Mattan Segev-Frank MA, BFA
Journey through time in Central European Jewish History with an Expert Genealogist
Mattan Segev-Frank's Genealogy Jungle
Historian, Genealogist and Storyteller
Vienna
Austria
Currently accepting clients for...
- Family History Research
- Speaking / Presenting
- Writing /Publishing
- Other Speciality
Family History Research
- Document Retrieval / Record Agent
- Ethnicity / Religion
- Family History Research
Speaking/Presenting
- Family History Research
- Methodology & Resources
- Available for in-person events
- Available for virtual events
Writing/Publishing
- Author/Writer
Other Speciality
- Document Translation
- Heir & Probate Search
- House Historian / Local History
- Oral Historian
I’m a Historian, Professional Genealogist and Storyteller, based in Vienna, Austria. With over 17 years of experience in Jewish genealogy, I am passionate about uncovering hidden stories, I compiled and maintain a comprehensive and intertwined database of over 71,000 individuals, primarily focused on Central European Jewish communities in Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Romania, as well as Israel.
Since September 2025 I serve as a Co-Founder, Secretary General, and Board Secretary of the Association for Central European Jewish History and Genealogy (CEJHG), based in Vienna, Austria, and am organizing the international conference "Parallel Paths, Shared Past: Jewish History and Genealogy in Central Europe", to take place in Vienna 4-6 May 2026 in partnership with the CEU Jewish Studues program.
Member of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) and the Hungarian Society for Family History Research (MACSE). Founder and co-Admin of the Facebook group “The Israeli Genealogy Hub”.
I hold a BFA in Film and Television and an MA in Jewish History from Tel Aviv University, graduating with honors in the Inter-University Program that specializes in Russian and Eastern European Studies. My BFA studies included Narratology, investigative research, and New Media, while my Master’s degree allowed me to deepen and broaden my expertise in Jewish history and genealogy of the former Austrian-Hungarian Empire.
My expertise includes tracing family lines, gathering historical documents, tracing living heirs, and creating personalized family histories. I'm dedicated to making genealogy an immersive experience and love guiding clients through their ancestral journeys, ensuring their connections to the past are not only documented but celebrated.
I offer my services to English- and Hebrew-speaking clients but can handle genealogical material in German (including older handwritten scripts), Hungarian, Slovak, Yiddish, and English.
Since September 2025 I serve as a Co-Founder, Secretary General, and Board Secretary of the Association for Central European Jewish History and Genealogy (CEJHG), based in Vienna, Austria, and am organizing the international conference "Parallel Paths, Shared Past: Jewish History and Genealogy in Central Europe", to take place in Vienna 4-6 May 2026 in partnership with the CEU Jewish Studues program.
Member of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) and the Hungarian Society for Family History Research (MACSE). Founder and co-Admin of the Facebook group “The Israeli Genealogy Hub”.
I hold a BFA in Film and Television and an MA in Jewish History from Tel Aviv University, graduating with honors in the Inter-University Program that specializes in Russian and Eastern European Studies. My BFA studies included Narratology, investigative research, and New Media, while my Master’s degree allowed me to deepen and broaden my expertise in Jewish history and genealogy of the former Austrian-Hungarian Empire.
My expertise includes tracing family lines, gathering historical documents, tracing living heirs, and creating personalized family histories. I'm dedicated to making genealogy an immersive experience and love guiding clients through their ancestral journeys, ensuring their connections to the past are not only documented but celebrated.
I offer my services to English- and Hebrew-speaking clients but can handle genealogical material in German (including older handwritten scripts), Hungarian, Slovak, Yiddish, and English.
Geographic Specialities
Central Europe - Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania
Central Europe - Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania
Publications/Media
Segev-Frank, Mattan. “Rudolf Vrba's Credibility and the Historical Controversy Surrounding It”. Tel Aviv, 2020. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.31728.32000.
Segev-Frank, Mattan. “Dr. Charles VS Rabbi Yaakov Koppel Duschinsky: Transformations in Jewish life in Europe through the Biography of Dr. Charles / Yaakov Koppel Duschinsky”. Tel Aviv, 2023. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.13740.23682.
