Podcast
One of the goals of the Yekke Initiative, in addition to preserving and expanding the archive, is to record oral history interviews with the children and grandchildren of the Yekkes. This is done both as part of research and in courses we offer at the University of Haifa. They can also be used as material for museum exhibitions and educational projects. The interviews linked here are the first to be conducted by students in such a seminar under the direction of Dr. Daniel Mahla.

In recent decades, oral history has emerged as an important area of inquiry within the field of historical research. A major motivation for conducting and analyzing such interviews has been the desire to construct historical narratives “from below”-that is, to identify alternative sources that depart from conventional approaches that rely on the perspectives of narrow elites. In the United States, the focus has been on the reappraisal of African American history and the struggle for equality of queer people. In Europe and Israel, the period of fascism and Nazism has been the subject of considerable research. Some scholars have attempted to reconstruct the everyday lives of workers in Nazi Germany or Fascist Italy. Others have focused on the experiences of the victims and especially the survivors of the Holocaust. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, another important area of research has been the study and representation of everyday life under the communist regimes of Eastern Europe.

In addition to research, oral history is also important for political activism and historical education. Over the years, many initiatives have developed that conduct and use oral history interviews in a variety of ways and for a variety of purposes. Oral history interviews have become an integral part of museum exhibits, documentary films, podcasts, and other media that shape public discourse. 

Given all this, we see the student interviews as a great way to share the unique story of the Yekkes and their heritage with a wider audience. At the same time, we want to shed light on the complex but important connections between Germany and Israel, and between German and Jewish culture. We hope you enjoy them!