Roy Ogus

South Africa?s Jewish community is large and important. Although we may not know it, many of us have South African connections because our ancestors? siblings or cousins emigrated there. During the great wave of emigration from Eastern Europe (1881-1930s), many Jews, especially Lithuanians, left for the economic opportunity and freedom of South Africa. Following the recent emigration of many South African Jews during periods of political unrest in the country, the end of apartheid in 1994 has revitalized our cousins? homeland. This presentation is a summary of the key sources of documentation and information of genealogical value that can be found in South Africa, and how these materials can be accessed and researched. It also provides an overview of South African history as a backdrop for the discussion of Jewish migration to that remote area.