Journey Through Digital Time: Accessing Online Archives in Poland, Ukraine & Lithuania

Historical research often begins with a simple artifact — a postcard, photograph, or certificate — that sparks curiosity about the people behind the names. Exploring online archives from Poland, Ukraine, and Lithuania can reveal not just dates and locations, but the rich stories of ancestors’ lives. This guide will explain how to access these digital resources and make the most of them in a human-centered, narrative way.

Poland: Discovering Stories on “Szukaj w Archiwach”

Poland offers a wealth of digital resources through Szukaj w Archiwach (“Search the Archives”), a portal maintained by the Polish State Archives. It provides access to parish registers, civil records, maps, photos, and other historical documents. The portal’s search functionality allows filtering by document type, region, and date range, making it easier to locate specific records. Search Polish State Archives

The portal is complemented by other digital collections such as Polona, which includes books, periodicals, and manuscripts that provide context to historical research. Researchers can create accounts to save searches and build personal collections of archival materials. Search Polona

A practical tip for Polish research is to try multiple spellings of names and towns, including historical variations and diacritics, as archival materials often use older or regional forms. ([archiwa.gov.pl](https://archiwa.gov.pl/en/search-in-archives/genealogy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

Ukraine: Regional Archives and Smart Searching Strategies

Ukraine’s archival system is more decentralized, with many regional archives maintaining their own online catalogs or PDF inventories. The State Archival Service of Ukraine provides information about digitization projects and services, helping researchers navigate the regional landscape.

Knowing both the modern and historical names of towns is essential for effective searching. Using variations in Ukrainian, Russian, or Polish can reveal records that might otherwise remain hidden. Contacting archives via email with precise details often allows access to scanned documents or guidance for requesting copies. 

Church registers, or metrical books, provide records of births, marriages, and deaths. These documents bring historical communities to life, giving insight into family structures, naming patterns, and social networks of the past. 

Lithuania: Exploring EAIS and the Human Stories Behind Records

Lithuania offers digital access through the Electronic Archives Information System (EAIS) and the Lithuanian State Historical Archives (LVIA). These archives include parish books, census lists, land documents, and other historical materials. Downloadable indexes make it easier to locate specific records and request scans when needed. 

Specialized databases such as the JewishGen Lithuania Database aggregate records of Jewish communities, allowing researchers to trace families across towns and generations. FamilySearch also hosts Lithuanian collections accessible with a free account. 

Tips for Making the Archive Experience Personal

Accessing historical records is not only about gathering documents; it is about connecting with the lives behind them. Practical strategies include:

• Embrace the language challenge: Browser translations and dictionaries help navigate non-English interfaces and understand archival descriptions.
• Try multiple spellings: Historical documents often use alternate forms of names and towns. Testing variations can reveal additional records.
• Index first, view later: Download indexes and PDFs before accessing scans. This approach helps focus the search and prevents unnecessary delays.
• Join online communities: Genealogy forums, social media groups, and Reddit threads are valuable sources of tips and practical advice.
• Patience is key: Some archives respond quickly, while others take time. Each document retrieved is a step closer to understanding the past.

Conclusion: Connecting with History

Online archives from Poland, Ukraine, and Lithuania open doors to the past, allowing researchers to uncover names, dates, and stories that breathe life into history. Each record is more than a piece of paper — it represents the experiences, challenges, and achievements of individuals and communities. Approaching archival research with curiosity, patience, and respect transforms a list of documents into a meaningful journey through time. By exploring these digital resources, the histories of ancestors and communities become vivid, creating a lasting connection with the past.

How to Find Jewish Military Records from World War I and World War II

For many Jewish families, military service during World War I and World War II is a powerful but often under-documented chapter of their family story. Jewish men — and later women — served in armies across Europe, the United States, the British Empire, and beyond. Some survived and returned home. Others perished in battle, in captivity, or later during the Holocaust. Tracing these records can feel overwhelming, but with the right approach and resources, you can uncover remarkable details about your ancestor’s service.

