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Regions: Latvia/Estonia-United States

4General Resources 4Jewish Encyclopedias 4Bibliographies of Hebrew Books 4General Bio-Bibliographical Works 4Chassidic Rabbis 4Biographies 4Family Genealogies, Part I 4Family Genealogies, Part II 4Sephardi and Mizrahi Sources 4Yizkor Books Regions 4Austria 4Belarus 4Galicia/Ukraine 4Germany 4Hungary 4Israel 4Italy 4Latvia/Estonia 4Lithuania 4Poland 4Romania 4Russia 4Slovak/Czech 4South Africa 4United States Periodicals 4Jewish Historical Periodicals 4Journals of Jewish Genealogy 4Articles Audiotapes CD-ROMs LANGUAGE KEY: (H) = Hebrew, (E) = English, (G) = German, (Y) = Yiddish, (F) = French, (R) = Russian, (P) = Polish To locate resources, see How to Locate Rabbinic Information Sources in Libraries and Archives.

LATVIA / ESTONIA

• Deych, Genrich Markovich. Sinagogi, Molitvenne Doma i Sostoyashchie pri nikh Dolzhnostne Litsa v Cherte Evreiskoi Osedlosti i Guberniyakh Kurlyandskoi i Liflyandskoi Rossiiskoi Imperii 1853-1854 (Synagogues, Prayer Houses and their Employees in the Pale of Settlement and Kurland and Livonia provinces of the Russian Empire, 1853-1854). New York: published privately, 1992. (R)
  • See full description and searchable index of more than 4,000 individuals in more than 900 communities: http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/misc/deych.htm
• Ovchinsky, L. Di Geshikhte fun di Iden in Letland (The History of the Jews in Letland). 1908, 1918 etc. Riga. (Y, also available in Hebrew)
  • This book is a particularly valuable source which provides detailed information for 25 communities located in the former Latvian provinces of the Kurland and Latgale. The author was a noted rabbinic scholar who took an interest in preserving biographic and historic material. The author provides details of the first Jewish settlement in each town, the establishment of an organized community with its religious, cultural and welfare institutions; cemetery and Yeshivot. A list of the town's rabbis and prominent citizens is provided which includes genealogical information. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• The Organization of Former Latvians and Estonians. Yahadut Latvia (Latvian Jewry). Kibbutz Shefaim, Israel, 1953. (H)
  • This was the first attempt after the Holocaust to preserve the history of Latvian Jewry. The survivors and those who had managed to leave Latvia before the Second World War and settled in Eretz Yisrael, collected what material was then available to produce this book. The book is comprised of six sections:
    1. Political and Economic Life: Comprehensive statistical charts and explanations of the development of the community Jewish representation in the Latvian parliament; and the Jewish contribution to the economy.
    2 .Communal and Cultural Life: Jewish communal and political organisations; cultural autonomy; the Jewish press.
    3. Youth and sports organizations.
    4 .Memoirs: Includes personal recollections of events, organizations and personalities.
    5. Cities and Communities: Detailed information on the towns Dvinsk, Libau, Bausk, Shimberg and Lutzin. Lists of rabbis, scholars, merchants and prominent citizens are provided.
    6. Destruction and Holocaust: Details of the expulsion of Jews by the Soviets to Siberia prior to the Nazi invasion; details of the sequence of the Nazi decimation of Latvian Jewry.
    7. Biographical material and photographs of rabbis who perished in the Holocaust.
    
