See the temporary website http://www.wzo.org.il/cza/indoc.htm for a list of holdings which include personal papers listed in alphabetical order. A new, much expanded website should be completed during the summer. Most of the documents are in Hebrew and English, but there is much material in German, French and other languages.
Personal papers held at the CZA
From the time it was established in 1919 the CZA has been collecting the personal papers of people prominent in Zionist affairs around the globe or active in Palestine/Israel over the previous 120 years. The list of the personal papers may be found on the web at:
http://www.wzo.org.il/cza/indoc.htm
In some cases these personal papers contain genealogical information on the person him/herself, letters from family members, family trees, articles and so on.
Generally, there is an inventory of the files making up each of these archives. Mostly, the inventory is in Hebrew, but there are many lists in English. The material itself is in a wide range of languages depending on the original nationality of the person and the correspondents.
It is important to remember that some of the personal papers are very large, comprising 10, 15 or 20 meters, that is 60, 90 or 120 boxes of material! Most however are far smaller and are made up of fewer files. But then again, as each file can contain anything from a couple of documents to 100 or 200 documents, there is no knowing ahead of time just how many pages are to be examined in a file.
Access restrictions:
In general, the contents of the files are open to the public. There are a small number of files that have been closed to the public at the request of the person who deposited the papers.
Use of the files at the CZA
Genealogist are invited to visit the CZA, go through the relevant inventory lists, order specific files to the reading room and examine the files in order to locate specific documents of interest to them.
Remote use of the files:
There is no remote access to this information, nor can the CZA carry out research of this nature for the public.
Collections of genealogists at the CZA:
Amongst the personal papers, two contain much general genealogical material: the archives of Paul Jacobi and the archives of Benjamin Ben Eliezer Rivlin.
The Jacobi papers (A482): The Israel Genealogical Society is now preparing an index to the genealogical material left by Paul Jacobi and donated by his family to the Jewish National and University Library, the CZA and Beit Hatefusoth.
The Rivlin papers (A486): The index to the archives of Benjamin Ben Eliezer Rivlin contains genealogical data on a number of Jewish families.
Voter Registration -- Files and computer data related to 1939 Jerusalem Census, immigration and research bureau
The 1939 Jerusalem Cenusus (J4)
The CZA holds the forms (in Hebrew) of a census of the Jews of Jerusalem conducted in 1939. The census was carried out throughout Palestine on the eve of the outbreak of the Second World War
in order to supply information about enlistment into the British Army. In 1942 the results were used as a basis for the electoral lists (reshimot habogrim) of Palestine’s National Committee (HaVaad HaLeumi). It appears that only the census forms for Jerusalem still exist.
Both the census results, that is, the 1942 electoral lists, and the forms are available at the CZA.
The census forms are bound into 70 volumes and arranged according to the neighbourhoods of Jerusalem. In other words, in order to access a census form of a family member, one should know the neighbourhood in which the relative lived. However, as the 1942 electoral lists are arranged alphabetically by name,
and note the neighbourhood in which the person lived, it is not difficult to locate the original census form.
Access restrictions:
The contents of the lists and forms are open to the general public.
Use of the material at the CZA
The lists and forms are available to the public for research in the reading room of the CZA.
Remote use of the material:
The CZA will be happy to check the
electoral lists for you. Requests for information may be sent by mail, fax or email. However, there is no remote access to the contents of the census forms, nor can the CZA carry out research of this nature for the public.
Resources on enlistment to the British Army in WWII
The CZA holds a number of genealogical resources on people who enlisted into the British Army during the Second World War.
1. General correspondence files of the Enlistment Bureau of the Jewish Agency (S37)
These files relating to the period from 1940-1947, contain correspondence about the full range of issues relating to enlistment, as well as many lists of enlisters, comntaining varying types of information.
The files are accessible according to the enlistment offices. There were enlistment offices in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Petach Tikva, Haifa, Ramat Gan, Rishon LeZion, Bnei Brak, Hadera and Natanya. It is therefore important for the genealogist to know where the person lived, that s/he is looking for. Most of the files are in Hebrew.