Start with What You Know

Before diving into archives, gather everything already in your family’s possession. Look for draft cards, discharge papers, military medals, photographs in uniform, passports, letters, or even oral histories passed down through generations. Pay close attention to names, dates of birth, places of residence, and any mention of a regiment, unit, or military branch. Jewish soldiers often served under localized or transliterated names, so note spelling variations.

Knowing which country your ancestor lived in at the time of the war is crucial. Borders shifted dramatically after both wars, and a town that was Austrian in 1914 may have been Polish or Ukrainian by 1930.

World War I Military Records

World War I records can be challenging, but they are far from impossible to find. Many Jewish soldiers served in the armies of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, the Ottoman Empire, Britain, France, and the United States.

For U.S. soldiers, start with World War I draft registration cards. These records often include birth dates, occupations, addresses, and next of kin. They do not confirm service but provide vital context.

European WWI records are often held in national or regional archives. Countries like Germany and Austria maintain regimental rosters, casualty lists, and pension files. Jewish soldiers may also appear in pre-war census records that later connect to military service.

A lesser-known resource is Jewish community memorial books (Yizkor books), which sometimes list local men who served and died in World War I — even decades before the Holocaust.

World War II Military Records

World War II generated far more documentation, but Jewish military service is often fragmented due to displacement, persecution, and name changes.

If your ancestor served in the U.S. military, look for draft cards, enlistment records, unit histories, and burial records. Keep in mind that many U.S. Army personnel files were destroyed in the 1973 National Personnel Records Center fire, but alternate records such as morning reports and payrolls can help reconstruct service.

For British and Commonwealth forces, service records, medal cards, and casualty lists are key. Jewish refugees who escaped Europe often enlisted in the British Army or auxiliary units.

In Europe, Jewish men served in Polish, Soviet, French, and other national forces. Some later joined partisan units or resistance movements. These records may be found in military archives, Holocaust research institutions, and survivor testimony collections.

Holocaust-Era Overlap

For Jewish soldiers, military service and Holocaust history frequently intersect. Some veterans were later deported, imprisoned as prisoners of war, or targeted due to their Jewish identity.

Institutions such as Yad Vashem and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum hold collections that include military service references, POW records, and post-war testimonies. A soldier’s military background may appear indirectly in transport lists, camp records, or survivor questionnaires.

Name Challenges and Language Barriers

One of the biggest obstacles in Jewish military research is names. Jewish soldiers often used Yiddish, Hebrew, Russian, German, or Anglicized versions of their names depending on the country and period. A single individual may appear under several spellings across different records.

When searching, try multiple variations and be flexible with dates. Learning basic military terms in the relevant language can dramatically improve search results.

Photographs, Medals, and Unit Histories

Do not underestimate the power of context. Even if you cannot find a full service file, regimental histories, unit war diaries, and battlefield maps can help you understand where your ancestor served and what they experienced.

Photographs with insignia or medals can often be identified with the help of military historians or online forums dedicated to uniform identification.

Be Patient — and Persistent

Finding Jewish military records from World War I and World War II is rarely a one-step process. It often requires piecing together clues from civilian records, community sources, and multiple archives across different countries.

But when you succeed, the reward is profound. Military records do more than list dates and ranks — they restore agency, courage, and humanity to ancestors whose lives were shaped by the most turbulent events of the twentieth century.

With patience and persistence, you may uncover not just a soldier’s service, but a powerful chapter of Jewish resilience and survival.

Researching family members affected by the Holocaust can be emotionally heavy and logistically confusing.

This guide walks you through how to find and request records from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, what kinds of documents are available, and how to make the most of your search.

What Records Does the USHMM Hold?

The USHMM has collected millions of documents from archives across Europe and beyond. These records were gathered to preserve evidence of Nazi persecution and to help families trace what happened to loved ones.

You may find:

• Concentration and labor camp records
• Ghetto documentation and census lists
• Displaced Persons (DP) camp records
• Transport and deportation lists
• Postwar registration cards
• Testimonies and survivor questionnaires
• Nazi-era identification documents

Not every victim appears in surviving records, but even partial information can provide crucial clues and context.

Start with the Holocaust Survivors and Victims Database

Your first stop should be the Holocaust Survivors and Victims Database on the USHMM website. This searchable database brings together names from many different collections into one place.

