FamilySearch.org is a free and powerful tool for Jewish genealogy, and it complements Ancestry.com beautifully. Operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FamilySearch has one of the largest collections of global historical records, including many relevant to Jewish families in Eastern Europe, North America, and beyond.

Here’s a step-by-step guide tailored for Jewish genealogy research on FamilySearch

How to Use FamilySearch.org for Jewish Genealogy

1. Start with What You Know

• Begin your family tree on FamilySearch (it’s free).
• Enter full names, birth and death dates, and locations — even if uncertain.
• Include alternate spellings, Hebrew names, and possible Yiddish variations.
• Example: “Rivka (Rebecca) Katz / Kac / Kats.”
• FamilySearch trees are collaborative, so others researching your line might already have details you can build on.

2. Search Key Record Collections

FamilySearch offers millions of Jewish-related records, though not always labeled as “Jewish.”

Use the “Search → Records” tab and try these:

• U.S. and Immigration Records
• New York Passenger Lists (1820–1957) – many Jewish immigrants entered through Ellis Island.
• Naturalization Records – often show birthplace and immigration year.
• U.S. Census Records (1790–1950) – can reveal extended families and migration patterns.
• Eastern European Records
• Use “Catalog” → search by place name (not just country):
• “Poland, Łódź”
• “Ukraine, Lviv”
• “Lithuania, Kaunas”
• “Belarus, Minsk”

These may include civil registration, tax lists, and Jewish vital records (birth, marriage, death).

Tip: Even if the records are not indexed, many are digitized images you can browse like microfilm.

3. Use the Catalog and Film Viewer

• Go to Search → Catalog
• Enter a town name, not just a country (e.g., “Bialystok” or “Warszawa”).
• Look under headings like:
• “Jewish records”
• “Civil registration”
• “Vital records (Jewish)”
• Click the camera icon to view records online (some may require a free account or viewing at a FamilySearch Center).

4. Combine DNA with Traditional Records

While FamilySearch doesn’t offer DNA testing, you can:

• Use AncestryDNA or MyHeritageDNA to find matches.
• Then connect those findings with the FamilySearch tree to build documented relationships.

5. Holocaust and Refugee Research

Search the FamilySearch Catalog for:

• Holocaust memorial books (often digitized from Yad Vashem or local archives)
• Displaced persons camp records (post–WWII)
• Refugee and immigration files

6. Join Jewish Family History Communities

• FamilySearch hosts or links to partner projects and groups:
• FamilySearch Wiki → “Jewish Genealogy” (https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Jewish_Genealogy)