Jennifer Shoer
Professional genealogist. Passionate about uncovering your family's Jewish origin story.
Reconnecting Relatives, LLC
Managing Genealogist
Helping individuals and families reconnect with their roots, find their lost relatives, and tell their stories.
I created Reconnecting Relatives®, LLC, to help clients trace their Jewish and Eastern European families back to their old countries. My genetic (DNA) and forensic genealogical research experience enables me to find relatives believed lost in the Holocaust, identify their relationships with the client, and trace connections to common ancestors and places.
My family's immigration stories are rooted in Jewish shtetls in the Russian Empire, Presbyterian parishes in Northern Ireland, Catholic parishes in Ireland, and Evangelical Lutheran parishes in Russian Poland. All immigrant stories matter. Our ancestors bravely or desperately left or were forced from their homes and created new lives in new countries. Contact me to help you learn about and share your family's immigration story.
My personal story began in an American military hospital in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, where I was born. I spent my first years in nearby Butzbach, where my Roma German nanny taught me German, likely leading to my lifelong love of languages. I have studied German, French, Latin, Japanese, Hebrew, and Russian. Through my active membership in the Association of Professional Genealogists, I have an extensive network of colleagues throughout the genealogy industry with whom I collaborate to best tell your family's story.
I created Reconnecting Relatives®, LLC, to help clients trace their Jewish and Eastern European families back to their old countries. My genetic (DNA) and forensic genealogical research experience enables me to find relatives believed lost in the Holocaust, identify their relationships with the client, and trace connections to common ancestors and places.
My family's immigration stories are rooted in Jewish shtetls in the Russian Empire, Presbyterian parishes in Northern Ireland, Catholic parishes in Ireland, and Evangelical Lutheran parishes in Russian Poland. All immigrant stories matter. Our ancestors bravely or desperately left or were forced from their homes and created new lives in new countries. Contact me to help you learn about and share your family's immigration story.
My personal story began in an American military hospital in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, where I was born. I spent my first years in nearby Butzbach, where my Roma German nanny taught me German, likely leading to my lifelong love of languages. I have studied German, French, Latin, Japanese, Hebrew, and Russian. Through my active membership in the Association of Professional Genealogists, I have an extensive network of colleagues throughout the genealogy industry with whom I collaborate to best tell your family's story.
Additional specialities or search keywords
Jewish Russian Hebrew Immigration Migration Naturalization Passenger
Jewish Russian Hebrew Immigration Migration Naturalization Passenger
Publications/Media
Two Gold Rings: The Story of Jack Shirman and His Ancestry," Jenifer Kahn Bakkala, Jennifer Shoer, June 18, 2022.
Two Gold Rings: The Story of Jack Shirman and His Ancestry," Jenifer Kahn Bakkala, Jennifer Shoer, June 18, 2022.
Lectures
Latest and Greatest in DNA Tools
From the Shtetl to the 21st Century
Telling Your Family's Immigration Story
The Jewish Name Game: Using First Name Variants to Find the Records
Forget the Name - Find the Place
Locating Your Ancestor's Place of Origin
Re-Start Your Genealogy
Genealogy Hopscotch
Free Online Tools and Resources
Latest and Greatest in DNA Tools
From the Shtetl to the 21st Century
Telling Your Family's Immigration Story
The Jewish Name Game: Using First Name Variants to Find the Records
Forget the Name - Find the Place
Locating Your Ancestor's Place of Origin
Re-Start Your Genealogy
Genealogy Hopscotch
Free Online Tools and Resources
Certificates
Certificate in Genealogical Research (Boston University) 2009
ProGen 2020
Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020
SLIG Virtual 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh 2019
Virtual 2020, 2021
Excelsior College - Advanced Genealogical Research 2018
Forensic Genealogy Institute 2014
Certificate in Genealogical Research (Boston University) 2009
ProGen 2020
Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020
SLIG Virtual 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh 2019
Virtual 2020, 2021
Excelsior College - Advanced Genealogical Research 2018
Forensic Genealogy Institute 2014
Affiliations
APG - Association of Professional Genealogists
NEAPG - New England Chapter of APG
Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston
National Genealogical Society
APG - Association of Professional Genealogists
NEAPG - New England Chapter of APG
Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston
National Genealogical Society
Degrees
Bachelor of Arts, Russian (University of New Hampshire)
Bachelor of Arts, Russian (University of New Hampshire)