The Encyclopedia of Jewish life before and during the Holocaust

Today throughout much of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, only fragmentary remnants of once thriving Jewish communities can be found as evidence of more than two thousand years of vibrant Jewish presence among the nations of the world.

During the Holocaust Hitler's forces systematically destroyed these communities, yet each of their stories - from small shtetls to large urban centres - is unique in its details and represents one of the countless threads that comprise the tapestry of Jewish history. "The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust" reclaims the distinctive culture of thousands of Jewish communities lost during the Holocaust.

It chronicles the people, habits and customs of more than 6,500 thriving Jewish communities.

It clarifies precise locations of settlements based on documents and maps found in recently opened archives.

It traces their development through history. Its stories and numerous photographs share small details of everyday life-the culture, politics, and faith that inspired the people-putting faces on the immeasurable loss.