Joan and Stanford Alexander South Texas Jewish Archives
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Documenting October 7 and Its Aftermath -The Experience of the Jewish Community of Houston and South Texas
We would like your help in gathering sources from the South Texas Jewish community regarding the events of October 7 and the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. It is crucial to document this significant moment in history for future generations. The Joan and Stanford Alexander Jewish Archives aims to create a comprehensive collection that captures a wide range of perspectives and experiences. Any materials you can share—such as sermons, memorial programs, community activist activities, or editorials—would be invaluable.
We are also looking for individuals who are willing to be interviewed for oral histories about the Houston Jewish community's response to the October 7 attack and the war that followed. The effects of these events are still unfolding, with global repercussions, including the rise of antisemitism, shifts within Jewish communities, increased feelings of isolation, and changes in Israeli society.
If you want to submit your experiences in writing or are interested in having a member of STJA contact you about creating an oral history recording, please use the link here.
You are welcome to submit your own story or share an interview with a Jewish community member in writing or as an audio recording via mobile app, Zoom, or a digital recorder. Please send submissions to Melissa Cohen-Nickels at mc220@rice.edu.
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Interested in donating materials to the archive?
Contact the Curator of STJA Melissa Cohen-Nickels.
A catalog of the archive's collections and rare books at Fondren Library can be seen by clicking here: STJA Library Guide
The archive was founded by Dr. Joshua Furman, as a reaction to Hurricane Harvey in 2017, out of the urgent need to rescue documents and other priceless historical materials related to Jewish life in Houston that were endangered by the flood. Over time, this project developed into a much broader effort: an endeavor to safeguard the legacy of Jews in South Texas and to make the archival records available to the public for research, learning, and enjoyment. The mission of the Joan and Stanford Alexander South Texas Jewish Archives (STJA) is to collect, preserve, and make accessible the documents, photographs, artifacts, and memories that tell the story of Jewish life in Greater Houston and South Texas.
The STJA is a collaborative effort between Rice University's Program in Jewish Studies and the Woodson Research Center (WRC) in the Fondren Library, where the archive is housed.