    For genealogists this book provides many lists of names of those who were members of Jewish organizations in the pre-war period including many group photographs. The section on the few towns covered also provides lists of names and, in some cases, familial connections. The rabbinic section includes family detail. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]

LITHUANIA

• Deych, Genrich Markovich. Sinagogi, Molitvenne Doma i Sostoyashchie pri nikh Dolzhnostne Litsa v Cherte Evreiskoi Osedlosti i Guberniyakh Kurlyandskoi i Liflyandskoi Rossiiskoi Imperii 1853-1854 (Synagogues, Prayer Houses and their Employees in the Pale of Settlement and Kurland and Livonia provinces of the Russian Empire, 1853-1854). New York: published privately, 1992. (R)
  • See full description and searchable index of more than 4,000 individuals in more than 900 communities: http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/misc/deych.htm
• Finn, Shmuel Yosef. Kiriah Neemanah. Vilna, 1860, 1915. Reprinted in Israel in 1968. (H)
  • (Note: the sequential numbers of sections differ between the various editions, resulting in confusion in locating references quoted in other sources). Historical background of the Jewish community in Vilna. Quotes from communal records, civil documents, correspondence, legislative enactment pertaining to Jews under successive Polish, Lithuanian and Russian regimes. Summary of earliest Eastern European rabbis with emphasis on their scholastic endeavours and their role in founding prominent Yeshivot. Biographies of rabbis who held office in Vilna, Maggidim, members of Beit Din, scribes, and other communal functionaries, as well as scholars who held no official position. Detailed footnotes and additional notes, commentaries by scholars. Quotes tombstone inscriptions. Very valuable source of Lithuanian rabbinical genealogy. Includes some errors which are corrected in additional notes. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Greenbaum, Masha. The Jews Of Lithuania. Jerusalem, 1995. (E)
  • History of Lithuanian Jewry; mentions rabbinic personalities. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Kagan, Berel. Yidishe Shtet, Shtetlekh, un Dorfishe Yishuvim in Lite. (Jewish towns, villages and small communities in Lithuania). New York, 1991. (Y)
  • A highly valuable source for Lithuanian genealogy. This immense book (over 800 pages) presents a treasure of information about many towns. The author has collected references to the towns from printed community books, biographies, archival material and the Jewish press in eastern Europe. Each community is presented with its rabbis, people of notable Yikhus, writers and others worthy of note. For most towns extensive donor and Prenumeranten lists are transcribed. Lists of sources make this book an essential starting point for Lithuanian research. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Klausner Y. Lekorot Beit Ha'almin Hayashan BeVilna. Vilna, 1935. (H)
  • Lists tombstones that were located in the ancient cemetery of Vilna, destroyed by the Soviets. Includes genealogical information, a map of the cemetery showing the location of each grave and some valuable photographs taken before the cemetery's destruction. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Klausner, Y. Toldot Hakehillah Haivrit Bevilna. Vilna, 1935. Jerusalem, 1969. (H)
  • Historical, biographical and genealogical material about rabbis and prominent people in Vilna. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Lipman, D.M. Toldot Hayehudim BeKovno veSlobodka. Keidan/Kovno, 1931. Jerusalem, 1968. (H)
  • Biographical and genealogical material about rabbis and prominent people in Kovno. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Markovitch, Moshe. Lekorot Ir Rassein Urabbaneihah. Warsaw, 1913. (H)
  • Published with two additional community histories of Keidan and Novardok. Detailed biographies of the rabbis, scholars and influential people who either functioned in these towns or were born there and functioned as rabbis in other towns. Includes considerable genealogical material. A rare source and almost exclusive source for these communities. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Markovitch, Moshe. Shem Hagedolim Hashlishi. Vilna, 1910. (H)
  • Biographies of 277 rabbis whose names begin with Alef. Concentrates mainly on Lithuanian and Belarus rabbis, for many of whom this may be the only source of information. Rabbi Meir Wunder advised that a large manuscript of the author’s work is held by the manuscripts department of the National Library, the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Oshry, Rabbi Ephraim. The Annihilation of Lithuanian Jewry. New York, 1995. (E)
  • Description of the destruction during the Holocaust of 48 Lithuanian communities. In particular the book includes brief biographical information about the rabbis and leaders of the communities. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Rabinowitsch, Wolf Zeev. Lithuanian Hasidism. London, 1970. (E)
  • History of Lithuanian and Belarusian Chassidism with some genealogical charts. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Steinshneider, Hillel Noakh. Ir Vilna. Vilna, 1900. Jerusalem, 1969. (H)
  • Chapters according to communal function: chief Rabbis, Maggidim, Dayanim, Rashei Yeshivot, lay leaders and prominent members of the community. Numerous detailed footnotes expand genealogical connections through in-law relationships. Each entry is presented by a list of the successive ancestral generations, with footnotes pertaining to the wives’ families. Text for each person includes biography, scholarly compositions, children and tombstone inscription. Quotes communal records which are now unavailable. One of the most important sources for Eastern European genealogy. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Yahadut Lita and Lite. (H, E)
  • Comprehensive multi-volume histories of Lithuanian communities. Includes historical, socio-economic and biographical material. Whilst there is considerable rabbinical material, it is selective and older classical sources need to be consulted to supplement the information. A single volume English translation includes selected material. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]

