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== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
Jewish genealogical research in | Jewish genealogical research in Czechia can be difficult. The collection of Jewish vital registers is not complete, because most of the originals were destroyed during World War II, along with other Jewish documents and archives. In addition, Jewish families moved often and the last known address where they lived before deportation to a concentration or extermination camp was usually not the locality where they and their ancestors had lived for many generations. This is especially true of Jews who previously had lived in the German-occupied Sudetenland regions of Czechoslovakia. The discriminatory laws even influenced Jewish names and the recordkeeping. | ||
Following is the description of the origins of registers of Jewish vital events (births, marriages, and deaths) and the ways in which they can be used by genealogical researchers. It also includes the types of archival records available at each level of the Czech archival system, with focus on records of particular interest for Jewish genealogy. Actual archival sources are cited to demonstrate types of results possible. | Following is the description of the origins of registers of Jewish vital events (births, marriages, and deaths) and the ways in which they can be used by genealogical researchers. It also includes the types of archival records available at each level of the Czech archival system, with focus on records of particular interest for Jewish genealogy. Actual archival sources are cited to demonstrate types of results possible. | ||
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The original documents also include a small '''group of applications for change of surname and for permission to adopt an orphan'''. Children coming back from the concentration camps without parents were adopted either by relatives, family friends, or by people who had lost their own children in the war. The process to adopt a child was not simple; it required numerous confirmations and references. The former especially can help verify the identity of applicants for citizenship or to confirm kinship. Applications for change of surname were made by a number of concentration camp survivors with typical Jewish surnames (such as Abeles, Kohn, and Roubitschek) or typical German surnames (such as Adler, Schwarzkopf, or Weissmuller) - with the intention of putting the past behind them and integrating into a non-Jewish enviroment. | The original documents also include a small '''group of applications for change of surname and for permission to adopt an orphan'''. Children coming back from the concentration camps without parents were adopted either by relatives, family friends, or by people who had lost their own children in the war. The process to adopt a child was not simple; it required numerous confirmations and references. The former especially can help verify the identity of applicants for citizenship or to confirm kinship. Applications for change of surname were made by a number of concentration camp survivors with typical Jewish surnames (such as Abeles, Kohn, and Roubitschek) or typical German surnames (such as Adler, Schwarzkopf, or Weissmuller) - with the intention of putting the past behind them and integrating into a non-Jewish enviroment. | ||
Also valuable are records created during Germany's occupation of Czechoslovakia in connection with '''deportations to Terezin and other camps in Eastern Europe'''. To this time, one card index in Prague is used for official purposes by the Federation of Jewish Communities in | Also valuable are records created during Germany's occupation of Czechoslovakia in connection with '''deportations to Terezin and other camps in Eastern Europe'''. To this time, one card index in Prague is used for official purposes by the Federation of Jewish Communities in Czechia. Another index is stored in the Third Department of the National Archives, and another in the archives of the Terezin Memorial located in a small fortress in Terezin. Cards provide information helpful for genealogical research: names, dates of birth, last address and transport number. | ||
== Law of Privacy == | == Law of Privacy == | ||
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Records of the manorial administration include documents concerning the acceptance of Jews onto the domain, periodic lists of Jewish residents and the establishment, Jewish traders invited to live on the domain as ''Schutzjuden'' (protected Jews), and filling of the positions of familiants. Manorial authorities also supervised issuance of Jewish marriage licenses, tenancies, and sales of real estate, especially distilleries, tanneries, potash plants, and other forms of production commonly undertaken by Jews, because they were unpopular among Christians. Schutzjuden were responsible for selling the output of the overlord's home farm or industrial operations, such as grain, livestock, or alcoholic beverages. They also bought the surplus output of the serfs such as butter, eggs, feathers, and linen cloth. Finally, protected Jews were responsible for importing back onto the domain the common wares unavailable locally, including coffee, fruit, dry goods, and spices. The manorial authorities were directly involved in administering the inheritances of the Schutzjuden, which gave rise to useful documentary sources. Manorial records do not include death records, but the date of death of an individual may be found in the records which offer considerable information about individual property, repayment of debts, and the division of assets among relatives. Such documents may be used to study the economic and social conditions of the Jewish families living in the small rural towns; to follow the process of the division of an inheritance; and to reconstruct a deceased individual's business, craft, or equipment; and to show how people dressed; and the types of tools they used. | Records of the manorial administration include documents concerning the acceptance of Jews onto the