Switzerland/Poland: Rappaport family

[Priscilla]

Hilde Eccles nee Rappaport or Rappaport-Bloch was born 25.5.1916 in Zurich her father was Joseph Rappaport-Bloch.  She died in 1994 in England.
On her marriage certificate in 1958 her father's occupation was Merchant.
I believe the family originated in Poland and her father was from a prominent Jewish family.
I know a lot about Hilde but would like to know more about her mother and father's family history.
How would I begin to go about finding out more?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thank you.

[JustinL]

Hello Priscilla,

I would strongly recommend that you join JewishGen. There are no less than 187 people researching the Rappaport surname.

The surname was very common in and around Krakow.

You will probably need to obtain some Swiss record first of all to determine Joseph's parentage and/or place of birth. I would suggest you and Switzerland and Poland to the title of this post to draw in more interest.

Justin

[JustinL]

How's your German? Can you understand the guidance here?

http://www.rootschat.com/links/09qy/

This is the address of the Zurich's Registry Office, which could provide a copy of Hilde's birth certificate:

Zivilstandsamt
Molkenstrasse 5/9
Amtshaus Helvetiaplatz
Postfach
8022 Zürich

Telefon044 412 31 50
Fax044 212 10 15

[Priscilla]

Hello JustinL,
Thank you very much for your help and advice - much appreciated.
Yes, I think I will get her birth certificate and work from there.
Again, many thanks.
Best wishes,
Priscilla

[JustinL]

Hello Priscilla,

I have been making additional enqiries and hope to able to offer more specific information/advice soon.

Do you speak/read/write German? It will solve a huge problem if you do.

Rgds,

Justin

[Priscilla]

Hello Justin,
No, unfortunately my linguistic skills are non-existent ... !
Priscilla

[SwissGill]

I have just found a Hilda Rappaport born 1916, in Krakau, Poland, whose last residence was Zürich, Switzerland and who left for Haifa via Triest in 1938. Her occupation was given as "farmer".

Ships name "Gerusalemme"

This was on the Swiss Emigration Index.

Gill

[JustinL]

Priscilla,

I have received several responses to my parallel enquiries. The recommendation is that post to the forum of the Swiss Association for Jewish Genealogy (www.svjg.org). The honorary president of the association, René Loeb, assures me that the forum is bilingual or that most people will understand English anyway.

Enter the site, click 'Fourm' on the left, then 'neues Thema hinzufuegen' on top right. When you have written the post click on 'Nachricht absenden'.

If you receive a reply in German, I'm sure we can help you out here.

Gill's discovery is very interesting. Could that be your Hilde?

Justin

[JustinL]

Priscilla,

If we assume that the information from the Swiss Emigration Index is correct and that Hilde was born in Krakow, the next best step may be to attempt to obtain a birth certificate.

The address for the Civil Records Office of Krakow is:

Urząd Stanu Cywilnego Kraków
ul. Lubelska 27
30-003 Kraków
Poland

Tel.: (12) 616-55-15
Faks: (12 616-55-20

e-mail: www.bip.krakow.pl/idz

From what I have read about obtaining Polish civil records, it would be very beneficial if you could get someone to draft a short note in Polish. That would hugely increase your chances of getting a response. I have read that the fee could be in the region of

The Civil Records Office may or may not write back to you — it depends upon many factors, from the whim of manager of the USC, to the inability to understand a letter written in a language other than Polish.  The USC will provide only typewritten abstracts of the vital records in their possession, as photocopies of records less than 100 years old are not permitted.  The response will usually come back through the Polish Embassy or nearest Polish Consulate, and they are now asking for about £20 per record, but this is not consistent.

There is, however, the possibility that records from that era have not survived.

Justin