Initiative to Bring Long-Awaited Answers to Families Still Searching After the Holocaust

NEW YORK - Jan. 7, 2026 - PRLog -- As we approach International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, an international day dedicated to honoring the victims of the Holocaust, the Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute at the Center for Jewish History is proud to announce Histories and Mysteries, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to illuminating unresolved Holocaust-era questions

Launching on January 7, Histories and Mysteries (https://cjh.org/research/histories-mysteries), made possible by a generous grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) and supported by the German Federal Ministry of Finance, brings together professional genealogists and the wider public to shed light on questions from the Holocaust. Whether reuniting family members, identifying individuals in historical photographs, or uncovering hidden details in archival records, the project is designed to restore connections that have been lost for generations.

"For some families, this is the moment they've been waiting for their entire lives," said Gavriel Rosenfeld, President of the Center for Jewish History. "People have carried unanswered questions for decades, never knowing what happened to their loved ones. With the support of the Claims Conference, we can give voice to forgotten stories and bring long-awaited closure to families still searching for answers."

Each case will be shared across social media, guiding audiences through an unfolding investigative journey, from the introduction of a mystery, through the research process, and ultimately to the reveal. The public is invited to participate by sharing family stories, submitting personal mysteries, and contributing archival clues, joining a collective effort to discover the truth.

"The Claims Conference is proud to support this innovative effort to uncover Holocaust stories left untold. The Center for Jewish History is giving families the opportunity to reclaim pieces of their history, reinforcing our shared mission to preserve memory and ensure that the truth of the Holocaust is never forgotten," said Gideon Taylor, President of the Claims Conference.

"This project brings together passed down family stories and the irreplaceable truth found in the archive," offered Jenny Rappaport, Head Genealogist at the Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute. "Genealogy begins with fragments: a name, a date, a place, and sometimes a single clue can rewrite an entire family story. By taking part in this work, each person helps restore histories stolen in the Holocaust and offers families a chance to reclaim the pieces of their past."

To submit your family mystery via form, visit: cjh.org/histories-mysteries. Followers can also submit their family mystery via video by emailing gi@cjh.org.