|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 and the Hebrew LanguageSee also my 'Language' page Israel's population ...rose in the year 2001 to an estimated 6.7 million people, according to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics. Of these, 5.4 million are Jews and 1.3 million are Arabs. The present population consists of many who were born in other countries. Third generation Israelis make up 29% of its citizens with Ashkenazim in the majority - 41%, primarily because of the large immigration from the former Soviet Union; Sephardim, 16 percent. Over 78,000 Ethiopian Jews have been transported to Israel. Over 45% of the adult Ethiopian Jews now living in Israel are unemployed. Three million people have immigrated to Israel since 1948. Israel will become the world's biggest Jewish community in the year 2006, a recent study by the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute announced. Further, by 2020, only 46 percent of Jews will have been born in Israel or chosen to move there, up from the present figure of around 40 percent. Israel's Jewish population grew 1.5% (80,000) in 2007 while the number of Jews in the Diaspora declined 0.2% (20,000). Forty one percent of Jews live in Israel. Barring major migration changes, Israel's Jewish population will over-take North America's in size in the next 10 or so years. While haredi women give birth to an average 4.7 children, significantly upping population figures, non-haredi Israeli women also record a higher birthrate than Jews in other Western countries, 2.7 versus 1.1 in the Diaspora. The Tel-Aviv area, including Givatayim, Ramat Gan, Bat Yam and Bnei Brak has 2,621 people per square mile, the highest concentration in the country. However, Jerusalem is the larges city with a population of 670,000 with less than a third of that being Arabs. In 1991 alone, 15,000 Jews were airlifted out of the
Ethiopian capitol of Addis Ababa. You can read more about
Ethiopian Jews at my
Source: Newsweek Magazine April 1, 2002, Page 38 Israel holds a wealth of information available to the Jewish genealogical More and more, records are being computer processed and in the near future, many of the lost records will be available to the hundreds of thousands of Jews who are searching so reverently for a trace of their relatives. These sites could be the medina for many. Interesting for all! One of these sites that I found, but haven't explored in-depth yet, is at This is the Table of Contents site where you will find links to Israel information by category: To 1881 which includes "The Pale of Settlement and the pogroms of 1881 in Russia"; 1882 to 1903; 1904-1914; 1915-1918; 1919-1921
Visit Israel in Just
Seconds
Windows on the Wall
"A Guide to Jewish Genealogical Research in Israel" - authored by Sallyann Amdur Sack - Buy from Amazon.com "The Chase is the Game: The Journeys of an American-Israeli Pioneer" - authored by Saadia Gelb. Gelb rose to international prominence as the founder of Habonim, the Labor Zionist youth group and went on to become a key figure in the shaping of the State of Israel. Not that it makes much difference, but Saadia's late sister, Vivian and I went to school together and their father was one of my Hebrew teachers back in Minneapolis. The book was published by M. Dworkin and Co./Jewish Contemporary Classics, Inc. and is a 219 page paperback. $16.95 Eretz - the geographic magazine from Israel http://www.eretz.com/eretzmag/e_cntact.htm "Treasures of Jewish Galicia from the Museum of Ethnography and Crafts in L'viv, Ukraine", a catalog of the exhibit at Beth Ha'tefutsorth in 1994-5. Edited by Sarah Harel Hoshen, the catalog was published in soft cover in 1996.
