Exploring Jewish Heritage: A Guide to Genealogy Resources

1. Getting Started & Essential Reference

If you are new to genealogy or need a comprehensive overview of the field, these titles provide the framework for your research.

• Getting Started in Jewish Genealogy: This 2022-updated primer by Gary Mokotoff debunks common myths, such as names being changed at Ellis Island. It provides a roadmap for using modern online databases effectively.

• Where Once We Walked: Revised Edition: Known as the "gold standard" gazetteer for Central and Eastern Europe, this book documents over 23,500 towns where Jews lived before the Holocaust.

  
  

• Every Family Has a Story: This collection features 72 human-interest stories from Avotaynu journal. It showcases the emotional and surprising discoveries made through genealogical research.

  
  

2. Jewish Surnames & Given Names

Avotaynu is famous for its massive dictionaries that trace the origins, meanings, and variations of Jewish names across different empires and languages.

• Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from the Russian Empire: Revised Edition: This landmark two-volume work covers over 50,000 surnames from the Pale of Settlement.

  
  

• Dictionary of Ashkenazic Given Names: This book explains the origins and variants of thousands of first names used by Jews in Central and Eastern Europe.

  
  

• Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Galicia: This dictionary focuses on the Austro-Hungarian province that is now part of Poland and Ukraine.

  
  

• Dictionary of Sephardic Surnames: Second Edition: This book tracks names from Spain, Portugal, and the Mediterranean diaspora.

  
  

• Russian-Jewish Given Names: A smaller, focused guide on the evolution of names in 19th-century Russia.

  
  

3. Sephardic & Oriental Genealogy

For those researching roots in the Mediterranean, North Africa, or the Middle East, these specialized resources are vital.

• Sephardic Genealogy: Second Edition: This definitive guide covers archives in Spain, Portugal, and the Ottoman Empire, making it essential for researching Sephardic ancestry.

  
  

• Sephardic Surnames: An Index of Research Sources: A “must-have” research tool for Sephardic genealogy research! This three-volume set synthesizes decades of work by two award-winning genealogists, Jeffrey S. Malka and the late Mathilde Tagger. You’ll find 79,000 surnames, along with an index to additional resources for each.

  
  

• Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Maghreb Region, Gibraltar, and Malta: This book provides a comprehensive look at Sephardic names in North Africa.

  
  

• Guidebook for Sephardic and Oriental Genealogical Sources in Israel: This guide details the vast records held in Israeli archives for non-Ashkenazic Jews.

  
  

4. Translation Guides & Language Tools

Jewish records were often written in the language of the ruling empire. These guides help you decode records without being a linguist.

• Following the Paper Trail: A Multilingual Translation Guide: This guide covers 13 languages commonly found in European Jewish records.

  
  

• In Their Words: A Genealogist's Translation Guide (German): This book provides a deep dive into German records, including Gothic script.

  
  

• In Their Words: A Genealogist's Translation Guide (Russian): This guide focuses on the Cyrillic records of the Russian Empire.

  
  

• In Their Words: A Genealogist's Translation Guide (Polish): This book is essential for navigating Polish vital records.

  
  

5. Compiled Genealogies & Rabbinic Research

Many Jewish families are connected to illustrious lineages. These books document specific family trees and rabbinic dynasties.

• The Unbroken Chain (Third Edition): This massive multi-volume set traces the descendants of the great rabbinic families.

  
  

• The Jacobi Papers (Volumes 1-4): Paul Jacobi’s lifework documents over 450 elite Ashkenazi families.

  
  

• Shealtiel-Charlap Family of Eastern Europe: This book provides a detailed study of one of the world's most historically documented Jewish families.

  
  

6. Regional Histories & Community Studies

Avotaynu offers books that provide context on specific towns or regions, helping you understand the world your ancestors inhabited.

• History of the Jewish Community of Schneidemühl: This case study explores a German-Jewish community.

  
  

• Jews of the Kaišiadorys Region of Lithuania: This book provides detailed research into Lithuanian shtetls.

  
  

• Tide & Wreck: History of the Jews of Vardar Macedonia: This title explores the Sephardic communities in the Balkans.

  
  

• Between Galicia and Hungary: The Jews of Stropkov: This book presents a localized history of a community at a geographical crossroads.

  
  

7. Holocaust & WWII Research

These titles assist in tracing the fate of individuals and communities during the Shoah.

• Jews-Officers in the Polish Armed Forces 1939–1945: This biographical directory details Jewish military service.

  
  

• Until the Final Solution: The Jews of Belgrade 1521–1942: This book provides a history of the rise and destruction of the Belgrade community.

  
  

• Chinese Exile: This personal account narrates a Jewish family’s years in Shanghai and Nanking during WWII.

  
  

• Road to Victory: Jewish Soldiers in the 16th Lithuanian Division: This book is one of the few written about Eastern European Jews who volunteered to fight as soldiers during World War II.

  
  

For a full list of all available titles and current pricing, visit the *Avotaynu Books Shop