Belarus Deaths Database

The JewishGen Belarus Database contains Jewish death records from towns in Belarus

These records were originally created by the Jewish Congregations of the various towns where the records were recorded.  The text is both in Russian (Cyrillic alphabet) and Hebrew script, although some records are in Russian only

Database Fields

The Register of Death records typically contain the following information:

• Microfilm # - The microfilm number from LDS Family History Library (if these records were microfilmed).


• Microfilm Item # - The microfilm item number on the microfilm.


• Image # - Image number on microfilm, if available, or the page number located at the top right on the record itself (this will enable you to locate the record on the film).


• Place Recorded - The place that the death was registered.


• Year Recorded - The year that the death was registered.


• Record # - The record number of the death in the original books  (numbers are preceded by "F" for female or "M" for male) .


• Surname - The surname (last name, family name) of the deceased.


• Given Name - The first name(s) of the deceased.


• Father - The deceased's father's given name.


• Mother - The deceased's mother's name(s)


• Mother's Maiden Surname - The deceased's mother's maiden name (not always given).


• Spouse - The deceased's spouse's first name(s).


• Spouse Surname - The surname (last name, family name) of the deceased's spouse.


• Cause of Death - Cause of the death and any comments about the death.


• Age - Age of the deceased.


• Date of Death - Day, month, and year of death, according to the Julian calendar.


• Date of Death (Hebrew Calendar) - Day and month of death, according to the Jewish calendar .


• Town of Death - Place of death.


• District - The "uyezd"- the district name - of the town of death.


• Guberniya - The Guberniya (Russian province) of the town of death.


• Comments - All other information which doesn't fit into any other column.  This may include:
  • Town of the father
  • Profession
  • Location of the death


• Archive/Fond - The archive where this record is now located and the particular Fond / List / Item number in that archive.

Sample Record

Sample Death Record

Contents of the Database

There are approximately 37,900 translated death records for towns in Belarus in the JewishGen Belarus database and the All Lithuania database. Below is a listing of the towns.

Translation/Transliteration Methods

Translators are instructed to follow JewishGen transcription rules.  Unless otherwise noted, transliterations follow the BGN/PCGN Romanization of Russian and the YIVO Romanization Standard for Yiddish/Hebrew. 

Records have been formatted according to JewishGen transcription templates.

If the Hebrew/Yiddish name differs from the Russian name, both names are listed separated by a forward slash (/)

Recommendations for Searching

Search the records using the Daitch-Mokotoff Soundex as well as the exact name, due to variations in spelling and because some records were transliterated from Russian only and not Hebrew.

Search all town records even if you believe you know the town your relatives came from.  Families moved around quite a lot, so the records that you are searching for could be in any database. 

Obtaining Copies of Original Records

If a record has been microfilmed by the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS), then one can order the microfilm from any Family History Center.  You will need to know the Family History Library microfilm number (FHL #), item number, image number and record number.

If a record was not microfilmed by the LDS then contact the project leader for information on obtaining copies of an original record.

Acknowledgements

• The many translators who helped us with these records: Boris Bayevsky, Arkady Brazin, Vitaly Charny, Rimma Dechter, Zhanna Glazenburg, Vladimir Golynya, Baruch Gorkin, Natasha Grinberg, Ronnie Harpaz, Joshua Kaufman, Greg Mirsky, Frank Proschan, Lara Tsinman, Dena Whitman, Irina Zabelyshinsky, Ludmila Zapletnyuk and Elena Zborovskaya
• Avraham Groll, Alex Kotovskiy, Gary Sandler, Warren Blatt and Michael Tobias for their support at JewishGen
• The many people whose financial contributions have made it feasible to obtain these records.

Searching the Database

This database is searchable via the JewishGen Belarus Database.