Israeli Wishes - on-line library for books written in Hebrew. Here you check out books, read them and then return them http://www.israeliwishes.com/_private/library/index.htm Rubin Mass Ltd. - is an exporter of all books and periodicals published in Israel. They have published more than 1,500 books, and are distributors of books and periodicals for several academic and governmental institutions. They also distribute the publications of Yad Vashem - the Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority and the maps and guides of Carta's - the Israel Map and Publishing Company. E-mail rmass@inter.net.il
General Global Gazetteer is a great web site. It is a directory of 2,880,532 of the world's cities and towns, sorted by country and linked to a map for each town. A tab separated list is available for each country. History of the Middle East - this is not a comprehensive history, but it is a factual presentation that provides a brief summary for those who don't have the time to go into the deeper details of the conflict. History in a Nutshell & Imagine were created by Udi Ohana. Scroll down to the bottom of the page Alumni Reunions - HNOH (Hebrew National Orphan Home) has a page devoted to Jewish Orphanages in the US - There are extensive lists of links too. Andres Forces - Jewish soldiers who were in Iraq during 1942-43. Information about and between members of this group and the Jews of Iraq who befriended them is at Anti-Semitism – although politics rarely enter into a genealogy discussion, or onto my web site, The Pipeline of Hatred, like those that have preceded it and other material of interest, can be accessed from this info page, at: http://www.conceptwizard.com/info.html Archives Archives - Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People - in Jerusalem Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People (Telephone: 972-2 658 4258, 972-2 658 4259 and 972-2 658 4261) - has an excellent collections of Jewish records from Poland, Germany and much more in the nearby Sprinzak buildings Central Zionist Archives at: cza@jazo.org.il http://www.zionistarchives.org.il/ZA/pMain.aspx
Jewish National and University Library - located at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is forming a new facility, the International Institute of Jewish Genealogy. The genealogists working on this in this international research center will be working cooperatively with existing facilities such as JewishGen, Yad Vashem, the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People and the New York-based Center for Jewish History. State Archives - in Jerusalem http://www.rakia.com/institutions/archives/israel1.asp World Zionist Organization - The Central Zionist Archives - official repository of the Zionist Movement, the CZA is the largest Jewish Archives in the world holding over 80 million documents, a large photo collection and unique collections of printed material, maps, stamps and posters; in Jerusalem Atlit - a British military camp located six miles south of Haifa, where they held tens of thousands of illegal immigrants in the 1940s. As the illegals entered the camp, which was surrounded by a triple fence of barbed wire, and armed guards in watchtowers, the men were sent to one side and the women to the other. They were then sprayed with DDT and told to undress and enter the showers. Terrified, they were certain they had escaped death in Europe only to find it in Palestine. A database containing the names and photos of the illegal immigrants and those who helped bring them is open to the public from Sunday through Thursday 9 to 5. Friday and holiday evenings 9 to 1 and Saturday and Holidays from 10 to 3. English tours are available by appointment 984 1980. Babylonian Jewish Heritage Center, 83 Mordechai Ben Porat Avenue, Or Yehuda, Israel. Dr. Zvi Yehuda, director of the Babylonian Jewish Heritage Center; Mr. Mordechai Ben Porat, Chairman of the Babylonian Jewish Heritage Center Bar Ilan University - e-mail: barilan@mail.biu.ac.il Ben Gurion University of the Negev -
Beth
Hatefutsoth
- The Nahum Goldman Museum of the Jewish Diaspora has a
genealogy database
Museum Shop - offers Jewish Genealogy Software, Exhibition Catalogues/Books and more on-line Bureau of Missing Persons, The Jewish Agency PO Box 92, Jerusalem, Israel. Contact: The KKL list contains the names of missing persons from the World War II period whose property Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) administers
Caesarea Built by King Herod the Great in the first century BC. It is located about halfway between Tel Aviv and Haifa. It dates from the fifth or fourth centuries B.C.E. and was first named Strato's Tower, probably after its founder, a Phoenician ruler. Alexander Yannai captured it soon after he became king of Judea in 103 B.C.E. and it remained part of the Hasmonean kingdom for nearly 40 years, until the Romans declared it an autonomous city. There is an informative article, written by Esther Hecht in the May 2008 issue of Hadassah Magazine about Caesarea where much of the information about this city was obtained with permission from the Editor. It was to become the largest port in the ancient world and an amazing feat of engineering - using a Roman invented cement that hardened in water. About 50% of the population were Jews and though under Roman rule, Herod allowed mikves in the Roman bathhouses he introduced into the region under his rule. It remained the capital of Palestine through the Roman and Byzantine periods. After the Jewish revolt against Rome (66-70 C.E. in which 20,000 Jews in Caesarea were killed) the city became the most important city in the province. The Jewish community dwindled and until the third century, when Jews were farmers, textile manufactures and traders. By 1170, only 20 Jews lived in the city. The Crusaders held Caesarea from 1218 to 1265. In 1265, the Mameluke conqueror Baybars destroyed the city and it remained in ruins until 1884 when Bosnian Muslim refugees established a fishing village there. At the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th, Baron Edmond de Rothschild and the Jewish Colonization Association bought large tracts in the area. After 1948, the Rothschilds transferred the land to the state. There are two synagogues in the area: one is on Rothschild Boulevard opposite a small commercial enter and the newer one, a circular beige building with an ultramodern interior, is on Shemesh Street. For information, call Rabbi Kaplan 972 57 426 5104. "King Herod's Dream: Caesarea on the Sea" - (W. W. Norton) Kenneth Holum and others tells the history of the city through archaeologists' eyes. Census of Ottoman Controlled Eretz Yisrael of 1839 CE (Montefiore) for the following cities:
Acre "Does anyone have access to this Montefiore census of the Jews in Jerusalem of 1916?" Translating of the 1922-3 census of Tel Aviv from Hebrew to English is in thw works. If you are interested in volunteering please contact The Central Archives For The Jewish People Located at the Hebrew University in Ramat Gan. It is in the basement of the Sprinzak Building on the old Givat Ram campus. The Archives was founded in 1938, and reorganized in 1969. The Archive has already assembled, and is preserving, millions of documents, both originals and microfilms, reflecting Jewish history in scattered lands, including housing the records of Jewish Colonization Association from Argentina. Six million frames of microfilm and an index of existing archives in Russia provide only a small indication of the scope of the Archive's collection, which continues to increase daily. The Director is Hadassah Assouline, who was formerly of New York. The Central Archives in Jerusalem, is holds 3 lists of Births, Marriages and Deaths for Schnlanke for 1817-1847 and Birth, Marriage and Death lists for Tirschtiegel for 1848. Marriage Records Before May 1948 are to be found in the Rabanut offices in each locality. One has to know the exact date, at least the year.
