The Douglas E. Goldman Jewish Genealogy Center

For centuries Jews have travelled and wandered. In many cases they left behind assets, texts and documents. Unfortunately, only a few families recorded their history, and many precious memories were bound to be lost and forgotten. Now you can record all information about your family at the Douglas E. Goldman Jewish Genealogy Center in ANU - Museum of the Jewish People
and make sure that the family heritage is safe for future generations.

Users are able to search the database containing tens of thousands of genealogies of Jewish families from all over the world, as well as register their own family trees. It is important to state that the information in the database meets the restrictions of the privacy protection law of 1981. Therefore, searching for living individuals can only yield partial results such as gender, given name, and family name.

Over 5 million individuals have already been recorded in the continuously expanding database. 

If you wish to help us pass on the Jewish story – now it is easier than ever.
Record any information you have about your family at the Jewish Genealogy Center in ANU - Museum of the Jewish People
, thus insuring that future generations will have access to the information.
We invite you to add your family tree to our database. Your contribution will help us preserve the Jewish story and will enable future users to search for their roots and to complete the puzzle. It can also assist you and other users tracing long lost relatives and enhancing family ties at present.

Click here for more information on forming a family tree, and registering it in the Jewish Genealogy Center in ANU - Museum of the Jewish People

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I find my family tree in the database of the Douglas E. Goldman Jewish Genealogy Center at ANU - Museum of the Jewish People?

It's possible, if the tree was submitted to us within the last thirty years. The family trees in the center were donated by Jewish families from both Israel and the world, sometimes by relatives you might not know. If a family did not voluntarily submit a tree, it will not exist in the database.

Does ANU - Museum of the Jewish People hold documentation proving I am a descendant of Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal?

No. The museum does not have documentation that proves a specific family is a descendant of expellees from Spain or Portugal. Without family tradition or relevant historical documents, this cannot be proven. However, families originating from communities established by the exiles from Spain and Portugal are traditionally considered their descendants.

Does ANU - Museum of the Jewish People hold a list of Holocaust victims?

No. The database does not include a list of victims, but rather family trees. However, many trees do include the names of those who perished and survivors. For systematic information, you should contact Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center.

Is it possible to determine if a person listed in the database is Jewish or not?

No. The mere fact of being registered in the database does not constitute proof of a person's Jewish or non-Jewish identity. For full details on this matter, please read the relevant sections in the Center's regulations carefully.

Can you tell me which tribe my family is from, or if we are Cohanim/Levites? No. For these questions, you should consult a rabbi. There are family names (such as Cohen, Levi, Kaplan, Katz, Segal) that are traditionally associated with priestly or Levite families, but this does not constitute a binding proof.

How can I add a family tree to the database?

You should create a family tree in a GEDCOM file using one of the genealogy websites (Geni is recommended for use in Hebrew), export the file to your computer, and send it via the following link: https://www.anumuseum.org.il/en/upload-gedcom/ After it is received, you will get an email confirmation.

Who is authorized to make corrections/additions to an existing tree?

Only the tree's original donor or their legal representatives (in the case of their passing).

How can I make corrections to a family tree?

You should send us an email with the details of the corrections, and we will make them. Our email is: hagar@anumuseum.org.il. Alternatively, you can send an updated GEDCOM file via the following link: https://www.anumuseum.org.il/en/upload-gedcom/

My ID card does not have a date of birth. Can you tell me what my date of birth is?

No. We cannot provide personal information that was not given to us.

What is the difference between the Family Trees Database (Genealogy) and the Surnames Database, and is there a connection between them?

The Family Trees Database includes family trees submitted to the museum by families. The Surnames Database includes meanings of Jewish family names, based on our research. The two databases are different but complement each other.

 

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