SA Jews Share Their Stories for Our Jewish Story Project

The Our Jewish Story project, a collaboration between the National Library of Israel and other organizations, aims to collect and preserve the stories of 30,000 Jews worldwide. The project, led by Stephen Smith, a renowned Holocaust educator and oral historian, seeks to capture the diversity of Jewish life and experiences in the modern era. Smith, former executive director of the USC Shoah Foundation, has spent 30 years interviewing Holocaust survivors and is now turning his attention to documenting contemporary Jewish experiences.

The project, expected to take five years to complete, will see Smith and his team travel to Jewish communities worldwide, working with local organizations to record stories that reflect the diversity of Jewish life. In South Africa, Smith and his team have begun conducting interviews with community leaders and individuals, exploring issues specific to South African Jewish life, such as the legacy of apartheid, antisemitism, and Jewish identity. The interviews are tailored to both the country and the individual, allowing conversations to develop naturally and uncover more personal experiences.

Smith explained that the project aims to create a permanent archive of Jewish experiences at the National Library of Israel, accessible to the public through the Our Jewish Story app. The archive will allow future generations to hear directly from those who lived these experiences. In South Africa, the team has conducted around a dozen interviews, including with key figures such as virologist Professor Barry Schoub. Schoub's interview, for example, began with questions about balancing his religious observance with his scientific career but evolved into a deeper discussion about faith, science, and identity.

One of Smith's biggest discoveries from 15 interviews in South Africa has been that Jews experience life very differently than he expected. Given the South African government's accusations of "genocide" by Israel, Smith had assumed that Jews might find living there oppressive. However, he has been surprised by what he has heard, with many South African Jews saying they don't experience antisemitism in their daily lives and feel that South Africa remains a welcoming place where Jews can thrive.

The Our Jewish Story project aims to capture the complexities of what it means to be Jewish in South Africa today. Smith and his team hope to create an inclusive picture of Jewish life that reflects the unique makeup of each community, including voices beyond established communal structures, such as unaffiliated Jews. The minimum number of interviews in each country will be based on the size of its Jewish population, ensuring representation across different backgrounds, denominations, ages, and genders.

Smith emphasized that telling one's story is, in itself, a Jewish act, an act of resistance and strength. By sharing their stories, individuals and communities can create something powerful that goes beyond what anyone else says about them. The project, Smith believes, can be a source of strength to the Jewish community, allowing them to appreciate and share their own stories.

The Our Jewish Story project has begun in South Africa, with plans to expand to other countries. The project's findings will provide a unique insight into the experiences of Jews worldwide, offering a nuanced understanding of Jewish life in the 21st century. By preserving these stories, the project aims to create a lasting legacy for future generations.

Key points

• The Our Jewish Story project aims to collect and preserve the stories of 30,000 Jews worldwide, capturing the diversity of Jewish life and experiences in the modern era.