The Central Zionist Archives is the official historical archives of the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Agency, the Jewish National Fund, Keren Hayesod and the World Jewish Congress. It also holds the personal papers of individuals involved in the Zionist movement or active in Palestine/Israel. Chevra Kadisha - located in
Jerusalem. There are at least two: one for the Litvaks (Lithuanian Jews aka Chevra Kadisha of the Prushim on Rechov Pines) Telephone: +972-2-538-4144 and one for the Galitzianers (Chasidim) The vast majority of Litvaks used the General Hevra Kadish of the Ashkenazi Community; the
Perushim (the name used to describe the students of the Gaon of Vilna who settled in Eretz Yisrael in the beginning of the 19th century). It was founded in 1856 and a good portion of the records are computerized. Contact at the later Society is Natan Torem, an Englishman. List of Chevra Kadisha Societies in Israel in English The Hevrot Kadish of Jerusalem are divided along ethnic lines and a list follows: Habad - Ein Ya'akov 13, Phone 627 3498 Hevre Kadisha of the Hasidim - Mahabit 17, Phone 538 4518 Hevre Kadisha of the Kurdish Community - Beit Ya'akov 11, Phone 623 4797 Hevre Kadisha of the Moroccan Community - Mesilsat Yesharim 1, Phone 625 5504 Hevre Kadisha of the Persian Community - David Yellin 38, Phone 538 4589 Kehillot Yerushalayim - Elyashar 1, Phone 625 2281 United Hevre Kadisha of the Sefardic & Oriental Communities, Havatzelet 12A, Phones 625 4371, 622 1073; Fax 623 1827 Counselor Records Database - U.S. Dept of State, Jerusalem, Jaffa and Haifa Consular Post Records Database includes more than 9,000 entries, and was compiled from U.S. National Archives RG 84 (Record Group) Foreign Service Post Records of the U.S. Department of State for Consular Posts: Jerusalem (1857-1935), Jaffa (1867-1917), and Haifa (1872-1917) Credit Records - Israelis' credit histories will be recorded for the first time as of August, 2004. All Israelis will begin building a credit history. Until the Credit Law was passed, it was considered a violation of privacy to provide credit records, though top banks collected and used their clients' credit history. Death Certificates "Israeli death certificates do not include place of burial, however all burials require a permit from the Ministry of Health and they include that information. I inquired recently about the availability of old burial permits and was informed that the law (Archives Law, 5745, 1985, paragraphs 11.15 and 11.20) requires that the District Health Office hold death notices for fifteen years and burial permits for ten years." This does not preclude the possibility that they may have older records and in fact, they forwarded my specific request for a 1960s document to the appropriate district office." A burial permit has space for the following information: serial number, name, address, birth date, gender, death date, religion, cause of death, place of burial, informing physician, investigator (I assume this is only for special cases - IP). The form is in Hebrew and Arabic." From a posting by Israel Pickholtz on JewishGen 3-23-2002 Ministry of Interior The Dinur Center for Research in Jewish History
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus
http://jewishhistory.huji.ac.il Directory of Landmanschaften In Israel -
A listing by shtetl of the many Landmanschaften established in Israel. Includes contact name and address. DOROT Diana Sommer, Director of the Douglas E. Goldman Jewish Genealogy Center stated that the name DOROT has been removed from the official name of the Center and that the official name is now 'The Douglas E. Goldman Jewish Genealogy Center'. There is a charge to receive information from the database of the Douglas E. Goldman Genealogy Center which holds the Freud genealogy (and many others). Their website says, "The price for each search (up to four family names) is US $5.00, 5.50 or NIS 22.00". Early Settlers Information
- information can be found in a list of museums and their
telephone numbers, along with activities for schoolchildren (in
Hebrew)
http://www.teva.org.il/shimur/asp/sites/list_all.asp Ein Harod Located in Emeq Yizre'el (Valley of Jezreel) and was established about 80 years ago as part of the Kibbutz Me'uhad ("United Kibbutz") movement. About 1952, there was a split in the Kibbutz Me'uhad movement, and the original Ein Harod stayed in Me'uhad, but some of its members split off and established another Ein Harod as part of the Ihud Kibbutzim movement.