Access restrictions:
The contents of the files are open to the public.
Use of the files at the CZA
Genealogist are invited to visit the CZA, go through the relevant inventory lists, order specific files to the reading room and examine the files in order to locate specific documents of interest to them.
Remote use of the files:
There is no remote access to this information, nor can the CZA carry out research of this nature for the public.
2. Personal files of candidates for enlistment and enlisters (S25)
The Jewish Agency’s Political Department correponded with candidates and enlisters, and these files, arranged alphabetically are available at the CZA. The files are in Hebrew.
Access restrictions:
The contents of personal files where the last document in the file was created less than 70 years ago are
not open to the public. Family members wanting to gain access to such content, should proceed as outlined in clauses 7 and 8 of Factsheet No. 1.
(end of this page)
Use of the files at the CZA
Genealogists are invited to visit the CZA and to go through the relevant inventory lists in order to locate files of possible interest to them. They will then need to obtain permission from the archivist in order to see specific files.
Remote use of the files:
There is no remote access to this information, nor can the CZA carry out research of this nature for the public.
Resources on illegal immigration to Palestine and the Cyprus detainees
1. Illegal Immigrant Lists
Amongst the general correspondence files held at the CZA, in particular the Jewish Agency’s Political and Immigration Departments, there are a large number of lists of passengers on illegal immigrant ships. Many of the files are in Hebrew, but there are files and documents in English, German and other languages, depending on the correspondents.
Volunteers of the Israel Genealogical Society are in the process of locating, photocoping, collating these lists into binders and keying the names into a database. Shortly, genealogists who know the name of the ship on which a relative arrived illegally in Palestine, or the date of his/her arrival, will be able to consult the binders, page through the lists
and check whether his/her relative appears in the list. Once the names have been computerized, this database will also be accessible to genealogists.
At the moment though, the general correspondence files have to be consulted and the illegal immigration lists individually located.
Access restrictions:
The contents of the files are open to the public.
Use of the files at the CZA
Genealogist are invited to visit the CZA, go through the relevant inventory lists, order specific files to the reading room and examine the files in order to locate specific documents of interest to them.
Remote use of the files:
There is no remote access to this information, nor can the CZA carry out research of this nature for the public.
2. Cyprus detainees (J21)
The CZA holds many files (mostly in Hebrew) on those illegal immigrants who were detained and sent to the Cyprus detainee camps. Amongst the general correspondence files, there are many lists of detainees.
Access restrictions:
The contents of the files are open to the public.
Use of the files at the CZA
Genealogist are invited to visit the CZA, go through the relevant inventory lists, order specific files to the reading room and examine the files in order to locate specific documents of interest to them.
Remote use of the files:
There is no remote access to this information, nor can the CZA carry out research of this nature for the public.
Resources on legal immigration to Palestine/the State of Israel
1. Immigrant Registers (S104)
The CZA holds a copy of the Immigrant Registers to Palestine/Israel, from 1919-1968. These were previously held at the Jewish Agency’s Relatives Search Bureau.
The 186 registers record in chronological manner the names (in Hebrew) of those arriving in Palestine/Israel by ship, plane and even by foot (over the northern and southern borders). The passengers of each ship or plane are recorded. The information provided varies, but includes in most cases, the name of the arrivee, his/her age and his/her origin. Here is a scanned image of a typical page:
The registers also include lists of people who arrived as tourists or returning residents, and includes a category called “non-Jews” or “Christians”. The registers do not include illegal immigrants, but do include some lists of children who arrived within the framework of Youth Aliyah.
The registers at the CZA are not complete. In particular, many of the registers from the years 1951-1956 are lacking. There is another set of immigrant registers at the Israel State Archives in Jerusalem which covers the years from 1951-1956 and the years 1968-1974.
Access restrictions:
The contents of the registers are open to the general public.
Use of the registers at the CZA
In order to preserve the original copies, the actual registers are not available to the public for research. Requests for information may be sent by mail, fax or email.
