World’s First Jewish-Themed Genealogy TV Series to Debut this Fall

The Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, JewishGen, and JLTV are partnering to produce Generations, the first Jewish-themed genealogy television series that will use the vast digital resources of JewishGen, the historical resources of the Museum of Jewish Heritage, and the production resources of JLTV to unravel centuries-old family histories.

The groundbreaking series – planned to pilot in fall 2023 - will uncover and explore each featured luminary’s family tree, delve into where their ancestors lived, and reveal artifacts, objects, documents, and photographs that paint a full family portrait. Guests, including prominent Jewish celebrities and dignitaries, will be announced at a later date.

Generations will be anchored by Brad Pomerance, host of award-winning television programs such as Air Land & Sea on JLTV, Uncovered in the Archives on KVCR in Southern California, and formerly Local Edition on HLN. Brad has received several awards for his work from the American Psychological Association’s Society of Media Psychology, Los Angeles Press Club, Religion Communicators Council, Religion News Association (1st Place, Outstanding Religion Documentary, 2021), Society of American Archivists, and Telly Awards.

“We look forward to partnering with JewishGen and JLTV, two pillars in the Jewish community, to bring this show to life. We hope this new series will provide moments of discovery to those we feature, and to broader audiences, where they will learn more about their ancestry and how to access the resources available. To better know who we are, we need to know where we came from. These personal stories will also provide opportunities to learn about many important moments and movements in Jewish history,” said Jack Kliger, President and CEO of The Museum of Jewish Heritage.

“Helping people retrace their family history and strengthening their sense of Jewish identity aligns perfectly with JewishGen’s mission of being the global home for Jewish genealogy. This partnership is an ideal path to learn, to discover, and to grow, all while demonstrating how people can utilize our unique collection of records, and unparalleled historical and community focused resources on their own. It will demonstrate that Jewish Genealogy is accessible for anyone with a desire to gain a deeper understanding of their Jewish roots, no matter their level of familiarity or expertise,” said Avraham Groll, Executive Director of JewishGen.

“Knowing one’s family history helps us to better understand ourselves and where we came from. It is an honor to partner with JewishGen and the Museum of Jewish Heritage to launch this new series,” said Brad Pomerance, Host of Generations. “We can’t wait for our viewers to watch Generations.”

The announcement comes as the Museum of Jewish Heritage cements plans to establish the Peter and Mary Kalikow Jewish Genealogy Research Center, where visitors can access the Jewish genealogy resources within JewishGen and the Museum’s respective collections to discover more about their Jewish history.

The space will contain computer stations where people can access JewishGen’s genealogy resources and vast collection of records and data. It will have printers for visitors to bring their research home, and it will contain hundreds of Yizkor (Memorial) Books and print materials. There also will be on-site volunteers and content experts to assist people.

About JLTV

Jewish Life Television (JLTV) is North America’s premier 24-7, Jewish-themed, English language television network. JLTV provides high-quality, Jewish-inspired programming for audiences of all faiths who share an interest in the Jewish experience in North America, Israel, and around the entire world. JLTV is available in nearly 50 million homes through the largest video providers in North America, including Bell Fibe, Charter, Comcast, Cox, DirectTV, and more. Over four million households watch JLTV every month. For more information, visit https://www.jltv.tv.

About JewishGen

JewishGen was founded in 1987 and serves as the global home for Jewish genealogy. Featuring unparalleled access to more than 30 million records, it offers unique search tools, along with opportunities for researchers to connect with others who share similar interests. There is no charge to access JewishGen’s resources. JewishGen is an affiliate of the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. For more information, visit www.jewishgen.org.

About the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust

The Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is committed to the crucial mission of educating diverse visitors and community members about Jewish life and heritage before, during, and after the Holocaust. The third-largest Holocaust museum in the world, the Museum of Jewish Heritage anchors the southernmost tip of Manhattan, completing the cultural and educational landscape it shares with the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

The Museum of Jewish Heritage maintains a Collection of almost 40,000 artifacts, photographs, documentary films, and survivor testimonies and contains classrooms, a 375-seat theater (Edmond J. Safra Hall), special exhibition galleries, a resource center for educators, and a memorial art installation, Garden of Stones, designed by internationally acclaimed sculptor Andy Goldsworthy.

The Museum’s current offerings include The Holocaust: What Hate Can Do, a major new exhibition offering a timely and expansive presentation of Holocaust history, on view in the main galleries. Also on view is Survivors: Faces of Life After the Holocaust, featuring photographer Martin Schoeller’s portraits of Holocaust survivors on view in the Rita Lowenstein Gallery. Opening this fall is the Museum’s first exhibition for visitors aged 9 and up, Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark, which will bring the lessons of the Holocaust to life through the remarkable story of Danish collective resistance during World War II.

Each year, the Museum presents over 75 public programs, connecting our community in person and virtually through lectures, book talks, concerts, and more. For more info visit: http://mjhnyc.org/events. Museum receives general operating support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and New York State Council on the Arts.

For more information, visit: https://mjhnyc.org