The main Kibbutz Ein Harod used to be a large and thriving community, involved in both agriculture and manufacturing. There was/is a steel works and a beehive factory (in 1970) but unknown about situation today.) Embassy of Israel, Washington, D.C. Eretz Magazine - a geographic magazine from Israel. E-mail eretz@eretz.co.il Eretz Yisrael SIG
Israel Genealogical Society - contact is Mathilde Tagger The Israel Genealogy Society E-mail: igs@lexicom.co.il
(ESCA) English Speakers Club of Ashdod - an informal, socially related group of olim and old-timers from around the world who live in Ashdod (ESRA) English Speaking Residents Association. ESRA is a group of volunteers in Israel who help those needing help, when and where help is needed -- and who themselves grow and have fun with the experience. The Genealogy in Israel site should be of value as should the many links this site offers. Their aim is to assist the absorption of immigrants from distressed countries and to help the functioning of special-needs groups on personal and community levels in the fields of employment, education, health and subsistence, according to need. Links to Holocaust, Israel, and Judaic-oriented sites ETSI - Sephardi Genealogical and Historical Society - The purpose of "ETSI" is to help people interested in Jewish Genealogical and Historical Research in the Sephardi World. "ETSI's" field of study covers the Ottoman Empire (Turkey, Greece, Palestine, Syria, Libya, Egypt); North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia); Spain, Portugal, Italy and Gibraltar. The study of every Sephardi community or family who lived in other regions is equally within the society's aim. Email laurphil@wanadoo.fr Events and Happenings in Israel - Galilean Stone Structure - the University of Pittsburgh house the Israel Heritage Classroom that is modeled after the Galilee dwelling. You can take a visual tour Gaza - the following copy of an e-mail was sent to me by an old friend of mine and I thought it to be of interest: From: Beth El Synagogue, Minneapolis (St. Louis Park) MN ETorah List [mailto: BE-MPLS-ETORAH@USCJ.ORG] On Behalf Of Alexander Davis Shalom Haverim, Probably if I had thought about it, I would have guessed that the Jewish presence in Gaza goes back many centuries. But listening to the current news, my thoughts never seem to stretch much before 1967. For many, Gaza does not hold the same place in our hearts as Jerusalem. Still, it has a history of Jewish settlement for almost 2000 years. Exploring its ancient Jewish population is interesting. As you will see, it is a history with many ups and downs. The following is not meant to be a political statement for or against removing the settlements. Instead my point is simply the following: whether or not you agree with the Sharon government, knowing the rich history of the area should rightly make the idea of uprooting Jewish settlements quite painful. Here is what I found: Technically, Gaza is outside of the boundaries of the Holy Land according to Jewish law. Nevertheless, Jews have lived in Gaza since the Talmudic period (200-500 CE). Evidence of its sizeable Jewish population was uncovered in the 1960s by archaeologists who discovered synagogues, elaborate mosaic floors and a relief with Hebrew and Greek inscriptions. Gaza was eventually conquered by the Byzantines but in 635 it was taken over by the Arabs. Under Arab rule, Jewish life flourished. Rabbi Moses, one of the masoretes (who put the punctuation in the Torah) was among the city’s famous inhabitants. The Jewish community continued in Gaza until the 12th century when it was wiped out by the Crusaders. In the 14th century (when Bertinoro visited), there were 60 families living there. In the 16-17th centuries, under Ottoman rule, Jewish life again flourished in Gaza. We know of a yeshiva and have writings of some of its well-known rabbis. Israel Najara, for example, was the chief rabbi of Gaza. He is the author of many popular Shabbat songs such as Ya Ribbon. In the 17th century, Gaza was a center of Shabbatai Zevi’s messianic movement. It was briefly conquered by Napoleon in 1799. But by the 19th century, Gaza city was in decline. Jews living there were mostly in the barley business. They traded with Bedouins for barley which they then exported to Europe for beer breweries. In WWI, Gaza was a Turkish stronghold. After fierce battles, it was taken by the British. The last Jews left Gaza in 1929 as a result of anti-Jewish riots. Jews began returning to Gaza after the 1967 war. Unfortunately, in the near future, there is little hope of gathering more hard evidence about the early history of Jewish life in Gaza. Black and white pictures of the mosaics may be all that remain of the ancient synagogue… Rabbi Alexander Davis Genealogy Bulletin Boards in Israel: may have to do a bit of searching Genealogy Forum - this is the first genealogy forum in Israel and it is nicely done, although in Hebrew
The forum is at Genealogy Home Page: Geography - I came across an interesting site for Rehav Rubin who is the Chairman of the Department of Geography at the Hebrew University. I was impressed with his credentials! I have no idea whether he would consider responding to any questions you might have about the geography of Israel, but if you have a moment, look at his site and drool. Ghetto Fighter's House Museum, Mr. Yossi Shavit, Archives Director at this address: Beit Lohamei Haghetaot D.N. Western Galilee, 25220 Israel, just outside of Nahariya in the north of Israel. The kibbutz was founded by Ghetto fighters and partisans from Poland and Lithuania.
