Redeeming Jewish Colonial Trust Shares: Was Your Grandparent One of Tens of Thousands of Shareholders (Without You Knowing)?

Genealogy Lecture

Presented‭ ‬in English by Yonatan Kirsch

The Jewish Colonial Trust Limited (JCT), the parent company of the Anglo-Palestine Bank— the predecessor of Bank Leumi — was founded in 1899 by Theodor Herzl as a financial tool for the Zionist Movement. In this presentation, we’ll explore the fascinating history of the JCT and how tens of thousands of shares were ultimately classified as “unclaimed property.”

If you can prove you are an heir to a shareholder whose shares have not been redeemed, or if you possess an unredeemed bearer share certificate, you may be entitled to a cash payout. We will describe how the Guardian General’s office conducts genealogical research to locate heirs (with some great stories!), demonstrate how you can search for shareholder names online, and outline the process for submitting a redemption request.

Jonathan Kirsch is a qualified lawyer from the UK, currently heading the Department for the Location of Property Owners and Transfer of Unclaimed Assets to the State at the Office of the Guardian General of Israel. Jonathan and his wife, Gina, made aliyah in 1990, settling in Beit Shemesh in 1993, where they raised their children. Jonathan frequently lectures on the fascinating cases his office handles, utilizing genealogical research tools to trace the owners or heirs of unclaimed property in Israel.

19:00 Mingling and light refreshments
19:30 – 21:00 Lecture

Entrance fee NIS 20. IGRA members no charge
The lecture will not be broadcasted on Zoom
A recording will be available on the internet site at a later time for IGRA members.

To register send an email to [email protected].il