National Library of Israel to digitally preserve 7th October massacre and war documentation
The initiative will include tens of thousands of texts, audio and video recordings of fallen victims and fighters, interviews with survivors and video recordings created by both the IDF and Hamas
In a world first, The National Library of Israel will house all the audio/video recordings, online messages, press clips, and ephemera from social media, civil institutions, military and governments from the terror attacks of 7 October 2023.
Based in Jerusalem, the library will serve as the central repository for the dozens of projects now collecting testimony from across the Jewish world.
The goal is to create a large, authoritative database encompassing the entirety of evidence, documentation, media coverage, and outreach activities, for the benefit of Jewish communal memory and historical research, and to make this evidence available and accessible for the long-term.
Partners in this important initiative include: the Israel Oral History Association (ILOHA), the Oral History Division at the Avraham Harman Institute of Contemporary Jewry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; the Association of Israeli Archivists; the Zvi Yavetz School of Historical Studies at Tel Aviv University; the USC Shoah Foundation; the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL); the Berman Archive at Stanford University; the Israeli Civil Administration; the Leadership Forum for War Documentation Initiatives; Edut 710; Moked Arava; and many more.
The Israeli Civil Administration has already transferred about 200,000 photos and videos collected by its operations room to the Library to be preserved for future generations.
To date, the project has determined there are tens of thousands of texts, audio and video recordings of fallen victims and fighters, interviews with survivors, families of hostages, plus hundreds of thousands of video recordings created by the IDF and the security forces, advocacy organizations, private individuals – as well as by the terrorists themselves.
In addition, the project will also document and preserve websites related to the massacre and the war, as well as posts on X (Twitter), Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and other digital media, as well as publications from various government ministries, local authorities, southern and northern border communities, the security and defense establishment, and more.
The Library is also looking into ways of providing assistance to those historical community archives damaged or destroyed in the course of the Hamas attack.
Dr. Raquel Ukeles, Head of Collections at the National Library of Israel said: “It is already clear that even after the war’s end, the need to understand, study, and research the events of October 7th and the current war, and their social, cultural, military, and political consequences will remain relevant and important for decades to come. The work of collecting, preserving materials, and making them publicly available requires the combined resources and joint commitment of all of the organizations that deal with documentation and preservation, and we are grateful to all who participate.”
The project is operating with the cooperation and support of the Israel Ministry of Heritage. Organizations, grassroots initiatives, and/or individuals interested in contributing materials to the National Library of Israel documentation project, or wishing to learn more about this project and its partners, please visit the Library website here or www.nli.org.il.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