E-mail Yshavit@gfh.org.il Government of Israel Information Ministry Gushkatif - a website that is full of photos of this town in vanishing Israel Haaretz Newspaper (English Edition) http://www3.haaretz.co.il/eng/htmls/3_4.htm Hadar Hacarmel (Haifa) - once had a large German Jewish populations. Hadram'ut Jews - a group of Jews who had lived north of Yemen. They left for Israel via Yemen and were considered nomadic Jews. David Goldman davic@pop.erols.com commented about these Jews on 3/8/2000 on JewishGen. Haifa -
An ancient fishing village and now a major city of Israel's north - home to 268,000 Jews, Christians, Muslims and Druze. There is an excellent article by Esther Hecht in the February 2003 issue of Hadassah Magazine. In 1912 there were only 1,400 Jews, but under the
British Mandate, Haifa grew rapidly and had 130,000 resident just before the War of Independence in 1948. Haifa is also the home of Technion - Israel's first university established in 1924. It has 13,000 students in 19 facilities. Haifa Tourist Bureau: e-mail info@tourhaifa.co.il In July 1947, the Exodus 1947 steamed into Haifa port with 4,515 Jewish refugees on board.
The captain of the ship was Yossi Harel, who died in 2008 at
age 90. Harel sailed four times on clandestine
journeys between 1945 and 1948, bringing over 24,000
Holocaust survivors to the shores of soon-to-be Israel. The British refused to let them disembark, and the ensuing fight left three dead and 28 wounded. The British then deported the refugees, who ended up in an internment camp. You can see a series of photos on this subject at the Haifa City Museum "Exodus" - authored by Leon Uris - a wonderful, must read book Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum The National Maritime Museum - HaMinyan HeChadash Ra'anana - a website of a largely English speaking community in Ra'anana at Hartuv
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the first agricultural settlement on the Judean Hills -- the settlement which was destroyed in the War of Independence, a small booklet ("Zichronnot Hartuv") was published and translated into English. It is a description of the 'before' and 'after' of this kibbutz and can be obtained from The Afikomen Company, 1503 East Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21231 bookthingbaltimore@hotmail.com Hayarkon Has a Jewish cemetery http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarkon_Park Hebrew See also my "Language Page" If you want to read Ivrit (Hebrew) text on your web browser, download free fonts together with an easy installation explanation, provided by Brijnet (British Jewish Network) DoroTree "The Jewish Family Tree" software by Zvi Wolicki Hebrew Alphabet in all versions, including Rashi is at
Hebrew-English Word Processor (PC) - commercial.