When searching, try:

• Multiple spellings of surnames
• Using only a first or last name
• Searching by town of origin
• Removing accents or diacritical marks

Search results often link to specific archival collections. Even if you don’t immediately recognize a document, note the collection name — it can guide further research.

Explore the Museum’s Archival Collections

The USHMM archives contain thousands of collections acquired from institutions worldwide. Many collection descriptions are available online, and some materials are digitized.

Look for:

• Finding aids that describe what each collection contains
• Notes on which materials are available online
• References to original European archives

If a record is not digitized, don’t assume it’s unreachable. Many materials can be accessed through a research request.

Submitting a Research Request

If you’re unable to locate records on your own, you can submit a research inquiry directly to the museum. The USHMM has a dedicated reference staff experienced in Holocaust-era documentation.

When submitting a request, include:

• Full name of the person you’re researching
• Approximate birth year
• Place of birth or residence
• Known camps, ghettos, or wartime locations
• Any alternate spellings or aliases

The more context you provide, the better the chances of a meaningful result. Responses may take time, so patience is important.

On-Site Research at the Museum

If you are able to visit Washington, D.C., the USHMM offers on-site access to additional archival materials. Some collections can only be viewed in person due to copyright or preservation restrictions.

Before visiting:

• Search the online catalogs to identify relevant collections
• Request materials in advance when possible
• Bring photo ID and be prepared to follow archive rules

Archivists on site can help guide you, explain documents, and suggest related collections.

Understanding What You Find

Holocaust-era records can be fragmented, bureaucratic, and difficult to interpret. Dates may conflict, names may be misspelled, and details may be incomplete. This is normal.

Think of each document as a puzzle piece rather than a complete story. One transport list, registration card, or DP record can open doors to additional archives and resources.

A Final Word

Searching the records of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is more than a research task — it is an act of remembrance. Whether you uncover extensive documentation or only a single line in a ledger, that record helps ensure a life is not forgotten.

Take breaks when you need them, document what you find, and remember that every discovery, no matter how small, matters.

Today we pause to remember Pearl Harbor — a morning that changed our nation forever and took the lives of more than 2,400 Americans.

Among those who answered the call to duty were thousands of Jewish servicemen — sailors, airmen, soldiers — serving shoulder-to-shoulder with Americans of every background. Some were killed in the attack, some were wounded, and many survived to carry the memories of that day for the rest of their lives.

We remember individuals whose stories have come down to us:

Ensign Charles M. Stern Jr. — lost aboard the USS Oklahoma.
Sherman Levine — killed at Hickam Field.
Jack H. Feldman — 22nd Materiel Squadron, Hickam Field.
Louis (Lew) Schleifer — heroically killed at Hickam Field while trying to move aircraft to safety; later awarded the Silver Star.
Alfred A. Rosenthal — radioman on the USS California.

And we honor Jewish servicemen who survived the attack, including:

Aaron Chabin — U.S. Army Signal Corps, who later shared his eyewitness memories.
Benjamin (Ben) Lichtman — a sailor aboard the USS West Virginia.
Lee Goldfarb — Navy radioman and Pearl Harbor survivor.

These are just a few of the known names. Because military records did not track religious identity, countless Jewish servicemen who were there that morning remain unnamed — yet no less remembered. We have a useful link page to with references to sites where you can find your military Jewish ancestors.

Today we honor all who served and sacrificed on December 7, 1941. Their bravery reminds us that Americans of every background stood — and still stand — together in defense of freedom.

May the memory of the fallen be a blessing.
We remember Pearl Harbor — and we remember them.

Preserve Jewish Heritage — Join and Support Our Mission

As technology advances, so does our ability to trace Jewish ancestry across generations and continents. Our nonprofit Jewish genealogy organization in Colorado is dedicated to helping individuals explore, document, and preserve their family stories — stories that might otherwise be lost.

Your membership and donations make this work possible. Together, we can connect families, honor our ancestors, and strengthen our shared heritage.

Join us today or make a tax-deductible contribution to help continue this vital mission of Jewish genealogical discovery.

