Israel Research Tips and Strategies
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Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page |
Israel Research Strategies
- Getting Started - First steps for someone just getting started
- Online Learning - Videos on Middle East and North Africa genealogy research topics
- Beginning Your Middle East Family Tree - FamilySearch blog article
- Record Finder - Table of
- Jewish Search Strategies
- Jewish Genealogy Research
Israel Research Tips
Understand Important Historical Events
- Until the end of World War I in 1918, Israel was a part of the Ottoman Empire. During this period the country was divided into different administrative districts known as sanjaks and was sometimes considered a part of Greater Syria. For more information on Ottoman Palestine, see Israel History and State of Palestine History.
- From 1920 to 1948, Israel was administered as part of the British mandate and was called Palestine.
- The State of Israel was created on May 14, 1948. As a result of the creation of the state of Israel, significant changes occurred leading to the establishment of new towns and the renaming of existing ones. This transformation also impacted genealogical records, as many documents were relocated or reclassified, making it essential for genealogists to consider both pre- and post-1948 records when tracing family histories.
- See also Israel History.
Where to Find Records
- Palestine, Ottoman Census and Population Registers and Palestine, Nablus, Population Registers - FamilySearch has digitized some of the census records from Ottoman Palestine.
- Cemeteries - Nearly all cemetery memorials in Israel have been digitized and can be searched in online databases, particularly Jewish memorials.
- Israel Tribes and Clans - Online books about tribes in Israel and the surrounding areas, including family histories and some genealogies.
- Israel Genealogy Research Association - This genealogical organization has access to a large percentage of records pertaining to Israel and historical Palestine which can be browsed with a free membership and viewed with a paid subscription. For more information, see Israel Archives and Libraries.
- Israel State Archives - The state archives holds many legal records that can be searched in their database and requested for a fee. For more information, see Israel Archives and Libraries.
Connect with Societies
- Israel Societies - Organizations and societies focused on genealogical research relevant to Israel, Ottoman Palestine, and the Levant. Connecting with societies and genealogy research groups can be extremely helpful for asking questions, exchanging ideas, and learning new strategies.
- Arab Genealogy Community - Online research forum for Arab genealogy.