Researching Jewish Galicia and Bukovina
Tracing Jewish roots in Galicia and Bukovina can be especially challenging. These regions were once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and over time their borders shifted between Poland, Romania, and Ukraine. Records may be written in multiple languages (Hebrew, Yiddish, Polish, German, Ukrainian, or Russian), and many archives were dispersed or lost due to war and the Holocaust. Because of this, specialized organizations and projects dedicated to preserving and making accessible the history of these communities are invaluable resources for genealogists.
In my work helping a 95-year-old child survivor of the Holocaust who was born in Galicia, I came across two very useful research sites. Both provide invaluable information and insight for anyone exploring Jewish life in these regions.
1. The Jewish Galicia and Bukovina Organization (JGB)
Your gateway to digitized records, maps, photographs, cemetery projects, and the documented heritage of Jewish communities in Galicia and Bukovina.
The Jewish Galicia and Bukovina Organization is a non-profit dedicated to documenting, preserving, and sharing the history and cultural heritage of Jewish communities from these regions. The site offers access to historical records, photographs, cemetery documentation, maps, and more.
🔗 Website: Jewish Galicia and Bukovina Organization (JGB)
2. The Research Project on Bukovinian and Galician Jewry
An academic–community collaboration offering online courses, digitized Jewish periodicals, and forums for the study of Galician and Bukovinian Jewish life.
This project is a collaboration between the University of Haifa and the Jewish Galicia and Bukovina Organization. It provides online courses, a scholars forum, digitized Jewish periodicals, conferences, and news about ongoing research.
One of their courses, taught by Prof. Joshua Shanes, is “Jews of Galicia: A History.” It surveys the social, political, religious, and cultural history of Galicia’s Jewish community from the 18th century to the Holocaust.
🔗 Website: Research Project on Bukovinian and Galician Jewry