Even a single entry at Yad Vashem can restore identity, dignity, and memory to someone who was meant to be erased — and that makes every search worthwhile.

For many people researching Jewish family history, Yad Vashem is not just an archive — it’s a place of memory, testimony, and sometimes the only surviving trace of a life interrupted by the Holocaust. If you believe a relative was murdered during the Shoah, deported, imprisoned, or displaced, Yad Vashem may hold records that can help you reconstruct their story. While the process can feel intimidating at first, accessing records from Yad Vashem is more approachable than it seems.

What is Yad Vashem?

Yad Vashem, located in Jerusalem, is the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. It maintains one of the largest and most important collections of Holocaust-related documentation in the world. These records come from survivors, families, governments, communities, and postwar investigations. For genealogists, Yad Vashem is often the first — and sometimes only — place where a victim’s name appears in writing.

Start with the Central Database of Shoah Victims’ Names

Your first stop should be the Central Database of Shoah Victims’ Names, which is available online for free. This searchable database contains millions of names and is built largely from Pages of Testimony, along with archival documents and lists compiled after the war.

When searching, try multiple spellings of surnames and given names. Names were recorded in many languages — Hebrew, Yiddish, Polish, German, Russian, Hungarian, and more — and spellings often changed. If you’re not finding results right away, search by first name only, year of birth, or place of residence before the war.

Understanding Pages of Testimony

Pages of Testimony are among the most powerful records at Yad Vashem. These forms were submitted by survivors, relatives, or friends to commemorate individuals who were murdered in the Holocaust. A Page of Testimony may include:

• Full name (sometimes including maiden name)
• Date and place of birth
• Last known place of residence
• Occupation or family relationships
• Details about how or where the person was murdered
• Name and relationship of the person who submitted the page

Even when details are incomplete, the name of the submitter can be a breakthrough clue, pointing you to previously unknown relatives or community connections.

Explore Additional Archival Records

Beyond Pages of Testimony, Yad Vashem holds a vast archive of documents, including:

• Deportation and transport lists
• Ghetto and camp records
• Forced labor documentation
• Postwar survivor lists
• Testimonies, memoirs, and photographs

Many of these materials are digitized and linked directly to individual name records. Others may require a more in-depth search or a formal request to the archives.

Requesting Records from Yad Vashem

If you find a reference to a document that is not fully available online, you can submit a request through Yad Vashem’s website. Be as specific as possible: include full names, dates, places, and any archival reference numbers you’ve already identified. The more context you provide, the easier it is for archivists to locate relevant materials.

Response times can vary, and not every request will result in new information, but even negative results help narrow the historical picture.

Tips for a More Successful Search

• Search regularly — new records are added as collections are digitized.
• Check related names from the same town or family.
• Don’t ignore partial matches or vague entries.
• Combine Yad Vashem research with other databases like JewishGen or Arolsen Archives.

More Than Records

Working with Yad Vashem records can be emotionally heavy. These documents don’t just list names; they represent real people, families, and communities that were destroyed. Take breaks when you need them, and remember that preserving these names is itself an act of remembrance.

Even a single entry at Yad Vashem can restore identity, dignity, and memory to someone who was meant to be erased — and that makes every search worthwhile.

Community records from Europe are some of the most underrated treasures in historical and genealogical research. They don’t just tell you when someone was born, married, or died — they tell you how people lived, who they relied on, and what kind of community surrounded them. Whether you’re researching Jewish ancestors, another religious or ethnic group, or simply trying to understand everyday life in a European town, community records can add depth and color that vital records alone never will.

So what exactly counts as a “community record”? Think beyond civil registration. Community records include synagogue and church registers, town council minutes, school lists, tax rolls, guild memberships, cemetery records, poor relief files, and even membership lists for cultural or charitable organizations. These documents were created by communities for communities — and that’s what makes them so powerful.

Local and Municipal Archives

Your first major stop should be local or regional archives. In many European countries, town halls, district archives, and state archives hold centuries’ worth of community documentation. These collections often include census substitutes, residency permits, household registers, voter lists, and tax assessments. Even if a town was small, it likely generated paperwork — and archivists preserved more than you might expect.

