Ongoing for well over ten years, bringing in locally and nationally known speakers on subjects of interest to the Dallas Jewish community, our Annual Lecture Series has been designed to bring information and awareness of aspects of Jewish and Southern history and culture. In 2019 we renamed our series to honor Jim Schwartz z”l the 2012-2016 president of the Dallas Jewish Historical Society.Jim’s community interests were many, but he will be remembered most for his work with the Dallas Jewish Historical Society. A strong leader, Jim Schwartz is remembered for the remarkable strides made at the Dallas Jewish Historical Society during his four year tenure as President: maintaining strong fiscal responsibility, offering meaningful and successful programs and fundraising events, and being instrumental in moving the organization forward in delivering full archival digitization. Best known for his warmth and “menschlekiet,” as well as his dedication to the growth of the Dallas Jewish Historical Society, we are thrilled to have this opportunity to honor him with this annual series of lectures.
Upcoming Lectures
Lectures are free to attend, however registration is required.
The Cultural Phenomenon of Home DNA Testing
with Libby Copeland
The presentation will explore the extraordinary cultural phenomenon of home DNA testing, which is redefining family history. It will draw on Libby Copeland’s years of research for her book The Lost Family: How DNA Testing is Upending Who We Are (Abrams, 2020), which The Wall Street Journal calls “a fascinating account of lives dramatically affected by genetic sleuthing.” With close to 40 million people having been tested, a tipping point has been reached. Virtually all Americans are affected whether they have been tested or not, and millions have been impacted by significant revelations in their immediate families. The presentation will discuss the implications of home DNA testing for Jewish genealogy, as well as the unique challenges of genetic genealogy for Ashkenazim.
Libby Copeland is an award-winning journalist and author who writes from New York about culture and science. As a freelance journalist, she writes for such media outlets as The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Atlantic and Smithsonian Magazine. Her book, The Lost Family: How DNA Testing is Upending Who We Are, published by Abrams in 2020, explores the rapidly evolving phenomenon of home DNA testing, its implications for how we think about family and ourselves, and its ramifications for American culture broadly.
The Wall Street Journal says it’s “a fascinating account of lives dramatically affected by genetic sleuthing.” The New York Times writes, “Before You Spit in That Vial, Read This Book.” The Washington Post says The Lost Family “reads like an Agatha Christie mystery” and “wrestles with some of the biggest questions in life: Who are we? What is family? Are we defined by nature, nurture or both?” It was named to The Guardian’s list of The Best Books of 2020.
The Jim Schwartz Annual Lecture Series presents
DJHS 2023 Annual Meeting & Lecture
TALKING DFW SPORTS: A Jewish Sports Panel Discussion with Mark Elfenbein