Segev-Frank, Mattan, “ר׳ דוד ליב ברד״ח, אשתו מ׳ מאטל לבית רייך בת רבי קאפל חריף אלטענקונשטאט - וצאציהם” (Rabbi David Leib Berdach and his wife Mattel neé Reich, daughter of Rabbi Koppel Charif Altenkunstadt, and their descendants( [online]. Alei Zikaron, Vol. 56. ‘Zikaron’ institute for the commemoration of Hungarian Jewry, Bnei Brak, April 2021. P. 32-43.
Segev-Frank, Mattan, “ר׳ משולם רייך בן הג״ר רבי קאפל חריף וצאציו” (Rabbi Meshullam Reich, son of Rabbi Koppel Charif, and his descendants( [online]. Alei Zikaron, Vol. 45. ‘Zikaron’ institute for the commemoration of Hungarian Jewry, Bnei Brak, March 2018. P. 25-33.
Segev-Frank, Mattan, “על משפחתו של הגרי״ח זוננפלד אב״ד ירושלים” (The family if Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, Av Beit Din Jerusalem.( [online]. Alei Zikaron, Vol. 43. ‘Zikaron’ institute for the commemoration of Hungarian Jewry, Bnei Brak, February 2018. P. 28-32.
Künstlicher, Moshe Alexander Züsha, Segev-Frank, Mattan & Goldstein, Yaakov, “לתולדות רבי משה בנימין זאב ליכטנשטרן, הרב מאורמין וצאצאיו” (The Rabbi of Urmeny, Rabbi Moshe Benjamin Ze’ev Lichtenstern, and his descendants). [online]. Alei Zikaron, Vol. 40. ‘Zikaron’ institute for the commemoration of Hungarian Jewry, Bnei Brak, November 2017. P. 49-58.
Lectures
May 2026
"Untangling the hidden history, relationships, and false documentation of the Jewish Community of Palárikovo"
A paper presentation in a panel dedicated to Town Histries' as part of the international conference "Parallel Paths, Shared Past: Jewish History and Genealogy in Central Europe", organized by the Association for Central European Jewish History and Genealogy (CEJHG) and the CEU department of Jewish Studies.
January 2026
"Exploring Our Shared Past in the Heart of Europe"
An online lecture introducing the Association for Central European Jewish History and Genealogy and the international conference "Parallel Paths, Shared Past: Jewish History and Genealogy in Central Europe" to members of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain (JGSGB).
August 2025
"Unveiling Your Jewish Roots in Central Europe with Mattan Segev-Frank’s Genealogy Jungle"
Lecture at the the Sinagoga Edmond J. Safra - Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, about the ties between Brazilian Jews and Central Europe, Historical turning points that shaped Jewish life; The challenges of shifting borders and missing documents; Sources and archives that open new possibilities; How we can overcome research obstacles to reconnect with our past; And last but not least, how my work as a Historian, Genealogist, and Storyteller, helps people navigate their Genealogical Jungle - whether it’s to rediscover their family’s journey, strengthen identity, pursue European citizenship, or preserve their heritage for generations to come.
March 2022
"Keeping Jewish Heritage in Public Hands through Cooperation"
Zoom lecture in English for the Jewish Genealogy Association of Colorado, together with Dr. Yoel Finkelman (Judaica Curator of the National Library of Israel) about our successful effort to rescue Hungarian Jewish cultural heritage items, which were believed to disappear during the Holocaust, from private auctioneers to the Israeli National Library, where they were digitized and made available online to the public.
February 2022
"Jewish Treasures at Risk"
Zoom lecture for the members of the Israeli Genealogy Research Association (IGRA) about the Trade of Jewish Community Books of Genealogical Value in Auctions and What Can be Done About It.
November 2020
"Building A Family Tree – Methods and Possibilities on various Genealogical Platforms"
Lecture on genealogical research as part of "Roots to Trees – An Introduction to Family History Research Course" by Yad Vashem & the Central Zionist Archive
December 2019
"I Don't Search – I Find"
Lecture on Genealogical Informatics, as part of Golan Genealogy's Genealogy Research course for employees of the Administrator General and Official Receiver at the Israeli Ministry of Justice.
2017-2019
"With A Little Help from My Friends"
Lectures on my personal journey of Genealogy Research and on Research in the era of virtual communities at the Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Rishon LeZion & Kfar Saba chapters of the Israeli Genealogy Society (IGS).
