Please note: Currently, the English version of the site does not appear to be working. As a result, all screenshots and search examples provided in this post will be shown in the original Hebrew as they appear on the live site.
Background
Shortly after the events of October 2023, the Israel State Archive website was subjected to a cyberattack. Since then, the site has undergone many changes, often appearing as a series of “patches” applied one over the other. A few days ago, a brand-new website was launched (https://www.archives.gov.il).
Let’s make sense of the situation as it stands today.
Current Status: A Work in Progress
It is no secret that many features on the new site are still not functional. The Archive has announced that only Phase A has been completed, with a total of three stages planned for the full rollout of the new site.
- Archive Publications: For example, these have not yet been moved to the new site.
- Availability: Don’t worry, they are still accessible at the following link: https://catalog.archives.gov.il/site/archive_publications/.
Search Tips: What Works?
Searching through the collections is functional, at least partially. While a search window appears as soon as you enter the site , I do not recommend using it.
Instead, use the magnifying glass icon located in the upper-left corner. This tool provides access to both basic and advanced search functions.
Example: If you want to search for a surname like “אליגון,” a simple search will work. However, the name might appear as “אל-יגון” or “אל”; the new site now allows you to search for all these variations.
Known Limitations
Despite the new features, there are several significant drawbacks:
- Missing Data: Some results that used to appear for specific surnames (like Aligon) have vanished, suggesting not all data has been migrated to the new database yet.
- OCR Results: Results based on Optical Character Recognition (OCR) are not appearing here. For now, the Archive has restored the ability to search these independently via this link: https://catalog.archives.gov.il/publication/fileandocr/.
- Search Criteria: It is impossible to see your search criteria after you have executed the search. It is vital to record exactly what you did in your research log.
Accessing Files
Your search will return files with and without online access.
- Online Access: Clicking the name of the file will take you directly to the scan.
- Order for Review: If there is no digital access, clicking the file name will allow you to fill out a form to order it for review.
The “Genealogical Value” Icon 
While you can filter results to show only these files, I personally would not ignore files that are not marked this way. Currently, the criteria for which files get this mark is a “black box”. For instance, my search returned two British Mandate-era citizenship applications where my great-grandfather was a witness; neither of these files was marked with the tree icon.
How to Filter
To filter your results, use the icon at the bottom of the screen. This allows you to filter by:
- Files marked for genealogical value.
- Publication Date: This is essential for roots research. By tracking your searches, you can return to look for new results without repeating work on files you have already analyzed.
A Note on Dates and Missing Content
The link at the bottom of the site leads to a list of all new files added to the site. This highlights a current issue: all files uploaded to the new site are listed with a date of November 2025. It is unclear if files uploaded in previous years are still missing from the new site, or if every file simply receives a new publication date as it is re-uploaded.
