Jewish family memory
Pinkas: meaning and family-history use
A pinkas is a record book or register; historical Jewish communal pinkasim recorded community affairs. A historical pinkas and the modern Pinkas family-archive service are different things.
By Pinkas · Updated September 28, 2026
How to record it in a family archive
When citing a historical pinkas, include the community, date range, holding institution, shelf mark, and page or image number. Keep the original spelling of names alongside your transcription.
A practical example
A scan labeled only 'community book' is difficult to find again. Add the catalog reference and the specific entry that supports your family-history claim.
Keep the original context
A glossary definition helps orient a reader; it cannot resolve an individual document, identity, or observance question. Save the original source and note who supplied any interpretation. Ask a qualified reader or the relevant community authority when the context is unclear.