Remote use of the registers:
The CZA will be happy to check the registers for you. Please note that we can only do this if we are provided with
the date of arrival (at least month and year) of the immigrant, tourist or returning resident. Requests for information may be sent by mail, fax or email.
2. Card catalogue and personal files of candidates for immigration and immigrants (SP6)
Card catalogue:
The CZA holds about 200 drawers containing over 650,000 alphabetically arranged cards (in Hebrew) of immigration candidates and immigrants to Palestine/Israel, covering the years 1920 – 1964. The catalogue was created as thousands of people living in Palestine/Israel approached the Jewish Agency and requested that their relatives or aquaintances be allowed to immigrate to Palestine/Israel. The candidates may have moved to Palestine/Israel or not.
The catalogue is arranged according to the name of the person for whom the request is being made. Each card may contain the name of the person for whom the request is being made, his/her country of origin, age/birth date and names of other family members, and the name and address of the person making the request. The information is hand-written in Hebrew. Here is a scanned image of a typical card.
In 2002, the CZA started creating a database of the information in these cards. The first four letters (Alef, Bet, Gimel and some of Daleth) have been keyed in so far.
Personal files:
In addition each card often contains a reference to the personal file (in Hebrew) accompanying the card. The files are also held at the CZA. Their contents vary greatly. Often there is no other document in the file other than the original request. Other times there is an exchange of documents about the immigration candidate. And occasionally the file containing correspondence about the candidate’s possible
immigration continued to be used by the Jewish Agency officials to hold
documents regarding the person’s actual immigration.
Access restrictions:
In general, the contents of the
cards are
open to the public. In special cases, the CZA reserves the right not to make the contents of specific cards open to the public, should the contents in its opinion contain information of a sensitive nature. Family members wanting to gain access to such content, should proceed as outlined in clauses 7 and 8 of Factsheet No. 1.
(end of this page)
The contents of
personal files where the last document in the file was created
less than 70 years ago are
not open to the public. Once again, family members wanting to gain access to such content, should proceed as outlined in clauses 7 and 8 of Factsheet No. 1.
(end of this page)
Use of the card catalogue and personal files at the CZA
The card catalogue and accompanying files are not available to the public for research. Requests for information may be sent by mail, fax or email.
Remote use of the card catalogue and personal files:
The CZA will be happy to check the card catalogue and personal files for you. Requests for information may be sent by mail, fax or email.
3. Database of statistical cards of the Immigration Department (1919-1932) (SC6)
The CZA holds a card catalogue (in Hebrew) of about 30,000 cards of immigrants to Palestine/Israel in the years 1919-1948. The cards were apparently created in order to supply the Jewish Agency’s Immigration Department with statistical data on immigrants to Palestine/Israel.
The cards relating to the years 1919-1932 have been keyed into a database. As there is no alphabetical – or other – order within each letter, the cards from 1933 onwards are to all intents and purposes inaccessible.
Access restrictions:
In general, the contents of the database and cards are open to the public. In special cases, the CZA reserves the right not to make the contents of specific cards open to the public, should the contents in its opinion contain information of a sensitive nature. In that case,
family members wanting to gain access to such content, should proceed as outlined in clauses 7 and 8 of Factsheet No. 1.
(end of this page)
Use of the database (1919-1932) at the CZA
As noted above, the cards for the period 1933-1948 are inaccessible. The database for the period 1919-1932 is not available to the public for research. Requests for information may be sent by mail, fax or email.
Remote use of the database (1919-1932):
The CZA will be happy to check the database of statistical cards for you. Requests for information may be sent by mail, fax or email.
Lists of victims/Survivors-- Resources on Youth Aliyah
1. Youth Aliyah Archives (S75)
The CZA holds the archives of the Youth Aliyah Office in Jerusalem from 1932-1972. This body, founded in 1933, aimed to facilitate the immigration of youth to Palestine.
The Youth Aliyah archives contain two types of files of use to the genealogist
A. Files containing personal correspondence on a few children, arranged alphabetically
B. Personal files
There are personal files of only very few children. The full set of personal files is not held at the CZA. See below.
