Bulgaria Jewish Records: Difference between revisions

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In the municipal government administration, vital records exist from 1878, the year Bulgaria became independent. For Sofia, which included half of the Jewish population in 1948, these records are kept in ''Rayonen Obshtinski Savet'' (municipal district councils). It is not possible to obtain copies of birth, marriage, or death certificates by mail. These certificates must be requested in person, although it is possible to hire an attorney or notary to do the task. Small fees are required for each certificate. The Family History Library has microfilms of civil registration for the districts of Sofia, Pazardzhik, and Plovdiv that begin in 1893. These images are available on the [https://www.familysearch.org/catalog/search FamilySearch Catalog]. <ref>Genealogical Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Outline for Genealogical Research in Bulgaria,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1982.</ref>  

The Institute has an expansive collection of manuscripts and rare books pertaining to the history, life, and culture of Jewish communities under Islam. The Bulgarian-language daily newspaper, ''Izraelski Far'' (1949-1998) may be found here. The Institute also has the full collection of the ''Annual,'' which were published by the Shalom Organization of the Jews of Bulgaria since 1966. The ''Annual'' includes many biographies.<br><br>

The Library may hold the Bulgarian-language daily newspaper, ''Izraelski Far'' (1949-1998). It also holds the full collection of the ''Annual,'' which were published by the Shalom Organization of the Jews of Bulgaria since 1966. The ''Annual'' includes many biographies. <ref>Genealogical Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Outline for Genealogical Research in Bulgaria,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1982.</ref><br><br>

 

 

*Tagger, Mathilde A. "A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames in Bulgaria: A Window on Its History." In: ''Avotaynu ''Volume XXV, No. 4 (Winter 2009), pp. 12-17. [FHL INTL. 296.05 Av79 v. 24].

*Arditti, Benjamin. ''Vidni evrei v Bulgaria'' (Well-known Jews in Bulgaria). Tel Aviv: s.n., 1969-1973. This book includes 124 biographies for 89 different persons (some women) who played a role in Jewish communities. It covers approximately 1850-1970. The biographies are about both Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews, are written by different persons (including the editor), and are classified in alphabetic order renewed in each volume. Photographs are included. All of Arditti's articles end with bibliographic notes and is a good genealogical source especially because Bulgarian Jews use patronymics, meaning their father's name follows the given name. Surnames included are: Adroke, Aftaliyon, Aladjem, Alfasa, Alkalay, Almosnino, Alshekh, Arditti, Arie, Arueti, Asseo, Asher, Assa, Azaria, Aziel, Bakish, Bali, Barukh, Bassan, Bashmutski, Behar, Belkovsky, Ben Shushan, Benmayor, Bentsion, Benun, Benyamin, Berakha, Bidjirano, Daniel, Dankovits, Davidov, Erenprays, Eshkenazi, Farkhi, Gabe, Geron, Graciani, Haimov, Hananel, Herbst, Isakov, Israel, Kalev, Kalmi, Kamerman, Kaneti, Katalan, Khezkiya, Koen, Kordoba, Koso, Krispin, Levi, Menahemov, Meshulam, Mevorakh, Mezan, Miko, Mushonov, Navon, Nitsani, Ovadia, Pardo, Pasken, Perets, Pipo, Piti, Rabiner, Rimalovski, Romano, Rozanes, Ruetel, Semo, Shats, Shekerdjiyski, Shishedji, Sidi, Surudjon, Tadjer, Tsadikov, Ventura, Yasharov, Yosef, Yosifof, and Zilbershtain.

*Arditti, Benjamin. ''Yehudei Bulgaria - Kehilat Shumla'' (Jews of the Bulgaria-Shumen community). Tel Aviv: s.n., 1968. This book has four chapters that deal with the history of the community from the beginning of the 18th century till 1948, when the massive ''aliyah'' to Israel began. The last chapter consists of alphabetically arranged biographies of individuals well known in the community. Includes list of family names current in Shumen (with their origins and meanings), 60 Sephardic names and five Ashkenazi, a list of 54 teachers at the local Jewish School, biographies of the nine Shumen Jews who earned a diploma from the Ecole Normale Orientale de Paris of Alliance Israélite Universelle, chronological list of 28 Jewish soldiers from Shumen killed during the Bulgarian wars (1912-18), and soldiers killed during the Israel War of Independence in 1948.  

*Sack, Sallyann Amdur and Gary Mokotoff. ''Avotaynu Guide to Jewish Genealogy''. Bergenfield, N.J.: Avotaynu. 2004