  See also: Belarus.

POLAND

• Alter, Avraham Mordekhai. Bedarkei Polin Aveilot. Jerusalem, 1987. (H)
  • Description of current Jewish monuments and institutions which survived the Holocaust in Polish communities. Includes details of many rabbis and tombstones in the Warsaw cemetery. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Balaban, Majer. Dzieje Zydow w Krakowie I na Kazimierzu. Krakow, 1912. (P)
  • A very detailed history of the Krakow community with many genealogical charts of famous medieval rabbinical families. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Frenkel, I. J. Sefer Linchitz (The yizkor book of Leczyca). Tel Aviv, 1953. (H)
  • Has a chapter starting with King David and going down to the Karo family in Leczyca and related families Auerbach, Horowitz, and Landau (of Ciechanow). Derivative families: Goldman, Oknovski, Fuchs, Friedensohn, Kalb, Birnbaum, Widslawski, Sonnabend, and Malavski. [Comment by David Einsiedler, F2]
• Friedberg, B. Lukhot Zikaron. Frankfurt am Main, 1904. (H)
  • Biographical and genealogical material about rabbis and prominent people in Krakow. Considerable material on Krakow appears in F. H. Wettstein’s books. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Friedman, Philip and Pinkus Zelig Gliksman. Stary Cmentarz Zydowski w Lodzi (The Old Jewish Cemetery in Lodz). Lodz, 1938. (H,P)
  • This invaluable book records those Jews who were buried in the old cemetery in Lodz between the years 1822 to 1922. The authors were prominent historians in Poland before the Holocaust. Gliksman in particular wrote a number of books which are of considerable value to genealogists. See: full description of this book. See also: JRI-Poland to translate and computerise this book. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Gliksman, Pinhas Zelig. Ir Lask va-hakhamehah (Lask and its Wise Men). Lodz, 1926. Jerusalem, 1967. (H)
  • Biographies and familial information about prominent personalities and families who lived in the town of Lask. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Horowitz, Tzvi Hirsch. Letoldot Hakehilot Bepolin. 1978. (H)
  • Biographical and genealogical information for rabbis in about 100 communities. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
  • Contains studies of one hundred eleven Polish, Galician, and Ukrainian towns, lists of their rabbis, and some history and genealogy. The town chapters vary in length from half a page to 82 pages (Apt / Opatow). A list of Galician towns was published in Gesher Galicia, Spring, 1994. [F5]
• Kohen-Tzedek, Yosef. Shem Ve-She'erit (Name and Remainder). Krakow, 1895. Jerusalem, 1968. (H)
  • Biographical and genealogical material about rabbis and prominent people in Przemysl. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Margolis, Kh. Z. Dubno Rabbati. Warsaw, 1910, Jerusalem, 1968. (H)
  • Biographical and genealogical material about rabbis and prominent people in Dubno. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
  • Not indexed, but includes references to: Brill, Goldfarb, Halberstadt, Heilperin, Horowitz, Landau, Margaliot and Shapira. [F4]
• Nissenbaum, S.B. Lekorot Hayehudim BeLublin. Lublin, 1900. Jerusalem, 1968. (H)
  • Biographical and genealogical material about rabbis and prominent people in Lublin. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
  • Index includes references to the following families: Auerbach, Heilperin, Kopelman, Margaliot, Morawczyk, Rotenberg, Schorr and Shapira. [F4]
• Rosenstein, Neil. The Unbroken Chain: Biographical Sketches and Genealogy of Illustrious Jewish Families from the 15th-20th century. New York: CIS Publishers, 1990. 2 Vols. (E)
  • See comment in Family Genealogies, Part 2.
• Rosenstein, Neil and Dov Weber. Avnei Zikaron: Stones of Remembrance. Elizabeth, NJ: Computer Center for Jewish Genealogy, 1999. (E)
  • 921 pre-WWI Eastern European epitaphs from 51 communities with 20 genealogical charts. Detailed database of all burials of rabbis, cantors, community leaders, wives, and other prominent personalities. Includes CD-ROM containing handwritten Hebrew epitaphs as originally transcribed by the pre-WWI compiler.
• Weltsman, Shmuel Tzvi. Avnei Zikaron. (H)
  • Manuscript of tombstone inscriptions in many Polish towns. Notes include genealogical information. The material was computerized by Neil Rosenstein and Dov Weber and is available on a CD. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Wettstein, Feivel Hirsch (1858-1924). Divrei Chefetz. (H)
  • Learn more about the author.
• Wettstein, Feivel Hirsch (1858-1924). Dvarim Atikim Mipinkasei hakahal bekrako lekorot Israel vechachamav, rabanav umanhigav bePolania bichlal ibekrako bifrat. Krakow, 1900. (H)
  • Ancients records about rabbis and families in Poland, mainly in Krakow. [Comment by Tomer Brunner]
  • Learn more about the author.
• Wettstein, Feivel Hirsch (1858-1924). Letoldot gedolei Israel. Warsaw, 1904. (H)
  • Ancients records about rabbis and families in Poland, mainly in Krakow. [Comment by Tomer Brunner]
  • Learn more about the author.
• Yevnin, Shmuel. Nakhalat Olamin. Warsaw, 1882. (H)
  • Tombstones in the Warsaw cemetery with valuable genealogical notes. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Zunz, Y.M. Ir Hatzedek. Krakow, 1874. Jerusalem, 1970.(H)
  • Biographical and genealogical material about rabbis and prominent people in Krakow. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]