Many European archives now offer online catalogs, and some have digitized portions of their collections. Even when records aren’t online, catalog descriptions can reveal what exists and whether it’s worth requesting copies or hiring a local researcher.

Religious Institutions and Denominational Archives

Religious communities were record-keeping machines. Churches documented baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials, and parish membership. Synagogues recorded circumcisions, marriages, burial society activities, seat holders, and charity distributions. These records often predate civil registration by decades or even centuries.

Some records remain with the original congregation, while others were transferred to regional or national religious archives. For Jewish research, centralized repositories and umbrella organizations often safeguard defunct synagogue records, especially in areas affected by war or migration.

National Archives and Government Repositories

National archives can be goldmines for community-level material, especially when local records were absorbed by the state. Here you may find population registers, military conscription lists, citizenship applications, school records, and court documents that name entire households or neighborhoods.

In parts of Eastern and Central Europe, governments kept detailed residency records that tracked families as they moved within a region. These documents can quietly bridge gaps where birth or marriage records are missing.

Libraries, Universities, and Historical Societies

Don’t overlook academic and cultural institutions. University libraries and historical societies often hold unpublished manuscripts, community histories, membership lists, and transcribed records created by local historians. These sources are especially valuable when original records were destroyed or lost.

Some libraries also house memorial books, anniversary publications, or commemorative volumes produced by towns and organizations. These may include photographs, name lists, and personal stories that exist nowhere else.

Online Databases and Digital Projects

Over the past two decades, massive digitization efforts have made European community records more accessible than ever. Specialized genealogy websites, regional digitization projects, and volunteer-driven initiatives host millions of indexed and scanned documents.

These platforms often include translations, explanations of historical terms, and user-contributed annotations. While coverage varies by country and time period, online databases are an excellent way to survey what exists before diving deeper.

Cemeteries, Burial Societies, and Memorial Records

Cemetery records are community records in their purest form. Burial registers, plot maps, gravestone inscriptions, and burial society logs can reveal family relationships, social status, and religious affiliation. In some cases, burial societies kept meticulous notes about members, dues, and charitable aid.

Even when cemeteries were damaged or destroyed, transcriptions and surveys may survive in archives or online collections.

Tips for Success

When researching European community records, patience and flexibility are essential. Records may be in unfamiliar languages, scripts, or formats. Place names may have changed. Jurisdictions shifted over time. Start broad, then narrow your focus.

Most importantly, remember that community records are about connection. They don’t just document individuals — they reveal networks of neighbors, relatives, and institutions. Follow those connections, and you’ll often uncover stories you didn’t even know to look for.

Preserve Jewish Heritage — Join and Support Our Mission

As technology advances, so does our ability to trace Jewish ancestry across generations and continents. Our nonprofit Jewish genealogy organization in Colorado is dedicated to helping individuals explore, document, and preserve their family stories — stories that might otherwise be lost.

Your membership and donations make this work possible. Together, we can connect families, honor our ancestors, and strengthen our shared heritage.

Join us today or make a tax-deductible contribution to help continue this vital mission of Jewish genealogical discovery.

Finding European Synagogue Records

Finding synagogue records in Europe can feel like opening a time capsule-dusty, mysterious, and possibly in another language-but those records are among the richest sources for Jewish family history. Here’s a practical guide to where to look, what you’ll find, and a few tips to make the search less daunting.

Start with big online archives and databases.

Do your web research before traveling to archives. The ITS and JewishGen have amassed massive collections and indexes of synagogue, community, and vital records. JewishGen's Family Finder and Communities Database provide links to local record holdings and volunteer-transcribed lists; it is an essential first stop if you want to see whether records for your town exist and where they're kept. Many national and regional archives also put digitized material online, so try searching the national archive of the country where your family lived-Poland, Lithuania, Romania, Hungary, Belarus, Germany, and others have online catalogs you can query.

