Massachusetts Jewish Databases (pdfs)

• Massachusetts Synagogues and Their Records, Past and Present https://www.jgsgb.org/pdfs/MassSynagogues.pdf
  An online database of all known synagogues in Massachusetts.
  Synagogue map: https://glitch.leventhal.center/massachusetts-synagogues-atlas/
• Jewish Cemeteries and Funeral Homes in Massachusetts https://www.jgsgb.org/pdfs/cemeteriesdb.pdf
  An online database of all known cemeteries and funeral homes in Massachusetts.
• Newspapers – https://www.jgsgb.org/pdfs/Jew_News.pdf
  Massachusetts Jewish newspapers on microfilm
• Jewish Settlement Patterns in Massachusetts https://www.jgsgb.org/pdfs/Jewish_Settlement_Patterns_MA.pdf
  Jewish history and settlement patterns in Massachusetts

Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts – https://jcam.org/search-cemetery-burial-records/
Burial records of 106 Jewish cemeteries in Massachusetts (about half of all Jewish cemeteries), maps, directions to all cemeteries.

Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts – https://www.jewishcentralmass.org/
https://www.jewishcentralmass.org/worcjewishcemeteries
Includes database of over 6000 burials in the Worcester area.

MA Vital Records (1841-1910) – https://www.sec.state.ma.us/vitalrecordssearch/VitalRecordsSearch.aspx
This index covers the years 1841 through 1910 for births, marriages and deaths that occurred in Massachusetts. Additional indexes are available at the Archives for the years 1911-1915. The birth indexes for 1841-1910 should be up shortly. Family Search has most of these online. Note: Records keep transferring from state archives to Vital Records as they become digitized. Check which site has the records you want before going there.

Massachusetts State Archives – https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/archives/archives.htm
Vital records, 1841-1930; Boston arrival passenger lists; Massachusetts county probate records; Massachusetts annual town reports; WPA Historical Records Survey; 1930’s including church and synagogue records; Massachusetts state agency records including medical examiners’ reports, state hospitals, prisons, institutions. Note: Records keep transferring from state archives to Vital Records as they become digitized. Check which site has the records you want before going there.

MA Registry of Vital Records and Statistics – https://www.mass.gov/orgs/registry-of-vital-records-and-statistics
Vital records 1931-present birth, marriage, death records and provides statistics on births, deaths, fetal deaths, divorces, and marriages.

MA Genealogical Council – https://www.massgencouncil.org/
An umbrella organization of Massachusetts genealogical and historical societies. JGSGB is a member of the MA Genealogical Council. Its purposes are to act as an advocate in monitoring legislative and administrative activities that affect genealogists and to educate genealogists by holding a one-day seminar each year.

Massachusetts Genealogy – https://ldsgenealogy.com/MA/index.htm
Massachusetts-Genealogy.com lists 18,956 worthwhile record sources for doing genealogy in Massachusetts. All records are organized by county, town, and record type.

Western Massachusetts Jewish Genealogical Society – https://www.wmjgs.org/
Exists to help its members research their family history. They connect beginners with people with experience, and people with knowledge with those seeking new avenues to explore.

Pittsfield Library (also known as the Berkshire Athenaeum) https://www.pittsfieldlibrary.org/
Has local history and they answer emails.