Hineni – Cardiff Reform Synagogue Oral History Project
Written by Movement for Reform Judaism Friday, 07 October 2011
At this traditional time of reflection for the Jewish community, Hineni, the Cardiff Reform Synagogue oral history project, held its own 'Reflections' event, to consider how the project has gone over the past year and what can be done better as it is completed in the coming year.The event attracted a variety of oral and Jewish historians, museum curators and directors, as well as members of the community. The project has already carried out 50 interviews with members of the community about their lives and the lives of their families, and excerpts from these stories will be displayed together with photographs of them taken especially for this project. From memories of life in continental Europe to Israel to South Africa to the South Wales valleys, the stories will weave a tapestry showing a diverse community.
Dr. Glenn Jordan - Director Butetown History and Arts Centre, the synagogue’s collaborator in this project, said: "This has been a wonderful day. These are stories that need to be told; these are faces that deserve to be remembered. It reinforces our view that this project is important – for Wales, for the UK, for Jews throughout the diaspora."
Colin Heyman, manager of the project, said: "the ideas we have got from participants today have been invaluable. Some of the most useful ideas have been about how we can make the project something that represents and involves the whole community."
David Jacobs – Chairman of the Jewish Historical Society of England, Director of Synagogue Partnership, Movement for Reform Judaism - said: "it was a fantastic opportunity to network with people involved in such projects and to learn of the current trends in oral history work as well as celebrating the rich history of our community in Cardiff".
The project is due to finish in July 2012, and the material will be used to put on an exhibition which can be displayed at venues around the UK as well as further afield, and to create a website where people can find out more about these fascinating stories.
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