Jewish Past Finder

Services

PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH

Being tenacious, where others give up: Rely on my knowledge and experience to achieve your goal.

SENSITIVITY

Genealogy is not a leisurly walk – you often find out things you never knew: Trust my sure instinct and sensibility in exploring family history.

RESPECTING JEWISH ROOTS

The roots of your family tree are precious and fragile: I value your faith and traditions.

FAMILIARITY

Feeling lost in a foreign country with an unfamiliar language? Count on me to feel at home, thanks to my native background and network of knowledgeable friends.

A little about Me

Rainer Borsdorf, Historian (M.A.) & Writer

Listening well and empathetically, researching thoroughly and professionally, presenting in an appealing and understandable way:

this is what characterizes my work.

RESEARCH

Your ancestors lived in Thuringia (GER) or its surroundings? I’ll do research for you in archives, literature, online etc. I'll arrange your ancestors' life story into the “big history”. You'll receive (translated) copies of archive files or a complete English booklet about your family history – it’s your choice!

Genealogy

Price: on request

DAY TRIP

Jewish Quarter of Erfurt, synagogues of Mühlhausen and Aschenhausen, cemeteries in Meiningen or Kleinbardorf: The places with Jewish traces you'll visit are diverse. Get to know passionate local historians on-site and benefit from their (translated) knowledge.

Day Trip

EUR 99 *

MULTIPLE DAY TRIP

One day is not enough for you? Consider a visit to Jewish Ensemble Berkach, Gedenkstätte Buchenwald, Jewish Cemetery Weimar or a meeting with the Jewish Community Erfurt:

A well-planned trip is sufficient time for all – even including the Jiddish Summer Weimar, Achava Festival or Jewish-Israeli Culture Days.

Same here: You speak with local historians – and I'm your guide and translator.

Multiple Day Trip

EUR 89 *

* REMARKS: Price per Person & Day – fees for local guides included. Handicaped people, adolescents between 13 and 18 years: 50% off. Children under 12 years and Shoah Victims: free.Three full-paying participants at minimum. Charges for transport, accommodation, catering and your fee to climate saving are not included. You get a personal offer.

TESTIMONIALS

Rainer Borsdorf was an invaluable resource when I was writing "Loss & Legacy: The Half-Century Quest to Reclaim a Birthright Stolen by the Nazis". Rainer is an indefatigable researcher, burrowing his way into the bowels of archival repositories. Rainer meticulously probes his clients’ individual interests -- ranging from preferred accommodations, culinary preferences, outdoor experiences and historic and cultural curiosity -- in order to fashion highly individualized visits. His ability to tap his network of personal contacts and experts enriches the impact of any of the encounters, providing a lasting impression of what visitors see, hear and learn.

Sam G., Fort Lee
Rainer was a wonderful guide who helped our family see and learn a great deal about our history in Thuringia. He identified and scheduled times with local experts in each community, so we had a very personalized tour. Rainer was friendly and engaged, his english is excellent, and he made our experience better than it would have been on our own.

Michael A., Ann Arbor