See also: Galicia/Ukraine.

ROMANIA

• Cohen/Kohen, Yitskhak Yosef. Khakhmei Transylvania (Sages of Transylvania). Tel Aviv, 1983. (H)
  • Community and biographic information. A source recommended by Rabbi Meir Wunder. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Gross, S.Y. and Y. Yosef Kohen/Cohen, eds. Sefer Marmarosh; mea ve-shishim kehilot kedoshot be- yishuvan u-ve-hurbanan (The Marmaros book; in memory of a hundred and sixty Jewish communities). Tel Aviv: Beith Marmaros, 1983. Second slightly expanded edition, 1996 (H,Y,E)
  • See comment under Hungary.
• Grunwald, Y.Y. Kehilot Yisrael: BeSlovakia, Transylvania VeYugoslavia. USA, 1934. Jerusalem, 1968. (H)
  • Biographical and genealogical material about rabbis and prominent people in the Balkan communities. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Miller, Pinhas. Olamo Shel Aba: sipure zikhronot `al gedole Torah veha-kehilot ha-kedoshot she-hitkaimu be-Ostriya-Hungaryah uve-mahoz Transilvanya ve-Romanya. Jerusalem: Hotsa'at Hod, 1984. (H)
  • Stories about rabbis.
• Schwartz/Shvarts, Yehuda. Moreshet Rabanei Hungaria: kolel et hageonim mi-Burgenland, Slovakia, Transylvania, Karpatorus Ve-Marmaros. Haderah: Yad Li-kehilot Transylvania, 1987. (H)
  • A book about rabbis of Hungary and other regions, with many photographs.

