Ep. #214: Curiosity & Genealogy: The Stories We Tell, with Jennifer Mendelsohn
Jan 18, 2024
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Journalist and genealogist Jennifer Mendelsohn discusses storytelling and genealogy, focusing on helping Eastern European Jewish families impacted by the Holocaust reclaim their history. She debunks the myth of name changes at Ellis Island and explores how curiosity can be compared to candlelight, house plants, and a clock in shaping our identity.
Curiosity leads to a deeper understanding of people and situations through thorough exploration.
Genealogy helps reclaim lost stories, reconnect with family, and challenge historical narratives.
Deep dives
Following the information trail
Curiosity is about following the information trail and going beyond surface-level understanding. It involves delving deeper and not stopping short. By going beyond the initial observations and uncovering the details that lead to conclusions, curiosity allows us to gain a more comprehensive understanding of people and situations.
Journalism as an ultimate curiosity exercise
Journalism, especially feature journalism, is a prime example of curiosity in action. Journalists immerse themselves in other people's worlds, telling their stories and moving on to the next set of experiences. This work allows for a deep exploration of what makes people tick, how they live, and what shapes their perspectives - a privilege that satisfies an innate curiosity about the world and others.
Reclaiming narratives through genealogy
Genealogy has the power to reclaim lost stories and disrupt existing master narratives. In the context of the Holocaust and other historical traumas, genealogy can help survivors and their descendants find missing family members, uncover hidden histories, and challenge false narratives. It provides a means for individuals to reconnect with their own stories and rewrite the narratives that define their identities.
Journalist and genealogist Jennifer Mendelsohn helps rediscover and tell stories that might otherwise be lost. She specializes in helping Eastern European Jewish families shattered by the Holocaust reclaim their history. In 2022, she co-founded the DNA Reunion Project at the Center for Jewish History, which seeks to promote DNA testing as a tool for helping Holocaust survivors find family.
Her curiosity practices have deep journalistic roots and she'd be the first to tell you: it's not magic.
Find Jennifer Mendelsohn at The Association of Professional Genealogists: https://www.apgen.org/profiles/jennifer-mendelsohn
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