How to Find the Hebrew Name for a Deceased Person
Some Jewish parents give their children Hebrew names at the time of or soon after birth. The Hebrew name is composed of a first and sometimes middle name, the indicator "ben" or "bas'" ("ben" means "son of" and "bas" means "daughter of") and usually the father's Hebrew first name, though sometimes the mother's Hebrew first name is used. A person's Hebrew name may or may not be similar to his English name. You can find the Hebrew name of a deceased person using genealogical research methods.
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Instructions
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Interview people who knew the deceased. Ask what synagogues the person was a member of, if any, and where those synagogues are located. Try to find out which city the deceased lived in, especially if she lived in another country. Also ask about nicknames that people may have heard the deceased addressed by, and the deceased's parents' and grandparents' names.
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Go through family records -- it is possible that someone saved the deceased's certificate from a bris, kiddush, bar or bat mitzvah, wedding or funeral (also called leviah). If the deceased was a convert to Judaism, or was ever divorced, look for certificates from those events, as these documents usually include the participant's Hebrew name.
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Contact the synagogues that the deceased was a member of. Often synagogues keep records of milestone life events of their members, such as bar or bat mitzvahs, births, deaths and weddings. Synagogues endeavor to keep these records, which usually list both English and Hebrew names, for as long as possible. If you're not sure of the name of the synagogue, start by calling synagogues in or near the cities that the deceased lived in. If the synagogue that the deceased belonged to does not have his or her Hebrew name, they may be able to put you in touch with burial societies, sisterhoods or other charitable groups that the deceased may have belonged to. Sometimes these groups keep membership records that include Hebrew names. It will be helpful to have details such as the Hebrew names of the deceased's parents, spouse and grandparents, in case there are records that are similar to each other.
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Search the online Yizkor book database at Jewishgen. The Yizkor database is particularly useful if the person you are searching for died in another country. Yizkor refers to a memorial service for the dead. Many synagogues keep records of deceased congregants, and some of these records have been aggregated in libraries all over the world. Yizkor books often contain post-Holocaust records.
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Visit the cemetery where the deceased is buried. If the deceased had a Jewish burial, it is likely that the Hebrew name is on the gravestone. Take close-up photos with a camera of the gravestone, even if you think you know what it says. You may want to be able to see this information again later, especially since spellings can vary. If you do not know where the deceased is buried, try city or county records. You may be able to find the deceased's grave site on Findagrave and there you can also find people who are willing to go to local cemeteries and photograph grave sites.
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Tips & Warnings
Finding accurate Hebrew names of the deceased is an important part of Jewish genealogy. There are many Jewish genealogy clubs, forums and websites that can help you find the information you are looking for.
Because Jewish children are often named after deceased relatives, family members may have similar or identical first and last names. Check the birth and death year to be sure you have found the right record.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jewish grave image by Peestka from Fotolia.com