May 2026
"Untangling the hidden history, relationships, and false documentation of the Jewish Community of Palárikovo"
A paper presentation in a panel dedicated to Town Histries' as part of the international conference "Parallel Paths, Shared Past: Jewish History and Genealogy in Central Europe", organized by the Association for Central European Jewish History and Genealogy (CEJHG) and the CEU department of Jewish Studies.
January 2026
"Exploring Our Shared Past in the Heart of Europe"
An online lecture introducing the Association for Central European Jewish History and Genealogy and the international conference "Parallel Paths, Shared Past: Jewish History and Genealogy in Central Europe" to members of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain (JGSGB).
August 2025
"Unveiling Your Jewish Roots in Central Europe with Mattan Segev-Frank’s Genealogy Jungle"
Lecture at the the Sinagoga Edmond J. Safra - Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, about the ties between Brazilian Jews and Central Europe, Historical turning points that shaped Jewish life; The challenges of shifting borders and missing documents; Sources and archives that open new possibilities; How we can overcome research obstacles to reconnect with our past; And last but not least, how my work as a Historian, Genealogist, and Storyteller, helps people navigate their Genealogical Jungle - whether it’s to rediscover their family’s journey, strengthen identity, pursue European citizenship, or preserve their heritage for generations to come.
March 2022
"Keeping Jewish Heritage in Public Hands through Cooperation"
Zoom lecture in English for the Jewish Genealogy Association of Colorado, together with Dr. Yoel Finkelman (Judaica Curator of the National Library of Israel) about our successful effort to rescue Hungarian Jewish cultural heritage items, which were believed to disappear during the Holocaust, from private auctioneers to the Israeli National Library, where they were digitized and made available online to the public.
February 2022
"Jewish Treasures at Risk"
Zoom lecture for the members of the Israeli Genealogy Research Association (IGRA) about the Trade of Jewish Community Books of Genealogical Value in Auctions and What Can be Done About It.
November 2020
"Building A Family Tree – Methods and Possibilities on various Genealogical Platforms"
Lecture on genealogical research as part of "Roots to Trees – An Introduction to Family History Research Course" by Yad Vashem & the Central Zionist Archive
December 2019
"I Don't Search – I Find"
Lecture on Genealogical Informatics, as part of Golan Genealogy's Genealogy Research course for employees of the Administrator General and Official Receiver at the Israeli Ministry of Justice.
2017-2019
"With A Little Help from My Friends"
Lectures on my personal journey of Genealogy Research and on Research in the era of virtual communities at the Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Rishon LeZion & Kfar Saba chapters of the Israeli Genealogy Society (IGS).
Research Time Periods
- 21st Century
- 20th Century
- 19th Century
Languages
Hebrew, English, German (B2 level). Can read genealogical material in Slovak, Hungarian, and Yiddish as well
Hebrew, English, German (B2 level). Can read genealogical material in Slovak, Hungarian, and Yiddish as well
Honorifics/Credentials
- 2021: Excellency Scholarship from Tel Aviv University's Department of Jewish History
- 2020: Excellency Scholarship from Tel Aviv University's Department of Jewish History
- 2020: The Moran Zafrir Prize for Outstanding Research
- 2019: The Balaban-Glass Scholarship for outstanding applicants for master's Degree
Affiliations
Co-Founder and Secretary General of the Association for Central European Jewish History & Genealogy (CEJHG)
Member of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) - Licensed Genealogy Researcher
Member of the Hungarian Society for Family History Research (MACSE).
Co-Founder and Secretary General of the Association for Central European Jewish History & Genealogy (CEJHG)
Member of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) - Licensed Genealogy Researcher
Member of the Hungarian Society for Family History Research (MACSE).
Degrees
MA in Jewish History (Magna cum Laude) from Tel Aviv University's Rosenberg School of Jewish Studies, graduated with honors in the Inter-University Program specializing in Russian and Eastern European Studies.
BFA in Film and Television, Tel Aviv University's Steve Tisch School of Film and Television
MA in Jewish History (Magna cum Laude) from Tel Aviv University's Rosenberg School of Jewish Studies, graduated with honors in the Inter-University Program specializing in Russian and Eastern European Studies.
BFA in Film and Television, Tel Aviv University's Steve Tisch School of Film and Television