Religion Press Release Services
An RSS feed for press releases distributed through Religion Press Release ServicesLinks
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Project of Jewish Women's Archive: Katrina's Jewish Voices Goes Live Collecting the Jewish Experience of Katrina Online
Jewish Women’s Archive
138 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02446
Main Number: 617.232.2258
On the web: www.jwa.org
PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Sue Dorfman
Communications
617.383.6756
sdorfman@jwa.org
[BROOKLINE, MA - August 9] When Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast almost a year ago, Jewish communities were among those dramatically impacted by the storm. Many in the region lost their homes, livelihoods and places of worship, while those geographically removed contributed to relief efforts by providing housing, funding, and hands-on rebuilding.
In an effort to preserve the Jewish experience of Hurricane Katrina, the Jewish Women's Archive (JWA) has launched Katrina's Jewish Voices at http://katrina.jwa.org . Members of the Jewish community in New Orleans and across the country may now contribute their stories and photographs to an interactive website and browse the existing collection.
Documents such as emails describing people's experiences of evacuation, resettlement, and rebuilding efforts; photos of their homes and businesses; High Holiday and Shabbat sermons; and blogs and web pages are all important parts of the historical record.
"We're thrilled the website is now live," notes Jayne K. Guberman, project director and director of Oral History at JWA. "As the first anniversary of Katrina approaches, we know memories of the hurricane will be foremost in people's minds."
If there is one message JWA wants to communicate, it is DON'T DELETE ITEMS-CONTRIBUTE THEM! "We encourage everyone to search their computers for materials they think may be of interest," adds Guberman. "We can accept any digital file or people can type in their story directly." Contributors can categorize, or tag, their items with search terms ranging from "dreidel" to "displacement" and "acts of heroism" to "Katrina fatigue."
JWA's 10 year experience with collecting Jewish women's history online and creating collaborative partnerships makes it uniquely qualified for this project. JWA also established a relationship with New Orleans' Jewish community in 2005, when it honored five of its Jewish women leaders as "Women Who Dared".
JWA Executive Director Gail Twersky Reimer explains, "The Jewish community's response to this catastrophic event has been one of extraordinary proportions. Using innovative digital imagery and computer technologies developed in collaboration with The Center for History and New Media at George Mason University, Katrina's Jewish Voices will ensure this history is part of the unfolding story of America and American Jewry."
Funding for Katrina's Jewish Voices has been provided by the 350 Fund: The American Jewish Historical Society, Celebrate 350: Jewish Life in America, and the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives in celebration of 350 years of Jewish life in America; Jan Aronson; The Asher Calechman Family; the Jewish Federation of Greater Baton Rouge; and The Wise Women.
JWA has also partnered with the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson, Mississippi on the oral history component that complements the website. Dr. Rosalind Hinton, project oral historian, will conduct 100 digital video interviews with members of the local Jewish communities. The public is invited to suggest names of family, friends and colleagues by using the nomination form at http://katrina.jwa.org.
###
Note to News & Photo editors:
Photos available at: http://files.jwa.org/kjv/media/
Contact Sue Dorfman at 617.383.6756 or sdorfman@jwa.org to arrange interviews
*****
About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.
The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.
Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.
Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777
138 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02446
Main Number: 617.232.2258
On the web: www.jwa.org
PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Sue Dorfman
Communications
617.383.6756
sdorfman@jwa.org
[BROOKLINE, MA - August 9] When Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast almost a year ago, Jewish communities were among those dramatically impacted by the storm. Many in the region lost their homes, livelihoods and places of worship, while those geographically removed contributed to relief efforts by providing housing, funding, and hands-on rebuilding.
In an effort to preserve the Jewish experience of Hurricane Katrina, the Jewish Women's Archive (JWA) has launched Katrina's Jewish Voices at http://katrina.jwa.org . Members of the Jewish community in New Orleans and across the country may now contribute their stories and photographs to an interactive website and browse the existing collection.
Documents such as emails describing people's experiences of evacuation, resettlement, and rebuilding efforts; photos of their homes and businesses; High Holiday and Shabbat sermons; and blogs and web pages are all important parts of the historical record.
"We're thrilled the website is now live," notes Jayne K. Guberman, project director and director of Oral History at JWA. "As the first anniversary of Katrina approaches, we know memories of the hurricane will be foremost in people's minds."
If there is one message JWA wants to communicate, it is DON'T DELETE ITEMS-CONTRIBUTE THEM! "We encourage everyone to search their computers for materials they think may be of interest," adds Guberman. "We can accept any digital file or people can type in their story directly." Contributors can categorize, or tag, their items with search terms ranging from "dreidel" to "displacement" and "acts of heroism" to "Katrina fatigue."
JWA's 10 year experience with collecting Jewish women's history online and creating collaborative partnerships makes it uniquely qualified for this project. JWA also established a relationship with New Orleans' Jewish community in 2005, when it honored five of its Jewish women leaders as "Women Who Dared".
JWA Executive Director Gail Twersky Reimer explains, "The Jewish community's response to this catastrophic event has been one of extraordinary proportions. Using innovative digital imagery and computer technologies developed in collaboration with The Center for History and New Media at George Mason University, Katrina's Jewish Voices will ensure this history is part of the unfolding story of America and American Jewry."
Funding for Katrina's Jewish Voices has been provided by the 350 Fund: The American Jewish Historical Society, Celebrate 350: Jewish Life in America, and the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives in celebration of 350 years of Jewish life in America; Jan Aronson; The Asher Calechman Family; the Jewish Federation of Greater Baton Rouge; and The Wise Women.
JWA has also partnered with the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson, Mississippi on the oral history component that complements the website. Dr. Rosalind Hinton, project oral historian, will conduct 100 digital video interviews with members of the local Jewish communities. The public is invited to suggest names of family, friends and colleagues by using the nomination form at http://katrina.jwa.org.
###
Note to News & Photo editors:
Photos available at: http://files.jwa.org/kjv/media/
Contact Sue Dorfman at 617.383.6756 or sdorfman@jwa.org to arrange interviews
*****
About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.
The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.
Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.
Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777
Archives
March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 March 2008 April 2008
About Religion Press Release ServicesReligion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others. The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.
Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.
Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777
