JewishGen – https://www.jewishgen.org/
The largest and most comprehensive website for Jewish genealogy. JewishGen covers a vast number of countries, primarily focused on Jewish genealogical research in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia and the Americas. Key regions include: Eastern Europe (Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, etc.), Central Europe (Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, etc.), and parts of Western Europe (France, United Kingdom, etc.). There are databases for countries like Romania, Moldova, and regions like Bessarabia, as well as countries in Scandinavia.

JewishGen contains cemetery records, passenger lists, synagogue records, newspaper records, organizational records, birth, marriage, and death records, census records, military records, concentration camp lists, transport lists, ghetto records, and ID cards. They also have databases with information on Jewish communities, Yizkor Book translations, and other resources such as JewishGen’s Discussion List and Family Finder. The JewishGen Discussion Group is an online forum for researchers of all levels to connect, share information, ask questions, and learn about Jewish genealogy. JewishGen Family Finder (JGFF) is a database of surnames and ancestral towns along with the submitting researcher’s JewishGen ID number. Researchers can search the JGFF to find others researching the same surnames or towns. Both the discussion group and the JGFF require users to be registered and logged in to JewishGen to access certain features. The JGFF is a free database, though JewishGen accepts donations to help cover administrative costs. One must register to access JewishGen, but there is no fee for some searches. JewishGen has a $100 contribution option that permits full searches.

Ancestry  – https://www.ancestry.com/   ($$, but many libraries offer free library editions)
Paid subscription needed for home use after free trial period. Contains vital records like birth, marriage, and death certificates. It also includes U.S. census records, military records, immigration and naturalization records, obituaries, cemetery records, church records, and digitized newspapers from over 80 countries. Ancestry contains public member photos and scanned documents submitted by users. Includes UK and Canadian censuses and Canadian arrivals, border crossings, and naturalizations. Comprehensive source for U.S. and foreign materials. If one has an Ancestry account, Ancestry allows users to create and manage family trees and connect with DNA matches. Library editions do not allow users to store personal information such as trees, DNA results, search results, or copies of records.

MyHeritage – https://www.myheritage.com/   ($$, but many libraries offer free library editions)
International genealogy research website and social network service. Available by paid subscription. MyHeritage offers a variety of tools for exploring family history, including building online family trees, accessing historical records including birth, marriage, death, census, military, immigration, and other types of records, DNA testing, and AI-powered photo enhancements. Library editions do not allow users to store personal information such as trees, DNA results, search results, photos, or copies of records.

Geni – https://www.geni.com/   ($$, sister site of My Heritage)
Israeli site for Jewish records. Contains genealogical data, including family trees, user-uploaded documents, and historical records. Users can add and share photos, videos, records, and sources on Geni, contributing to a large, collaborative family tree.

FamilySearch – https://www.familysearch.org/en/united-states/  (Mormon Library)
World’s largest collection of genealogical records available on microfilm and online. Contains vital records, census records, probate records, military records, court records, and more. Includes Canadian arrivals, border crossings, census, and naturalizations. Free, but some records need to be viewed at a local Family History Library.

Center for Jewish History – https://www.cjh.org/research/center-genealogy
(Located in NYC; a partnership of major institutions: American Jewish Historical Society; Yivo; American Sephardi Federation; Leo Baeck Institute; Yeshiva University Museum; genealogy research library)
Contains vital records, census records, probate records, military records, court records, and more.