At the Institute for Jewish Research, in the footsteps of Einstein and Freud
As of beginning of December 2018, I have been posted to New York, USA, as part of the “Masters and Internships Program” (MIP) of AADF. More specifically, I am posted in a prestigious research institute such as the “YIVO – Institute for Jewish Research”, founded in 1925 by intellectuals of the time, including Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud. The institute is primarily intended to preserve, study, promote and perpetuate knowledge about the history and culture of Eastern European Jews, but not only.
Since the first week at YIVO, I have been engaged in concrete projects at the Department of Digital Initiatives. Initially, I contributed to the drafting of a comprehensive database identifying electronic registers where can be sought books or other works of art by Jewish authors or artists that have looted, stolen, sequestered or lost over the years. In the course of the project, after some research at YIVO Archives, I also prepared a detailed Report on the fate of the five old Hebraic books (incunabula) of the 15th century, seized by Nazi authorities during World War II. What a marvelous experience to delve into the rich archive of YIVO and touch a part of the history in person!!!
Furthermore, within the framework of the obligation of the Institute to comply with European privacy legislation (because its significant activities targeting European countries and the fact that YIVO website is largely visited by European users), I contributed to drafting a new policy privacy of the Institute, taking into account the requirements of the EU General Data Protection Regulation. In the absence of a Legal Department at YIVO, my contribution as a lawyer in this process was of significant importance to the Institute (at least, this is what my supervisor told me). The new Policy will be soon approved by the hierarchy at YIVO and posted online.
Recently I am engaged in a major project aimed at creating an “Atlas of Jewish History”, an initiative that comes as cooperation between American Sephardi Federation (ASF) and YIVO. The project will enable the drafting of a consolidated version of Jewish history in major European, Asian and South American countries, as well as identifying all Jewish cultural and artistic heritage sites in these countries by documenting them with data from various archives but also with contemporary photographs, testimonies or footage. An interactive website with photos and videos on Jewish cultural heritage sites and other places of interest will be developed during the project. I am lucky enough to be involved in this initiative as part of a team with various highly qualified American scholars!