Hebrew Lettering - A source to give you the ability to read Hebrew letters without translating them is available for a free download The chart below can be found at
Hebrew Family Names - translations of the Diaspora names at
Hebrew Genealogy Forum - 'Family Roots' is a genealogy forum (in Hebrew) that is not related to any association/organization and deals with all aspects of Jewish genealogy. The Forum is free-to-use and the subjects discussed in it are not moderated The Forum includes a: Table with all the surnames researched by its members; a Gallery for translation and recognizing requests; Links to sites mentioned and Articles originally written and translated. This is a place to talk about genealogy research, ask questions, help others, share your success or failures and meet other people of like interest http://www.tapuz.co.il/tapuzforum/main/forumpage.asp?id=325 The Forum's manager is Arnon Hershkovitz arnonh@tx.technion.ac.il Hebrew Keyboard - Hebrew University - located at
Givat Ram, Jerusalem has some excellent genealogical resources " Regarding research at Hebrew U. in Jerusalem: There are several reading rooms on the second floor. The Judaica reading room has on hand a number of worthwhile books. As you enter the room, go through the turnstile and turn right following the counter. At the end of the counter, before it turns to the right, on your left are encyclopedias. These include Otzar Harabanim and Morei Galicia." The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Index of Jewish Art, publishes a booklet in English and Hebrew on Hebrew abbreviations as well as other subjects. It is known as "Hebrew Inscriptions and their Translations" in 1988". The booklet contains a list of frequently used inscriptions with their English translations as well as assistance in deciphering abbreviations and initials and the listing of literary sources. Their address is: POB 4262, Jerusalem The University was founded by leading statesmen and scholars, including Chaim Weitzmann, Sigmund Freud, Martin Buber, Albert Einstein, Judah Magnes and Lord Rothschild in 1925 It was founded by American philanthropist Felix M. Warburg. Hebron - Jewish Community web site - Herzeliyya - has a cemetery Historical Information - though this is on a political web site, there is enough information here to be of some value to a researching genealogist http://www.voter.com/home/news/article/0,1175,2-9203-,00.html History In A Nutshell - a dramatic view of the history of Israel since the Balfour Declaration and to date. Beautifully done by Udi Ohana www.conceptwizard.com/conflict.html http://198.173.255.220/nutoo/nutshell3.html History of Israel - Homeward Bound - an interactive experience through the Central Zionist Archives. The pages correspond with the Student Department's course "Blueprint of a Nation: A Survey of Modern Zionism". You can register for the course and use the lectures as a guide or the button bar at the bottom of the screen will take you to different categories or to different places of possible interest. You can search the database from the years 1881 to 1921. I suggest you look at the Table of Contents first, though I found the 'Immigration & Settlement' hyperlink of great interest
Information Division of the Israeli Foreign Ministry
The Institute For Research on Dutch Jewry at Hebrew University of Jerusalem International Genealogical Society - Tel Aviv branch web site http://www.navitek.com/igs International Tracing Service (ITS) Arolsen, Germany, holds records that include data on murdered, missing, displaced, emigrated and survived Jews throughout Europe. The lists, compiled by the Red Cross, using Nazi documentation, includes: Names; Birth date and place, next of kin, Death date and cause of Death, Grave location, and more. Israel Air Force Magazine Israel at the Crossroads - historical background of the Israeli-Arab (Palestinian) conflict, including maps, photos, images and music Israel Bonds Israel Genealogical Society - Snail Mail address is PO Box 4270 91041 Jerusalem Phone: (02) 651 4996 Contact: Abraham & Shulamith Lebowitz aileb@actcom.co.il
or
http://www.isragen.org.il/NROS/INF/MemberPg.html The web site for the society is at Events and Happenings in Israel - The Negev Branch contact is: Martha Lev-Zion martha@bgumail.bgu.ac.il or Shirley Rosen Telephone: 6422589 The Tel Aviv Branch contact is: Eitan Shilo
eitanshilo@att.global.net Israel GenWeb Project -
Jewish Genealogy resources for the State of Israel, Israel Maps
- some of the maps available are: Ancient Maps; Kingdoms of
David & Solomon; Herodian Period; Jews in the Land of Israel
under Islamic & Christian rule; Maps of the changing borders
1949-67; Jewish Communities Lost; Pre-State Maps and more.
Type in the word maps and scroll down a bit to get to the
maps.
Israel
( Map of) - you can find places in Israel right down to street address level. It is only available in Hebrew
Israel Museum - located in Jerusalem
Israel National Library - located in Jerusalem, has a book entitled "Chelkat Michokek" by Rabbi Brisk. His book lists the inscriptions of all the tombstones that were on the Mount of Olives cemetery during his lifetime. Israel Portal Sites Birthright Israel - a virtual tour
The Jewish Agency - a wonderful and informative site.
