Jewish Galicia (1772–1918): Vibrant Past Rediscovered

In this talk, Andrew Zalewski will intertwine genealogical discoveries with a broader historical context to bring to life the Jewish community of Galicia during the era of Austrian rule.

Galicia, annexed into the Habsburg Monarchy in 1772, was home to a large and diverse Jewish community: by the twentieth century, approximately 10% of the population of Galicia was Jewish. Based on expanded research to the speaker’s recently published book Galician Portraits: In Search of Jewish Roots, the talk is illustrated by many pictures, historical documents, and old maps of Galicia.