The Association for Central European Jewish History and Genealogy was established in September 2025 and is dedicated to to advancing the study of Jewish history and genealogy across the lands of the former Habsburg Empire / Austria-Hungary and its successor states.
We bring together researchers, academics, and passionate enthusiasts from around the world who share a love for these interconnected histories.
Our mission is to foster collaboration, develop better tools and databases to support interdisciplinary research, and create a vibrant, inclusive community for like-minded people where knowledge and ideas can flourish.
We promote cooperation and collaboration, enriching the field through joint efforts and collective knowledge.
Whether you want to expand your knowledge, volunteer for related causes, or participate in an international network, you'll find a welcoming space here. Together, we can preserve and illuminate the rich Jewish heritage of Central Europe.
Counting Families, Controlling Lives:
Jewish Demography, Family and State Policy in Central Europe
Budapest, CEU Campus May 4-6, 2027
In May 2027, CEJHG heads to Budapest for its second international conference on Jewish History and Genealogy in Central Europe. Bringing together historians, genealogists, archivists, researchers and scholars from across disciplines, “Counting Families, Controlling Lives” will explore how Jewish families and communities were shaped by demography, state policy, migration, citizenship, persecution and the changing political borders of Central Europe. Marking 300 years since the Habsburg Familiantengesetze, and dedicating a day to relevant holocaust-related research, the conference offers a unique opportunity to connect historical research with genealogical evidence, digital tools and new approaches to reconstructing Jewish lives.
If your research can help tell this story - We want to hear from you. We invite paper proposals from researchers working across Jewish history, genealogy, demography, archival studies, Holocaust research, digital humanities and related fields. Whether your work examines family networks across borders, restrictions on Jewish settlement and population, community life, persecution and exile, Holocaust research that relates to genealogy, Judaica provenance, genealogy and AI, or the ways genealogy can open new paths in education and behavioral research, submit now and bring your research to Budapest to join this growing international research community.
The Association for Central European Jewish History and Genealogy welcomes individuals and institutions worldwide who share an interest in Jewish history and genealogy across the former Habsburg lands and beyond.
We are building a vibrant, international community of multidisciplinary academics, researchers, historians, and enthusiasts who believe in the power of cooperation and shared discovery. Join us as a Full Member (for those able to take part in our activities and meetings in Vienna, Austria) or as an Associate Member (for those living abroad who wish to stay connected, access resources, and support our mission remotely).
Membership applications are reviewed by the association’s board and may take up to one month. You can already submit your application — we’ll notify approved members as soon as payment options become available in the coming weeks.
The Central European Jewish History and Genealogy (CEJHG) is dedicated to exploring and preserving the rich tapestry of Jewish history and genealogy, particularly as it relates to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Your support helps make this work possible and allows us to continue building meaningful connections between genealogy and Jewish history.