The Wexler Oral History Project

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• Tell Your Story!  How to schedule an interview.

Not every Jewish story ends up in a book.
 
The Yiddish Book Center’s Wexler Oral History Project is a growing collection of in-depth video interviews.  Through stories of tradition and survival, memories of bygone neighborhoods, foods and family rituals, and stories of connection to Yiddish language and culture today, we are chronicling the many ways there are to be Jewish.
 
In the past two years, we’ve recorded over 200 interviews, stories told by people of all ages and backgrounds—bobes (grandmothers) and young activists, Yiddish language students and professors, musicians, and grandchildren of Yiddish writers, native speakers and non-Yiddish speakers.
 
These interviews illustrate the ways in which Yiddish language and culture inform Jewish identity.  Together, these stories and reflections provide a glimpse into the ways in which cultural heritage is transmitted, adapted, and reinterpreted by each generation.
 
The goal of the Wexler Oral History Project is to record and preserve stories -- your stories and those of your family and friends. We invite you to tell us your story.

We are particularly looking for people with strong connections to Yiddish language and culture. However, we also interview people from all ages and backgrounds in order to explore the broadest expression of Jewish experience. Your story can truly become part of history. Zay azoy gut, please let us know if you or someone you know would like to be interviewed.  

As you are planning your upcoming visit to the Book Center, consider packing your stories along with you!  We have appointments available now for the coming months.  Don't miss your chance to contribute your story to the archive in our state-of-the-art Karmazin Recording Studio here at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA.

• Tell us your story! To begin, fill out the Pre-Interview Questionnaire, get answers to frequently asked questions, or contact us at tellyourstory@bikher.org.

   

• Want di gantse geshikhte (the full scoop)? Browse our archive of full-length interviews at www.archive.org/details/ybcvideos. 

• Learn through stories.  See highlights from the collection, and learn more about our collections of interviews on specific topics.

• See more clips from the Wexler Oral History Project.
• Sign up to receive a weekly featured clip from the project!

The Wexler Oral History Project is made possible through the generosity of Deborah & Peter Wexler of California, with additional support from Miriam Bienstock of New York, N.Y., Dan Mendelson and Jennifer Loew Mendelson of Washington, D.C., Emile Karafiol of Illinois, and the Strear Foundation of Denver, Colorado.