My grandmother Marlene (known by all as Moen) and I have travelled to the Latvian capital to trace our family roots. I, like Moen, was born in Johannesburg, but our family originally hails from eastern Europe. Three months ago, I took a DNA test through MyHeritage, an online genealogy company, that opened a can of worms. Although I knew my Ashkenazi Jewish family had its origins in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, I had always been unable to uncover any real details beyond anecdotes. Family resemblance: Vera Trembatzki, Erin's great-grandmother, grew up in RigaAs we explore the intricate items on display, Moen becomes increasingly excited.

Source: Daily Mail February 22, 2026 19:34 UTC