See also: Hungary, Ukraine.

RUSSIA

• Deych, Genrich Markovich. Sinagogi, Molitvenne Doma i Sostoyashchie pri nikh Dolzhnostne Litsa v Cherte Evreiskoi Osedlosti i Guberniyakh Kurlyandskoi i Liflyandskoi Rossiiskoi Imperii 1853-1854 (Synagogues, Prayer Houses and their Employees in the Pale of Settlement and Kurland and Livonia provinces of the Russian Empire, 1853-1854). New York: published privately, 1992. (R)
  • See full description and searchable index of more than 4,000 individuals in more than 900 communities: http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/misc/deych.htm.
• Greenbaum, Avraham. Rabanei Berit ha-Mo'atsot ben milhamot ha-'olam, 1917-1939 (Rabbis of the Soviet Union During the Inter-war Period). Jerusalem: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Centre for Research and Documentation of East European Jewry, 1994.(H)
  • Meant to add new material to the burgeoning study of Soviet Jewry and to show how rabbis functioned under persecution. [F3]
• Kupernik, A. Lekorot Bnei Yisrael Bekiev. Berdichev, 1891. Jerusalem, 1969. (H)
  • Biographical and genealogical material about rabbis and prominent people in Kiev. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Rosenstein, Neil. The Unbroken Chain: Biographical Sketches and Genealogy of Illustrious Jewish Families from the 15th-20th century. New York: CIS Publishers, 1990. 2 Vols. (E)
  • See comment in Family Genealogies, Part 2.

SLOVAK / CZECH REPUBLICS

• Gold, Hugo (ed.) Die Juden und Judengemeinde Bratislava in Vergangenheit und Gegenwart. Bruenn, 1932, pp. 17-60, ills. (G)
  • An article by Heinrich Flesch, "Das Geistige Leben in Pressburg," contains rich data on the Schreiber-Sofer family in Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, and other countries. [Comment by Daniel Polakovic]
• Grunwald, Y. Y. Kehilot Yisrael: BeSlovakia, Transylvania VeYugoslavia. USA, 1934. Jerusalem, 1968. (H)
  • Biographical and genealogical material about rabbis and prominent people in the Balkan communities. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Hock. Mishpakhot K"K Prague. Prague, 1892. (H)
  • Epitaphs in the old Jewish cemetery in Prague, listed by surname. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• Moneles, O. Ketovot Mibeit Ha'almin Hayehudi Ha'atic Beprag (Inscriptions from the Ancient Jewish Cemetery in Prague). Jerusalem, 1988. (H) (Earlier editions in Czech and German).
  • Selected tombstone inscription from Prague. Includes considerable genealogical information and photographs of selected tombstones. Corrects several errors made by earlier researchers. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]