domain, periodic lists of Jewish residents and the establishment, Jewish traders invited to live on the domain as ''Schutzjuden'' (protected Jews), and filling of the positions of familiants. Manorial authorities also supervised issuance of Jewish marriage licenses, tenancies, and sales of real estate, especially distilleries, tanneries, potash plants, and other forms of production commonly undertaken by Jews, because they were unpopular among Christians. Schutzjuden were responsible for selling the output of the overlord's home farm or industrial operations, such as grain, livestock, or alcoholic beverages. They also bought the surplus output of the serfs such as butter, eggs, feathers, and linen cloth. Finally, protected Jews were responsible for importing back onto the domain the common wares unavailable locally, including coffee, fruit, dry goods, and spices. The manorial authorities were directly involved in administering the inheritances of the Schutzjuden, which gave rise to useful documentary sources. Manorial records do not include death records, but the date of death of an individual may be found in the records which offer considerable information about individual property, repayment of debts, and the division of assets among relatives. Such documents may be used to study the economic and social conditions of the Jewish families living in the small rural towns; to follow the process of the division of an inheritance; and to reconstruct a deceased individual's business, craft, or equipment; and to show how people dressed; and the types of tools they used. | ||
Because the manorial authorities intervened in all spheres of Jewish communal life on the domain, manorial archives include records of elections to Jewish councils, records of the synagogue, establishment of Jewish schools, appointment of Jewish teachers, and social care within Jewish communities. While manorial records, now held in the seven regional state archives of | Because the manorial authorities intervened in all spheres of Jewish communal life on the domain, manorial archives include records of elections to Jewish councils, records of the synagogue, establishment of Jewish schools, appointment of Jewish teachers, and social care within Jewish communities. While manorial records, now held in the seven regional state archives of Czechia, may be helpful in genealogical research, they require an experienced researcher with the expertise to read and understand the handwriting and the language, often non-standardized and difficult to understand. | ||
== Other Records == | == Other Records == | ||
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== Additional Reading == | == Additional Reading == | ||
For more information on history of Czech Jewish vital registers including a case study see an article ''Czech Archival Sources: History of the Jews in the Czech Lands'' by Lenka Matušíková, published in the Avotaynu, Volume XXIV, Number 2, Summer 2008. ( | For more information on history of Czech Jewish vital registers including a case study see an article ''Czech Archival Sources: History of the Jews in the Czech Lands'' by Lenka Matušíková, published in the Avotaynu, Volume XXIV, Number 2, Summer 2008. (FamilySearch Library INTL book 296.05 Av79). | ||
= Familiant Law = | = Familiant Law = | ||
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During the past decade, an increasing number of Bohemian and Moravian archivists and historians have focused their interest on the history of the Jews in the Czech lands. Most attention has been devoted to the events of World War II and the Shoah of Czech Jewry. In addition, many publications have appeared that chronicle the history of Czech Jewry from the 17th to the 19th centuries. | During the past decade, an increasing number of Bohemian and Moravian archivists and historians have focused their interest on the history of the Jews in the Czech lands. Most attention has been devoted to the events of World War II and the Shoah of Czech Jewry. In addition, many publications have appeared that chronicle the history of Czech Jewry from the 17th to the 19th centuries. | ||
Since 2005, the Society for the History of the Jews in | Since 2005, the Society for the History of the Jews in Czechia, headed by historian Helmut Teufel, has undertaken intensive research into all sources from the period 1520-1670 with any relevance to the Jewish inhabitants. The archival documents that were discovered fall into two categories:<br>1. significant privileges, deeds and letters, important records in official registers that deal primarily with the Jewish population<br>2. sources created primarily to record events relevant to the Christian population which mention Jews in passing; these include registers of serf obligations, censuses, tax registers, financial papers, account books, and general correspondence. | ||
A number of censuses of the Jewish population of the Czech lands have been located and made available by this project. They are among the most valuable historical sources. | A number of censuses of the Jewish population of the Czech lands have been located and made available by this project. They are among the most valuable historical sources. | ||
All information about Jewish individuals mentioned in the above described sources-name, gender, occupation, family relationships, place of origin, and archival reference- are recorded in an electronic database and gradually being posted to the website of the [http://bmsj.eu/ Society for the History of the Jews in | All information about Jewish individuals mentioned in the above described sources-name, gender, occupation, family relationships, place of origin, and archival reference- are recorded in an electronic database and gradually being posted to the website of the [http://bmsj.eu/ Society for the History of the Jews in Czechia]. Website has two versions, one in German and one in Czech, and it is a paid website. One must register to use it. | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Czechia Jewish Records]] | ||
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