National Library of Israel provides access to Holocaust and 7 October survivor testimonies
The library partnered with USC Shoah Foundation which allows Israelis to access testimonies from more than 52,000 Holocaust survivors and survivors of the October 7 massacre
Israelis will be able to access the USC Shoah Foundation’s entire Visual History Archive at the National Library of Israel, which includes testimonies from more than 52,000 Holocaust survivors as well as survivors of the October 7 massacre.
The partnership was announced at an event at the newly opened National Library of Israel building in Jerusalem. Israel will now be the only country in the world where the Visual History Archive is accessible nationwide.
“The work of the USC Shoah Foundation with the National Library of Israel is a strong sign of what is possible when major institutions work in partnership in ways that elevate each other’s missions. Together, we are creating a resource that not only helps inform the global struggle against antisemitism, but one that also builds awareness and understanding of the Jewish people,” said USC Shoah Foundation Finci-Viterbi Executive Director Chair Dr. Robert J. Williams.
Dr. Williams stressed the importance of all testimonies being available in Israel, where nearly half of the world’s remaining Holocaust survivors and the vast majority of Oct. 7 survivors live.
“The USC Shoah Foundation’s archive contains uniquely powerful sources that inform education, research and awareness-raising initiatives that bring people and societies face-to-face with the human beings who survived the world’s oldest hatred. By giving scholars, educators and the wider public additional access to these testimonies through the National Library of Israel, we are helping connect the past with the present in ways that can secure a better future for Israel and the wider international community,” he said.
National Library of Israel Chairman Sallai Meridor said the library is the “keeper of national memory for the Jewish people and the State of Israel.”
“This outstanding agreement will deepen the understanding of Israelis of all backgrounds and faiths as to humanity’s nadirs and zeniths, from the lowest levels of cruelty, brutality and malice to the highest points of resilience, faith and courage. We invite all users of the National Library website to watch and witness these testimonies, and hope fervently that our resolute pledge of ‘Never Again’ will continue to guide generations to come,” he added.
USC Shoah Foundation has gathered more than 400 testimonies of Oct. 7 survivors and eyewitnesses. The National Library of Israel will now serve as a “central repository” cataloging October 7 testimonies.
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