The Jewish Portal - lots of information in Hebrew and in English Sabra - current informational site Israel State Archives - much material is available here in the Prime Minister's Office including Citizenship papers and photos during the British Mandate. You must notify the office before your arrival and they will have the material ready for you. You will be asked for identification and a letter granting you permission because of security being very strict. Israeli Phone Directory - on-line by BEZEK (Israeli Telecomm Co.) This is a very fast search engine and can even do reverse searches, but you need to be able to read Hebrew. (English) JDC - They have a microfilm made from registration cards of people seeking help during World War II through Joint offices in Munich, Vienna and Barcelona. This comprises some 80,000 names with family details. After the war, the Joint had a location office in Istanbul which tried to locate refugees and lost families. These records are also available. And finally, there is a list of survivors, which, alas, does not have a search engine. This list is arranged according to location, and then by family names arranged alphabetically. The JDC lists include additional information that is not available at Yad Vashem. archives@jdc.org.il Jerusalem - the capital and largest city of Israel. Its status as capital has been claimed by Israel since 1949. The city's eastern half lies in the contested West Bank. Jerusalem has 680,000 residents: its population grew by 1.7% during 2002. Jerusalem Cemetery - Until 1948, there was only one main cemetery, Mount of Olives. It was under Jordanian rule from 1948 & 1967. A road was built right through the cemetery and they used the tombstones for the paving base. The cemetery, actually has been used from before the reign of King David ... more than 3,000 years ago. Since there are 5 or 6 different Chevra Kadisha who bury on the mountain, a search could prove to be difficult. Jerusalem Report
- bills itself as the Jewish world's leading news magazine
is on-line offers excellent book review and an archive service Jewish Agency for Israel Jewish Brigade -
(Ha-Gdud Ha Ivri - Gdud in Hebrew is "regiment", a military
formation) the only all-Jewish fighting unit, composed of 5,000 men from then Palestine and England. "It seems that the terms "Palestine Brigade" and "Jewish Brigade" have been used interchangeably, not only on the Internet but also in books." The Palestine Brigade was formed in 1917 to control all Royal Flying Corps training units west of Suez. The first all Jewish battalion was formed in 1915. It was responsible for transport as part of the preparation for the attack on Gallipoli. Zion Mule Corps and the Palestine Regiment of WW I. There is a great deal of literature and a museum. The Museum is near to Netanya. Three is also a memorial book (not very complete) which lists all the soldiers and their military numbers. The Jewish Brigade was also known as the "Zion Mule Corps", whose commander was Joseph Trumpledor. It was also known as the "Judean Battalions" and the "Palestine Jewish Legion". "The Jewish Legion" - authored by Zeev Jabotinsky has a Hebrew title of "Megilat ha-Gedud: sipur ha-gedudim ha-Ivriyim be-milhemet ha-olam ha-rishonah". It is out of print. Gdud means "regiment", a military formation in Hebrew. A film, "In Our Own Hands: The Hidden Story of the Jewish Brigade in World War II" is a 90 minute documentary about these volunteers is being shown on various PBS TV stations. The film makers gathered testimony from more than 40 surviving Jewish Brigade soldiers. Copies of this riveting documentary is available from the producer: Chuck Olin Associates, (312) 822 9552 Jewish Colonial Trust -
"I have been aware for some time that shares in the upcoming state of Palestine (now Israel) were offered for sale many years ago, and that many Jews in Europe and many other countries around the world purchased these shares in the first third of the 20th century, for three reasons:
JCT - Jewish Colonial Trust, Ltd.
I was able to find an Esterson in Edinburgh (a member of a tree which I set up for an English Esterson family that may be related to me), several persons named Mirvis and Mervis from Baltimore and other cities (whose names I recognized from my work with the Mirvis Research Group), and two persons named Gell who my wife Leah thinks are her paternal uncles from Riga. I also checked some surnames of genealogy friends of mine, and found names for them to research. When I searched for only "Baltimore" (where I was born and grew up), I obtained a long list of share purchasers whose names I recognized from my days in Baltimore over fifty years ago. Same success for Riga and other European cities. Schelly Talalay Dardashti discusses the Jewish Colonial Trust Ltd database of thousands of turn of the century names from Jewish communities around the world in her City Lights column. The article can be found on the Jerusalem Post web site Jewish Communities Jewish Demographic History - Professor Della Pergola is considered one of the world's leading experts on Jewish demography Jewish Family Research Association (JFRA/ESRA) - PO Box 48010 Tel-Aviv 61480 Israel Telephone +972 3 6992813 Fax: _872 3 6993852 - Contact Archie Taina archt@netvision.net.il or Aviva Neeman, President aneeman@netvision.net.il or Schelly Dardashti dardasht@barak-online.net Members
Directory Jewish Genealogy Society of the Galilee - Contact Lancy Spalter lspalter@netvision.net.il Jewish Heraldry - Jewish Holidays Jewish National Fund (JNF) - still distributes the familiar Blue Boxes and plants trees all over Israel. My box, dating from the 1930s, sits on top of my desk to remind me of this organization. Learn about its history at
The Jewish National and University Library - located on the Hebrew University campus in Givat Ram, Jerusalem. There you will find a permanent exhibition dedicated to the life and work of Albert Einstein which includes the personal papers, manuscripts, correspondence, photographs, cartoons and newspaper clippings. The Library is opposite the main gate and may be reached by bus lines 9, 24 and 28
Jewish People Finding List - here is an often overlooked source (ICQ) to find people all over the world by name, by occupation and a lot more Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa Justice for Jews from Arab Countries Kibbutz Kfar Blum - founded in 1943 and was called the Anglo-Balti Kibbutz because along with the many residents from Latvia there was a sizeable group of British Jews formerly members of Habonim, who were among the founders. Kibbutz Nir - David (Tel-Amal) - home page to the first tower and wall kibbutz settled on December 1936 in the Beit-Shan valley Kibbutz Rosh Pina - originally settled by Romanian Jews Kibbutz Sarid - often referred to as 'the
Czech kibbutz' because many of its founders came from Czechoslovakia Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, is located about 10 kilometers south of Ashkelon, and a few kilometers north of the Gaza Strip. It was founded by Polish Jews. It is named in honor of Mordechai Anielewicz, the leader of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. This should be a must see on anyone's visit to Israel. There is a museum maintained on the premises and the original hand dug trenches that were dug for protection in the 1948 war. Mail can be addressed to: Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, D. N.
