Michael Tobias has a BSc Honours in Mathematics and Physics and qualified as a Fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries. He has a Masters Degree in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies from Strathclyde University.

He is co-founder of Jewish Records Indexing – Poland and Vice President, Programming of JewishGen, Inc.

He was Database matching consultant to the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims (ICHEIC). He has contributed to various Journals, Radio and TV Programmes including “Who Do You Think You Are” both in the UK and USA.

His conference presentations include the IAJGS conference since 1996 and he was awarded their “Lifetime Achievement” award in Washington 2011.

“Jewish Immigration into and Trans-Migration through Scotland” (Sun-153), 4:30-5:45 P.M.

The central belt of Scotland formed a well-travelled route for immigrants and trans-migrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries. An analysis of Scottish birth certificates and other public records has shed more light on the origins of Scottish Jewry in the 19th century and those who merely used Scotland as a staging post on their onwards migration.

This lecture will examine the materials available and what they show about WHO the Jewish immigrants, trans-migrants and stage-migrants were, WHERE they came from, WHEN they came to/through Scotland and HOW they travelled here and beyond to their final destinations.

Topics: Immigration and migration over the ages, Specific countries or geographic areas

“JewishGen 2016” (Mon-122), 7:00-8:30 P.M.

Update of what is new at JewishGen.org, and previews of future developments and projects. We’ll review where we’ve been and where we’re going, and outline exciting new directions. There will be demonstrations of our ever-expanding databases, resources, and search tools. We will also announce our Volunteer of the Year award and pay tribute to the Ukraine SIG. [co-presented with Avraham Groll and Warren Blatt]

Topics: Ashkenazic research, Jewish history and culture, Sephardic research