Israel Death Records Index

Flag of Israel

Israel’s death records are an important resource for genealogists tracing family histories in this historically significant region. Civil registration of deaths began in 1948 with the establishment of the State of Israel, and records are maintained by the Population and Immigration Authority under the Ministry of Interior. However, earlier records can be found in Ottoman (pre-1917) and British Mandate (1917–1948) archives, as well as religious institutions such as synagogues, churches, and mosques.

Modern death records typically include the deceased’s name, date and place of death, age, cause of death, and family details. In some cases, records also document burial locations, particularly in Jewish cemeteries, which are important for tracing ancestry. Supplementary sources such as newspaper obituaries, cemetery inscriptions, and Holocaust memorial records provide additional insights.

Israel’s complex history, shaped by Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities, immigration waves, and conflicts, is reflected in these records. Many Jewish genealogical resources also include Yizkor books, Holocaust survivor databases, and diaspora records, helping researchers trace displaced families.

For genealogists, Israel’s death records are an essential tool for uncovering ancestry, preserving family histories, and understanding the nation’s cultural and historical evolution. They provide vital connections to family roots in Israel and across the Jewish diaspora.