National and regional archives

Throughout Europe, civic and national archives are often the repository for older synagogue and communal records. For instance, civil registration was initiated at various times in different countries, and those civil registers sometimes subsumed the earlier communal records or were retained alongside. Search for the national archive - commonly designated “State Archives,” “Arhiv,” or “Archiv” - and the appropriate regional branch relating to the town of interest. Numerous archives have the ability to search online catalogs or digitized record collections; if not, email or write the archive with the name of the town and approximate dates.

Various local Jewish community offices and historical societies

Where Jewish communities survived or reconstituted after WWII, the local community office often retains synagogue minute books, membership lists, burial society records and cemetery logs. Historical societies dedicated to Jewish history - regional or town-based - sometimes have copies or transcriptions. Even if the original synagogue no longer exists, the successor community or municipal library occasionally possesses remnants or photocopies.

Cemetery and burial records

Cemeteries were well-documented by the Jewish community. The burial registers can contain names, dates, family relationships, and even street addresses or occupations. Search out cemetery databases and projects such as the International Jewish Cemetery Project. Many cemetery records have been photographed and indexed by volunteers; these can be a treasure when synagogue records no longer exist.
Records of rabbinical court and community institutions (Beth Din)
Rabbinical courts, kosher supervision boards, and communal charities kept records that often include family events, divorces, adoptions, disputes, and financial transactions. These documents aren't always online, but national and regional archives or university special collections sometimes acquire them. If you identify a town, try searching the catalogues for "beth din", "rabbinical", or the local Jewish council historical name.

Libraries, universities and special collections

Academic institutions with Judaica departments or special collections often have synagogue archives, prayer books with marginal notes, community histories, and microfilmed records. Major centers in Europe and North America have acquired collections from Eastern Europe; check university library catalogs and contact the Judaica curator.

Yizkor books and oral histories

• Collect variants of place-names and language spellings; most towns have different names in Yiddish, Polish, German, Lithuanian, Hebrew, not to mention local dialects: 
• Note date ranges: different record types began at different times (e.g. civil registers vs. synagogue birth registers).
• Reach out to local archivists and Jewish genealogical groups, often eager to help and having access to obscure holdings.
• If it is impossible to travel, engage professional in-country researchers; many archives accept research requests for a fee.

Tracking synagogue records is detective work that blends online sleuthing with old-fashioned networking. Start broad with JewishGen and national archives, narrow by town and repository, and follow leads into cemeteries, rabbinical court files, and university collections. With persistence, and a few well-placed emails, those synagogue doors often open-and behind them, whole branches of your family story are waiting.

Beyond Ellis Island: Other Ports of Entry for Jewish Immigrants

When people think about Jewish immigration, Ellis Island usually steals the spotlight—and for good reason. Millions passed through New York on their way to new lives. But Jewish immigration was never a one-port story. In reality, Jewish immigrants entered through dozens of ports across the United States and around the world, each leaving behind records and stories just waiting to be discovered.

If your ancestor doesn’t show up at Ellis Island, don’t assume the trail has gone cold. It may simply start somewhere else.

Philadelphia: A Major but Often Overlooked Port

Philadelphia was one of the most important ports of entry for Jewish immigrants, especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many Jews settled in the city itself, while others continued west to cities like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Chicago.

Passenger lists from Philadelphia often include the same rich details as New York manifests—age, occupation, last residence, and who the immigrant was joining. If your family ended up in Pennsylvania or the Midwest, this port deserves a close look.

Baltimore and Boston: Smaller Ports with Big Impact

Baltimore handled a steady stream of Jewish immigrants, particularly those headed to the Mid-Atlantic and Southern states. Boston, while smaller, was an important entry point for Jews settling in New England.

Because these ports processed fewer passengers than New York, records can sometimes be easier to search and less cluttered with similar names—an unexpected bonus for genealogists.

Galveston, Texas: A Deliberate Detour

One of the most fascinating chapters in Jewish immigration history is the Galveston Movement (1907–1914). Jewish organizations encouraged immigrants to enter through Galveston, Texas, rather than New York, to ease overcrowding and promote settlement in the American interior.

Thousands of Jewish immigrants arrived through Galveston and spread throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and beyond. If your ancestors settled in the South or Southwest, Galveston passenger lists may hold the key.

