The JRI - Poland database contains vital records from nearly 200 surnames from the town of Zaręby Kościelne, Poland (about 100 km NE of Warsaw, and 100 km SW of Bialystok). Click here for a list of all SURNAMES. The Zaręby Kościelne Jewish vital records were indexed through the efforts of volunteers, and the generous contributions of project supporters. The result is immediate access to an index of virtually all of the town's vital records from 1808 to 1903 and readily available information from the indices to the records from 1904 to 1939.

The Zaręby Kościelne initiative was made possible because of a unique set of circumstances. In the late 1990s, the Jewish Historical Institute (JHI) in Warsaw came into possession of most of the town's Jewish birth, marriage and death registers for the years 1808-1809, and 1840-1939. Most records for 19th century years not in the JHI collection are available in the microfilm collection of the LDS (Mormons).

The board of JRI - Poland decided to use this opportunity to index all the Zareby Koscielne records and provide researchers with an interest in this town with the ability to do in-depth study of the history of their families.

A major part of the work required the transliteration and data entry of the Russian language index pages for the years 1868 to 1917. This work was done by professionals in Warsaw. Most of the data entry of the Polish language index pages was handled by Judie Ostroff Goldstein of Syosset, NY with assistance of Barbara Khait of Somerset, NJ. Judie also identified and indexed the Jewish vital records in the LDS microfilms of the Zaręby Kościelne Catholic records (1810-1825).

Fund raising for this project was led by Morris Spector of Hamden, CT. The board of Jewish Records Indexing - Poland expresses a hearty yasher koach to this dedicated group of volunteers as well as all those who contributed financially to make it all possible. The resulting index will live on as a testament to what Jewish genealogical cooperative effort can achieve.

The vital records Location Table indicates the sources of the Zaręby Kościelne records in your search results. Note the location and then refer to the following instructions on how to obtain copies of records from the various sources:

	Latter Day Saints (Mormon) microfilms (LDS) All of the LDS microfilms mentioned in the table may be viewed at your local LDS (Mormon) Family History Center. Photocopies of the records can be readily made.
	The Douglas E. Goldman Jewish Genealogy Center Microfilms of part of the Zaręby Kościelne records are also available at the Douglas E. Goldman Jewish Genealogy Center at Beit Hatfutsot, Tel Aviv. Copies of the records may be ordered directly from the Goldman Center. Available films are noted at the end of the Location Table.
	Urzad Stanu Cywilnego (Civil Records Office) of Zaręby Kościelne, Poland (USC) 1926-1931 birth registers are only available at the town's Civil Records Office. To order official extracts of these records, follow the instructions outlined in the JewishGen InfoFile PolandV. Send letters (for 1926-1931 births only) to: Urzad Stanu Cywilnego 18-323 Zaręby Kościelne Poland
	Polish State Archives Copies of 1860 to 1867 marriage records may be ordered from the Pultusk branch of the Polish State Archives. Records for all other years/types are available from other sources as noted on this page.
	Jewish Historical Institute, Warsaw (JHI) The collection of Zaręby Kościelne vital record registers at the JHI includes most records in the LDS collection. Other than 1836 to 1839, and the marriage records for 1860-1867, researchers have the option of ordering copies of records from these years from the JHI. [Marriage record copies for 1860 to 1867 are only available from the Polish State Archives. Refer to JewishGen InfoFile PolandV for instructions; when ordering, include the year, act (document) number and names of husband and wife.] To order copies of records which are in the Jewish Historical Institute, Warsaw, researchers should use this sample order form as a guide. Please do not request additional help, such as translations, with your orders. Translations, if required, should be arranged for separately from other sources.