Access restrictions:
A. Files containing personal correspondence on a few children, arranged alphabetically
Under special conditions the Archives’ staff will agree to check the file and see if a particular person sought after is one of the children appearing in the file.
If so, family members wanting to gain access to such content, should proceed as outlined in clauses 7 and 8 of Factsheet No. 1.
(end of this page) Only the part of the correspondence relating to their relative will be shown.
B. Personal files:
The contents of personal files where the last document in the file was created less than 70 years ago are
not open to the public. Family members wanting to gain access to such content, should proceed as outlined in clauses 7 and 8 of Factsheet No. 1.
(end of this page)
Use of the Youth Aliya files at the CZA
A and B. Genealogists are invited to visit the CZA and to go through the relevant inventory lists in order to locate files of possible interest to them. They will then need to obtain permission from the archivist in order to see specific files.
Remote use of the Youth Aliya files:
There is no remote access to this information, nor can the CZA carry out research of this nature for the public.
2. Database of children who immigrated in the framework of Youth Aliyah, 1933-1936
The CZA received from Yoram Mayorek a copy of a computerized database (in English, with dates in Hebrew) of the so-called “German catalogue”, that is a card catalogue of about 7000 children who arrived in the early stages of Youth Aliyah.
Access restrictions:
The contents of the database are open to the general public.
Use of the Youth Aliyah database (1933-1936) at the CZA
The database is not available to the public for research. Requests for information may be sent by mail, fax or email.
Remote use of the Youth Aliyah (1933-1936) database:
The CZA will be happy to check the “German catalogue” for you. Requests for information may be sent by mail, fax or email.
3. Database of children who immigrated in the framework of Youth Aliyah (1946-1949)
The CZA received from Yehuda Witenoff and Eva Floersheim of the Galil Genealogical Society a computerized database (in English) of close to 3000 names of children who immigrated within the framework of Youth Aliyah. These names were collated from a number of files from the years 1946-1949, held at the CZA.
Access restrictions:
The contents of the database are open to the general public.
Use of the Youth Aliyah database (1946-1949) at the CZA
The database is not available to the public for research. Requests for information may be sent by mail, fax or email.
Remote use of the Youth Aliyah database(1946-1949)
The CZA will be happy to check this Youth Aliyah database (1946-1949) for you. Requests for information may be sent by mail, fax or email.
Name Indexes-- Resources on the Search for Relatives
1. Database and files of the Jewish Agency’s Relatives Search Bureau (S104)
The Jewish Agency opened a Relatives Search Bureau in 1947. It operated until 1999 when it was closed and some of its functions transferred to the CZA. This Bureau fielded requests from people all over the world who were attempting to locate relatives and aquaintances with whom contact had been lost.
Database of the Relatives Search Bureau:
Over the years a catalogue was compiled of requests to the Bureau. In the 1990s this catalogue was computerized. The CZA holds a CD-ROM of this database (in Hebrew) which lists over one million requests for information to the Bureau, from the 1940s to the 1970s.
Each entry provides details about the enquirer and the person being searched for, and may include the enquirer’s name and address, and the name, country of origin, age/birth date, and names of family members of the person being searched for.
Files of the Relatives Search Bureau:
In addition to the information noted above, each entry may contain a reference number referring to the personal file (in Hebrew) containing the correspondence of the request. The contents of the personal files vary greatly. Sometimes there is no other document in the file other than the original request.
Other times there is an exchange of documents about the information request.
The personal files are
not held at the CZA but at the Jewish Agency’s Records Center out of Jerusalem. The CZA applies to the Records Center for particular files to be sent to the Archives.
Access restrictions:
The contents of the database and the files are open to the public.
Use of the database and files at the CZA
The database and files are not available to the public for research at the CZA. Requests for information may be sent by mail, fax or email.
Remote use of the database and files:
The CZA will be happy to check the
database and
files of the Relatives Search Bureau for you. Requests for information may be sent by mail, fax or email.