Canadian Ports: Halifax, Montreal, and Quebec

Not all Jewish immigrants came directly to the United States. Many entered through Canada, especially Halifax’s Pier 21, Montreal, and Quebec City.

Some families remained in Canada, while others crossed the border into the U.S. later. These movements don’t always show up in American passenger lists, making Canadian records an essential stop for researchers with brick walls.

South America, South Africa, and Palestine

Jewish migration was global. Significant numbers of Jews immigrated to Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, South Africa, and Palestine (later Israel).

Passenger lists and immigration records from these destinations can include hometowns, family members, and sponsorship information. Even if your family eventually moved again, these records may preserve details lost elsewhere.

How to Research Non–New York Ports

The key to finding these records is keeping an open mind—and widening your search strategy.

• Search by destination city, not just arrival port
• Try surname variations and first-name alternatives
• Look for relatives traveling together or joining earlier arrivals

Many Jewish immigrants followed family networks, choosing ports based on where help awaited them.

A Bigger Picture of the Journey

Jewish immigration didn’t follow a single path, and your family’s story may be richer than you expect. Each port of entry represents a different decision, opportunity, and moment of courage.

When you expand your search beyond Ellis Island, you don’t just increase your chances of finding records—you uncover the fuller, more human story of how your family found its way forward.

Where to Find Jewish Immigrant and Passenger Lists (And How to Actually Use Them)

For many Jewish families, immigration records are the emotional turning point in their story. Passenger lists capture the moment an ancestor left everything familiar behind and stepped into the unknown. If you’re tracing Jewish roots, these records can be absolute game-changers—often revealing original surnames, hometowns, relatives, and even who paid for the journey.

The trick is knowing where to find Jewish immigrant and passenger lists and how to read them with a genealogist’s eye.

Ellis Island and Castle Garden (United States)

If your ancestors arrived in the United States between 1820 and 1957, there’s a strong chance they passed through New York.

• Castle Garden: Covers arrivals from 1820 to 1892.
• Ellis Island: Covers arrivals from 1892 to 1957.

Passenger manifests from these ports can include age, marital status, last residence, final destination, and the name of a relative left behind or being joined. For Jewish immigrants, that “old country” town name is often the breakthrough clue.

Pro tip: Search with flexible spelling. Jewish surnames were often recorded phonetically, and given names may appear in Yiddish, Hebrew, or Anglicized forms.

Ancestry.com: Immigration Records in One Place

Ancestry is one of the easiest platforms for finding passenger lists, especially if you’re searching broadly.

It includes:

• U.S. passenger arrival lists
• Hamburg and Bremen departure lists
• Naturalization records that confirm arrival details

One advantage of Ancestry is the ability to link passenger lists to census records, draft cards, and death certificates—helping you confirm that the person on the ship is truly your ancestor.

FamilySearch.org: Free and Surprisingly Deep

FamilySearch offers free access to millions of immigration records, including digitized passenger lists and indexes.

Many Jewish researchers overlook FamilySearch, but it’s especially useful when you already know a ship name, approximate year, or port of arrival. Some records are not indexed, meaning you may need to browse images—but that extra effort often pays off.

FamilySearch also links immigration records to family trees, which can provide helpful (though always unverified) clues.

European Departure Lists

Sometimes the best clues come from the other side of the journey.

• Hamburg Passenger Lists: Cover millions of emigrants leaving Europe.
• Bremen Records: More limited, but still valuable.

These lists may include place of birth, last residence, and traveling companions—especially helpful for Jewish families who migrated together or followed earlier relatives.

Other Ports and Destinations

Not all Jewish immigrants went to New York.

• Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, and Galveston handled significant Jewish immigration.
• Canada, South America, South Africa, and Palestine also received large numbers of Jewish immigrants.

Each destination has its own passenger list collections, often accessible through national archives or genealogy websites.

How to Read Jewish Passenger Lists Carefully

Passenger lists are more than names on a page. Pay close attention to:

• Names of relatives in the old country
• Who the immigrant was going to join
• Final destination city (often where family already lived)
• Occupation and literacy

For Jewish immigrants, these details help reconstruct entire family networks and migration patterns.