Ashkelon, Israel. Kiryat Bialik - located north of Haifa and is named after the famous Jewish writer/poet Bialik. Kiriat Bialystok - a neighborhood in the town of Yahood and not Kollel Galicia - a Yeshiva in Mea Shearim has records that are similar and parallel to those of the Chevra Kadisha in Jerusalem. 'Kria LeKria' (Call to Read) - this is a Hebrew website which collects the best on-line and off-line articles from Israel's newspapers, magazines and journals and provides a directory of links to a variety of resources Leo Baeck Institute - The institute is a research, study and lecture center whose library and archives offer the most comprehensive documentation for the study of German Jewish history. Located at the Center for Jewish History at 15 West 16th St., New York, NY 10011 lbaeck@lbi.cjh.org Telephone: 212 744 6400 Fax 212 988 1305. There is also two Branches: LBI, London at 4 Devonshire Street, London and LBI, Jerusalem at 33 Bustanai Street 91082 Jerusalem. Lexicographer - Israel's most authoritative is Avraham Even-Shushon. Mt. Gilboa - where the bible states that Saul and Jonathan died fighting against the Philistines.
Do a search on the following site. Nahariya - located in Western Galilee once had large German Jewish populations. Netanya-Sharon Region Genealogy Group - meetings are held at the AACI (Back Room) 28 Shmuel Hantaziv, Netanya. For further information, contact Joe Isaacs jisaacs@netvision.net.ilE-mail Palestine Post - 1932 - 1950 - an "online intelligent retrieval tool for the 40,000 pages of the "Palestine Post" daily newspaper published in Israel in the English language between December 1932 and April 1950. Fully searchable. This project is the initiative of The Laura Schwarz-Kipp Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities in Tel Aviv University. I find it as a very useful tool to learn about day by day life in Mandatory Palestine and later on Israel in general and in particular to us the roots searchers. For example: Almost any vessel that entered the ports of Palestine and Israel during those years will have it recorded in the newspaper." Information obtained from a posting on JewishGen by Eyal Ziffer Tel Aviv, Israel Partisan Information - Lithuanian. Information may be available by contacting Igud Yotzei Lita, 1 David Hamelekh Blvd., Tel-Aviv, Israe Polish Wooden Synagogues - There is a list of wooden synagogues that were destroyed by the Nazis at On display at Beth Ha'tefutsorth and at Kibbutz Yakum - both in Israel are many models built by Moshe Verbin at Radauti (Radauti), Memorial to this Romanian town is located in Holon, Israel listing of nearly 500 names and possible links to Israel citizens. Rehavia (in Jerusalem) once had large
German Jewish populations. Regbah - located near Acre. Most of the members of this village came in the mid-1930s from Rexingen in Germany. Rishon Lezion - there is a list of the tombstones inscriptions in the old cemetery of Rishon Lezion (and other moshavot) which was published by Pinchas Grayevsky in the mid-1930s. The book is available in several libraries including The National Library at Hebrew University, Rambam Library and Achad Haam Library in Beit Ariella, Tel Aviv. The city has a nice museum and an archive about the first settlers which can be used for genealogical purposes. It covers the first 40 years, starting in 1882. The museum is open without charge from 10 am to 2 pm on the first Saturday of each month in Hebrew Click on tarbut (culture) and omanut (art) in the bottom left yellow box, scroll down with the arrows to the right of the box until you see 'archion history' and click on it. Safed - much information about this old Jewish community including a list of tombstones found in the ancient Jewish cemetery Samaritan - the Samaritan community has existed for millennia in the region known under the British mandate as Palestine. They observe Jewish traditions, claim to have a Torah that is 3500 years old (written by a grandchild or great-grandchild of the High Priest Aaron). Depending |
Books
Map of Israel from Haaretz
