The eminent Israeli genealogist Paul Jacobi (1911-1997) bequeathed his genealogical library and all his genealogical studies and papers to the “Jacobi International Center for Research on Jewish Genealogy”, which was set up in the Jewish National and University Library in Jerusalem shortly after his death.

In 2004, the “Jacobi International Center for Research on Jewish Genealogy” and the “International Institute for Jewish Genealogy” merged. Both Dr. Jacobi’s genealogical library and studies devolved to the new entity, the International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and Paul Jacobi Center, with the full consent of Jacobi’s executors.

1. The Studies

   1. Monographs

      100 of the studies were developed by Dr. Jacobi himself into 114 “monographs”. They are type-written and loosely bound work-books. Some of these are small and contain a mere 50 names, while others, such as the Horowitz family (3 vols.), as well as the Spiro, Jaffe and nine other families (all 2 vols.), each contain more than 2,000 names. An Index (in CD form) of the monographs was prepared for the IAJGS Conference on Jewish Genealogy in Jerusalem in 2004.

   2. Handwritten Material

      The larger part of Dr. Jacobi’s studies, relating to some 300 families, are still in handwritten form and are the subject of the Jacobi Indexing Project, currently being conducted.

2. Dr. Jacobi’s Sources

   The main sources utilized by Dr. Jacobi in his work were:

   1. Oral family traditions – an important source, but not always reliable.
   2. Government Archives – important but generally begin only in the 18th century.
   3. Mohel (circumcision) Registers – exact but not detailed.
   4. Marriage Registers – exist in few places (most important from Berlin 1720-1813)
   5. Pinkasim of Chevrot Kadisha (Burial Society Registers).
   6. Community Registers
   7. Property Ledgers of religious institutions and endowments.
   8. "Memor" Books – City, Community or Regional Memorial Books.
   9. Tombstones (as recorded in books about the inscriptions on tombstones in cemeteries).
   10. Rabbinical Responsa (religious rulings) books.
   11. Genealogical Treatises of high scientific standards.
   12. Genealogical Records and Pedigree books.

Click here for details of the 114 Monographs prepared by Dr. Jacobi and their use by researchers.

Click here for details of the 300 studies by Dr. Jacobi that remain in hand-written form, and their use by researchers.

Click here for more details on Dr. Paul Jacobi and his work in general.