ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Jewish genealogy

Jewish genealogy is the study of the family history of people who are Jewish. Just like how you have a family tree that shows you who your mom, dad, grandparents, and great-grandparents are, Jewish genealogy is all about creating a big family tree to show who all the different members of the Jewish family are and what their relationships are to each other.

Jews have a very long and rich history, which means that their family trees can be really big! Some Jewish people can trace their family history back hundreds or even thousands of years. In Jewish genealogy, people use special tools and resources to research different parts of their family tree and learn more about their ancestors.

For example, if you wanted to learn about your great-great-grandparents, you might start by asking your parents or grandparents about what they know. Maybe they will know some stories or information that can help you fill in your family tree. You can also look at old photographs, birth certificates, and marriage licenses to learn more about your family history.

In Jewish genealogy, people also use special databases and archives to find information about their ancestors. For example, there are databases that store information about Jewish cemeteries and burial records, which can help you learn about your ancestors who have passed away. There are also historical archives that store information about Jewish immigration, which can help you learn about your ancestors who moved to different countries.

Overall, Jewish genealogy is all about learning more about your family history and connecting with your Jewish roots. By building a family tree and researching your ancestors, you can discover more about where you come from and the people who came before you.