SOUTH AFRICA

• Abrahms, Israel. The Birth of a Community: A History of Western Province Jewry from Earliest Times to the end of the South African War, 1902. Volume I. Cape Town: Cape Town Hebrew Congregation, 1955. (E)
• Belling, Veronica. Bibliography of South African Jewry. Cape Town: Jewish Publications, 1997. (E)
• Feldberg, Leon, ed. South African Jewry: A Survey of the Jewish Community, Its Contributions to South Africa, Directory of Communal Institutions, and Who's Who of Leading Personalities. (E)
  • 1965 edition. Johannesburg: Fieldhill Publishing, 1965.
  • 1967-8 edition. Johannesburg: Fieldhill Publishing, 1968.
  • 1976-77 edition, 3rd rev. ed. Roodepoort: Alex White, 1977.
• Gad, Rabbi J. Sefer Toldot Beit Josef. Johannesburg: Rabbi J. Gad, 1941. 2 Vols. (H)
  • Possibly the only Sefer Prenumeranten published in South Africa. It lists about 1,800 subscribers. [Comment by Ann Rabinowitz]
• Hoffmann, N.D. Book of Memories: Reminiscences of South African Jewry. Cape Town: Jewish Publications, 1996. (E)
• Kessler, S. "The South African Rabbinate in the Apartheid Era." Jewish Affairs. 50(1), 1995: 31-[35]. (E)
• South African Jewish Year Book. 1929, 1942/3, 1953/4, 1954/5, 1955/6, 1956/7, 1957/8, 1959, 1959/60, 1960/61, 1961/2. Johannesburg: South African Jewish Historical Society. from 1953 published by Fieldhill Publishing. (E)
  • Provide entries for many of the rabbinical, cantorial and religious personnel in South Africa, as well as biographies of the major rabbinical figures. [Comment by Ann Rabinowitz]
  • See also: South Africa Jewish Year Book Database
• Sowden, Dora Leah and Rabbi Maurice Konvisser, eds. The Jew in South Africa: A Record of What Individual Jews are Doing in Various Spheres of the Country's Life. Johannesburg: Century Publishing, 1945. (E)

South African resources contributed by Ann Rabinowitz.

UNITED STATES

• Abramowitz, Mayer S. Khakhmei Yisroel of New England: Pictorial History of the New England Orthodox Rabbinate. Worcester, MA: Nathan Stolnitz Archives, 1991. (E)
• Eisenstadt, Benzion. Anshei ha-shem. St. Louis, 1933. (H)
  • Biographies of Jews in the United States.
• Eisenstadt, Benzion.
  • Dor rabanav ve-sofrav. Warsaw-Vilna: Halter-Eisenstadt 1895-1903. (H)
  • Doroth ha-aharonim. A. H. Rosenberg, 1913-15, 1936-41.(H)
  • Le-toldoth Yisrael be-Amerikah. New York, 1917. (H)
    • A series of books comprising rabbinical biographies, mainly in Europe and America. There is a reprinted version in which the individual books have been bound together. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
• American Jewish Year Book (AJYB). issued by the Jewish Publication Society of America and subsequently by the American Jewish Committee. Vols. 1-50, 1899/1900-1948/49. 2 v.; v. 51-94, 1950-1994. 1 v. (E)
  • Includes lists and short biographies of American rabbis. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
  • JewishGen's American Jewish Year Book database: Cumulative Index of Obituaries: Names Of Over 3000 Notable Jews Who Died Between 1948 and 1998. See the searchable database that includes notable rabbis and cantors officiating in the United States: www.jewishgen.org/databases/USA/ajybweb.htm [Comment by Bernard Israelite Kouchel]

  See also: Researching Rabbis at the Center for Jewish History: American Jewish Historical Society.

4Information on rabbinical genealogy published on the Internet may be found separately in the extensive Links section of the Rav-SIG web site. See: Links Index.

4See also: JewishGen Yizkor Book Translation Project.

FOOTNOTES

1. All comments by Chaim Freedman are used with permission from his book, Beit Rabbanan: Sources of Rabbinic Genealogy. Petah Tikva, Israel: self-published, 2001.

2. Einsiedler, David. "Are You a Descendant of King David? A Look at Rabbinic Sources." RootsKey: Journal of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles. Spring, 1988.

3. Greenbaum, Avraham. A look at Rabbinic biographical dictionaries published since 1950. 2000.

4. Hundert, Gershon David. "18th-Century Polish Jewry: Demographic and Genealogical Problems." Avotaynu: The International Review of Jewish Genealogy. Winter, 1999.

5. Einsiedler, David. "Fathers of Jewish Genealogy." RootsKey: Journal of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles. Spring, 1995.

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