This site is a beginners guide especially applicable to young researchers. Many people become curious about their family history and decide to do research to learn more. For some, this process can be surprisingly simple, but for many people, researching their genealogy is a time-consuming task that can take years. But in the end, uncovering your family history can be a fascinating hobby that helps you to learn more about your roots.

The Center for Jewish History is a cultural institution, independent research facility and destination for the exploration of Jewish history and heritage. It is home to five partner organizations: American Jewish Historical Society, American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum and YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.

The partners’ archival collections span more than 700 years of history and total over 500,000 volumes and 100 million documents (in 23 languages and 52 alphabet systems). The collections also include thousands of artworks, textiles, ritual objects, recordings, films and photographs.

At the Center, history is illuminated through scholarship and cultural programming, exhibitions and symposia, lectures and performances.

We are home to the Lillian Goldman Reading Room, Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute and Collection Management & Conservation Wing. Public programs and fellowships here at the Center create opportunities for diverse audiences to explore the rich historical material that lives within our walls.

The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) is an organization of organizations formed in 1988 to provide a common voice for issues of significance to its members, to advance our genealogical avocation, and to coordinate items such as the annual International Conference on Jewish Genealogy.

Launched in early 1995, JRI - Poland is the largest fully searchable database of indexes to Jewish vital records accessible online.

5 million records from more than 550 Polish towns are now indexed. More are being added every few months.

Holocaust survivors and their families, as well as pre-war Jewish immigrants from Poland and their descendants, may be unaware that a remarkable number of Jewish records of Poland have survived the upheavals of history and the ravages of war. Jewish Records Indexing - Poland (JRI-Poland) has created indices/extractions to more than 5 million Jewish birth, marriage and death records from current and former territories of Poland that are housed in Poland today.

Indices/extractions to vital records more than 100-years old are searchable on the JRI-Poland online database. JRI-Poland can also direct researchers to detailed information on how to find records less than 100-years old from specific towns now in Poland and in the Lviv, Ternopil or Ivano Frankivsk districts of Ukraine.

In addition to vital records, the JRI-Poland online database includes other types of records such as Books of Residents, censuses, army draft lists, school records, cemetery burials, Polish passports, ghetto death records, birth, marriage and death announcements in Polish newspapers and post-war court and legal announcements in official newspapers (Monitor Polski). The data varies widely by town or region.

JewishGen is committed to ensuring Jewish continuity for present generations and the generations yet to come.  Our free, easy to use website features thousands of databases, research tools and other resources to help those with Jewish ancestry research and find family members.

Mission
JewishGen’s mission is to encourage the preservation of Jewish heritage, allowing anyone with Jewish ancestry to research their roots, connect with relatives, and learn about their family history.

This mission will be accomplished by:

• Obtaining records, information and tools that will be valuable for Jewish ancestral research;
• Maintaining an online community for family researchers to connect with relatives and like minded individuals; and
• Ensuring the JewishGen website continues to offer its resources in an easily searchable and understandable format.

Yizkor (Memorial) Books are some of the best sources for learning about Jewish communities in Eastern and Central Europe.  Groups of former residents, or landsmanshaftn, have published these books as a tribute to their former homes and the people who were murdered during the Holocaust.  The majority of these books were written in Hebrew or Yiddish, languages that many contemporary genealogists cannot read or understand.

The JewishGen Yizkor Book Project was organized in 1994 by a group of JewishGen volunteers led by Leonard Markowitz and Martin Kessel.  A translation project was developed by Susannah Juni and implemented by Joyce Field.  It is our purpose to unlock the valuable information contained in Yizkor Books so that genealogists and others can learn more about their heritage.  For more information, see the Yizkor Book Frequently Asked Questions or the Development of the Yizkor Book Project page.

JGSLI was founded in 1985 to encourage and assist the pursuit of Jewish family history. Our goal is to bring together people interested in tracing their Jewish family roots.

The Jewish Genealogical Society of North Jersey is a non-profit organization dedicated to assist members with their genealogical pursuits.

The Museum of Family History is a virtual (Internet-only), multimedia, and interactive creation that was designed for those of us who are interested in learning more about modern Jewish history, as well as those who were a part of this history, who now grace the many branches of our family tree. The Museum humbly attempts to honor the Jewish people and the Jewish family unit in particular.

Created as a living memorial to those who perished during the Holocaust, the Museum honors those who died by celebrating their lives—cherishing the traditions that they embraced, examining their achievements and faith, and affirming the vibrant worldwide Jewish community that is their legacy today. New generations are taught how to recognize and fight contemporary instances of injustice and oppression.

This online archive comprises over 250,000 Queens and Bronx County naturalization records dating from 1795 to 1952.

In addition to a history of Ellis Island, there are links to genealogically useful websites, including the Ellis Island website. NOTE: This is a commercial site. We are providing a link to the firm’s information page because of the page’s content ONLY. We have not endorsed the firm’s legal services.

The New York City Municipal Archives is undertaking a mass digitization project to provide online access to 13.3 million historical birth, death, and marriage records.

Get the lowdown on the census held in the United States.

As the top choice for public records searches on the web, we know that you may have questions about how to track someone down and how to find current contact information. Instead of spending hours on Facebook and other social media sites, you can use the most recent census to find the last known address for that person. These records can also help when you’re looking for historical data such as the home where your grandparents once lived or the employer your father had. We’ll go over the census to help you see what these records show you and why you might use it in our ultimate guide to the census.

A family history video is a great way to share the fascinating stories and life experiences uncovered through genealogy research. When you present this information as a filmed interview, the audience can connect with your passion for the subject, like hearing stories around the campfire. To create an engaging family history video, it's important to remember that stories are the primary way we communicate with the world. Rather than just listing names and dates, aim to tell stories that captivate your audience.