special Membership Offer. All first-time members who join this fall will get 14 months for the basic $25 annual membership fee. More info
Special Interest Group (SIG) Meetings (Members Only)
Pre-lecture: 12:30 pm Belarus and Ukraine SIGs
Post-lecture: Approx. 4:00 pm Poland and Litvak-Baltic SIGs
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston (JGSGB) is dedicated to helping people discover and research their Jewish family history. JGSGB welcomes beginners and has expert members with a broad range of skills in various research techniques who are happy to help others.
For information on programs and events, special interest groups, expert help, resources and membership go to jgsgb.org.
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385 Ward St
Newton, MA 02459
$5.00 non-member
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