Peshe Bir married Yudel Sochet on 16 July 1885 in Skaistkalne, Latvia. Their son, my husband's grandfather, Mendel Sochet, was born there on 26 June 1886 [1 July 1886]. His birth was the seventh male birth recorded in 1886.
In the late 1800s, Skaistkalne was called Shenberg and was part of Courland in Russia. It was variously known as Shimberg, Shemberg and Schoenberg. On the border between Latvia and Lithuania, its records include people from areas in both modern countries. Our family names included in Skaitskalne records include Sochet, Bir [Berger], Deutch, Kramer, Sandler, Slomovitch, Solomon. |

*September 2022 Update! I am in the process of updating previous indexing and adding more. Check back frequently for updates. Or, email me to be added to the update list.
Notes regarding the transliterations and translations: Transliterations and translations have been made primarily from the left or Russian side of the vital records. Where possible, the Hebrew has been used to fill in Hebrew names, fathers' names, and information missing from the Russian side. The Hebrew transliterations/translations have been placed in italicized font within square brackets. Additional notes have also been italicized and placed within [square brackets].
Finding the original records: Although I have worked to avoid them, there may be errors. Please seek the image of the original page where your ancestor's vital record is recorded. Record images can be found on Raduraksti, the website of the Latvian State Historical Archives (LVVA) and FamilySearch in their collection "Latvia, Vecumnieki, Skaistkalne, Jewish records, 1854-1905," number 3047680 in the catalog. Both websites require you to register and log in before viewing images. Raduraksti is in Latvian but can be navigated easily. After logging in, go to Baznīcu grāmatas [church books], then to Mozus ticīgie [Moses believers], then to Rabināti [translates to raised but refers to the Rabbinical records], then to the town of interest. The record books for each town are arranged by year, then by event - birth, marriages, deaths, divorces.
Abbreviations: The first thing you will notice on the town page is the list of years, each followed by an abbreviation for births, divorces, marriages, or deaths.
Dzimušie (Dz) - births
Laulātie (L) - marriages
Mirušie (M) - deaths
Šķirtie (Šķ) - divorces
Use the index to find the image of your ancestor's record: Use the links below for the year and record for your ancestor's birth, marriage, death, or divorce. Each link connects to the index of the record book for the year for that event.
When you have found your ancestor's indexed entry, record the year, page (first column), and number of the event (2nd or 3rd column). You are now ready to find your ancestor's record in the online images at FamilySearch and Raduraksti.
Notes regarding the transliterations and translations: Transliterations and translations have been made primarily from the left or Russian side of the vital records. Where possible, the Hebrew has been used to fill in Hebrew names, fathers' names, and information missing from the Russian side. The Hebrew transliterations/translations have been placed in italicized font within square brackets. Additional notes have also been italicized and placed within [square brackets].
Finding the original records: Although I have worked to avoid them, there may be errors. Please seek the image of the original page where your ancestor's vital record is recorded. Record images can be found on Raduraksti, the website of the Latvian State Historical Archives (LVVA) and FamilySearch in their collection "Latvia, Vecumnieki, Skaistkalne, Jewish records, 1854-1905," number 3047680 in the catalog. Both websites require you to register and log in before viewing images. Raduraksti is in Latvian but can be navigated easily. After logging in, go to Baznīcu grāmatas [church books], then to Mozus ticīgie [Moses believers], then to Rabināti [translates to raised but refers to the Rabbinical records], then to the town of interest. The record books for each town are arranged by year, then by event - birth, marriages, deaths, divorces.
Abbreviations: The first thing you will notice on the town page is the list of years, each followed by an abbreviation for births, divorces, marriages, or deaths.
Dzimušie (Dz) - births
Laulātie (L) - marriages
Mirušie (M) - deaths
Šķirtie (Šķ) - divorces
Use the index to find the image of your ancestor's record: Use the links below for the year and record for your ancestor's birth, marriage, death, or divorce. Each link connects to the index of the record book for the year for that event.
When you have found your ancestor's indexed entry, record the year, page (first column), and number of the event (2nd or 3rd column). You are now ready to find your ancestor's record in the online images at FamilySearch and Raduraksti.
Click the year to go to the index for that year's registration book. Click the letter (Dz, L, M, Sk) to go to the book's images.
Notes:
1880 Births: Not available on FamilySearch. The link for 1880 incorrectly links to the 1879 death register. Access the 1880 Skaistkalne birth register via Raduraksti LVVA-5024-1-223 Dz.
1880 Deaths: Not available on FamilySearch. Access the 1880 Skaistkalne death register via Raduraksti LVVA-5024-1-225.
1881 Deaths: Not available on FamilySearch. Access the 1881 Skaistkalne death register via Raduraksti LVVA-5024-1-227.
1882 Births: Not available on FamilySearch. Access the 1882 Skaistkalne birth register via Raduraksti LVVA-5024-1-228.
1882 Deaths: Not available on FamilySearch. Access the 1882 Skaistkalne death register via Raduraksti LVVA-5024-1-230.
1883 Births: Not available on FamilySearch. Access the 1883 Skaistkalne birth register via Raduraksti LVVA-5024-1-231.
1883 Deaths: Not available on FamilySearch. Access the 1883 Skaistkalne death register via Raduraksti LVVA 5024-1-233.
1907-1911; 1913, 1914 Book of Births: This book was described and titled as including births from 1913 and 1914. No births (or lack of births) from those years were noted. As was customary for months without reported births, the book's last entry dated 1 January 1912 by the Bausk Rabbi K. Efraimson indicated there were no births in December 1911. This book is not available on FamilySearch. Access the 1907-1911 Skiastkalne birth register via Radurakstsi LVVA-4354-2-33.
1906-1910, 1913, 1914 Book of Deaths: Only available currently via Raduraksti, LVVA-4354-2-35. Click here.
1880 Births: Not available on FamilySearch. The link for 1880 incorrectly links to the 1879 death register. Access the 1880 Skaistkalne birth register via Raduraksti LVVA-5024-1-223 Dz.
1880 Deaths: Not available on FamilySearch. Access the 1880 Skaistkalne death register via Raduraksti LVVA-5024-1-225.
1881 Deaths: Not available on FamilySearch. Access the 1881 Skaistkalne death register via Raduraksti LVVA-5024-1-227.
1882 Births: Not available on FamilySearch. Access the 1882 Skaistkalne birth register via Raduraksti LVVA-5024-1-228.
1882 Deaths: Not available on FamilySearch. Access the 1882 Skaistkalne death register via Raduraksti LVVA-5024-1-230.
1883 Births: Not available on FamilySearch. Access the 1883 Skaistkalne birth register via Raduraksti LVVA-5024-1-231.
1883 Deaths: Not available on FamilySearch. Access the 1883 Skaistkalne death register via Raduraksti LVVA 5024-1-233.
1907-1911; 1913, 1914 Book of Births: This book was described and titled as including births from 1913 and 1914. No births (or lack of births) from those years were noted. As was customary for months without reported births, the book's last entry dated 1 January 1912 by the Bausk Rabbi K. Efraimson indicated there were no births in December 1911. This book is not available on FamilySearch. Access the 1907-1911 Skiastkalne birth register via Radurakstsi LVVA-4354-2-33.
1906-1910, 1913, 1914 Book of Deaths: Only available currently via Raduraksti, LVVA-4354-2-35. Click here.