Bulgaria Jewish Records
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
Most of the archival material of the Sofia Jewish community was burned by the community itself before Jews were deported from the capital during World War II. However, death registers that cover a period of at least 100 years (the first registration date unknown) are held in the synagogue and in the Jewish Plot Office of the Municipal Cemetery. [1]
Archives and Libraries[edit | edit source]
The Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People in Jerusalem (CAHJP)
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram
P.O. Box 39077
Jerusalem 91390
Phone: +972 2-658-6249
Email: cahjp@nli.org.il
Website: cahjp.nli.org.il
The CAHJP holds microfilmed group passports of the immigrants who arrived in Israel from all Jewish-Bulgarian communities between October 1948 and May 1949. Unfortunately, the lists are not arranged alphabetically and some pages are illegible. The archives also has lists of immigrant surnames by ships and various records for different time periods from a number of communities in Bulgaria. They also have records from a few Jewish communities.
The Goldstein-Goren Diaspora Research Center
Tel Aviv University Campus
Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv
Carter Building, 3rd floor, rooms 318-319
Israel
Phone: 03-6409799
Email: diaspora@post.tau.ac.il
Website: www.tau.ac.il
The Diaspora Research Center holds the results of a 1990-94 project that collected photographs and documentation on Bulgarian Jewish archives, cemeteries, institutions, religious objects, neighborhoods, private and public libraries, and synagogues. The project includes a systematic photographic record of the archives of Jewish communities kept in the State Archives in Sofia. The collection includes the archives of all the Jewish communities from the 16th century until 1960.
Ben Zvi Institute
Ibn Gabirol St 14
Jerusalem, Israel
Phone: +972 2-539-8888
Website: https://www.ybz.org.il/?CategoryID=278
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.
National Library of Israel
Edmond J. Safra Campus
Givat Ram, POB 39105
Jerusalem, Israel
Phone: 074-733-6400
Email: reference@nli.org.il
Website: http://web.nli.org.il/sites/nlis/en
The Library may hold the Bulgarian-language daily newspaper, Izraelski Far (1949-1998).[2]
Printed Sources[edit | edit source]
- 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.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Sack, Sallyann Amdur and Gary Mokotoff. Avotaynu Guide to Jewish Genealogy. Bergenfield, N.J.: Avotaynu. 2004
- ↑ 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.