Patience Is Part of the Process

You may search ten manifests before finding the right one—or discover your ancestor traveled under a name you’ve never heard before. That’s normal.

Jewish passenger lists reward persistence. Each record adds context, connection, and humanity to your family’s journey. And when you finally spot that hometown name or familiar relative, it’s a moment that makes every search worthwhile.

Because these lists don’t just show how your ancestors traveled—they show why they mattered enough to be remembered.

The Best Websites for Jewish Genealogy Records (And How to Use Them)

If you’re researching Jewish ancestors, you’ve probably already discovered one simple truth: Jewish genealogy is incredibly rewarding—and occasionally a little maddening. Names change, borders shift, languages multiply, and records don’t always live where you expect them to. Thankfully, a handful of excellent websites specialize in Jewish genealogy and can save you years of frustration.

Below is a practical, human-friendly guide to the best websites for Jewish genealogy records, what each one does best, and why you’ll want them bookmarked.

JewishGen.org: The Cornerstone of Jewish Genealogy

If Jewish genealogy had a front door, JewishGen would be it. This free website is often the first stop—and the one researchers return to again and again.

JewishGen offers:

• Vital record indexes for births, marriages, and deaths
• Town-specific databases and historical context
• Holocaust-related resources and memorial books
• Translation tools and research guides

What makes JewishGen special is its focus on towns. Once you identify an ancestral town, JewishGen helps you understand how records were kept, where they might be today, and what spellings to expect.

FamilySearch.org: A Free Powerhouse

FamilySearch is not Jewish-specific, but it’s one of the most powerful free genealogy websites available—and surprisingly strong for Jewish records.

You’ll find:

• Digitized birth, marriage, and death records
• Naturalization papers and census records
• User-submitted family trees with potential clues

One major bonus: many records are images of original documents. Even when indexes are incomplete, browsing by town or district can uncover relatives hiding in plain sight.

Ancestry.com: Broad Coverage with Jewish Gems

Ancestry is a subscription site, but its depth makes it worthwhile for many Jewish researchers—especially those tracing families who immigrated.

Key strengths include:

• Passenger lists and immigration records
• U.S. birth, marriage, and death certificates
• Census records that help reconstruct families

Ancestry also hosts user family trees. While these should always be verified, they can provide valuable hints and connect you with distant cousins researching the same lines.

JRI-Poland: Essential for Polish Jewish Research

If your ancestors came from Poland (or regions that were once Polish), JRI-Poland is absolutely essential.

This database focuses on indexed Jewish birth, marriage, and death records from Polish archives. Many entries include parents’ names, ages, and towns—details that help push your research back another generation.

Even when images aren’t online, the index tells you exactly which archive holds the original record.

Yad Vashem: More Than Holocaust Records

Yad Vashem is best known for its Holocaust documentation, but it also contains vital genealogical information.

Pages of Testimony often include:

• Birth dates and places
• Parents’ names
• Marital status and family relationships

For families affected by the Holocaust, these pages may be the only surviving record of an individual’s life.

Find a Grave and Jewish Cemetery Databases

Cemeteries are an often-overlooked genealogy resource. Websites like Find a Grave—and Jewish cemetery-specific databases—can provide Hebrew names, patronymics, and death dates.

Photos of tombstones frequently include information that never made it into civil records, especially Hebrew dates and fathers’ names.

Use Them Together (That’s the Secret)

No single website has everything. The real magic happens when you use these sites together—cross-checking dates, confirming towns, and following small clues from one source to the next.

Jewish genealogy isn’t about instant answers. It’s about slowly rebuilding lives, families, and communities—one record at a time. With these websites at your fingertips, you’re never researching alone.

Preserve Jewish Heritage — Join and Support Our Mission

As technology advances, so does our ability to trace Jewish ancestry across generations and continents. Our nonprofit Jewish genealogy organization in Colorado is dedicated to helping individuals explore, document, and preserve their family stories — stories that might otherwise be lost.

Your membership and donations make this work possible. Together, we can connect families, honor our ancestors, and strengthen our shared heritage.

Join us today or make a tax-deductible contribution to help continue this vital mission of Jewish genealogical discovery.