Preserving the Present
Guided by desire to preserve personal stories for historians of the future and for current processing of the pandemic's impact in the Jewish community. Currently collecting photos and screenshots; stories and poems; 2020-specific Haggadot; websites and email communications from synagogues, Jewish organizations, and other related institutions. Eventually interested in physical objects, including calendars, take-out receipts, "closed" signs, masks, and other items. Limited geographic scope to Maryland. Directed outreach to Jews of color, Jewish LGBTQ groups, and specific congregations across major denominations (Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist). Publicized online through institutional email, website, and social media. Reaching out to local Jewish news and synagogue newsletters. Conducting digital workshops to facilitate the creation of written stories. Expanded focus of collecting effort to include experiences of protests for racial justice in Baltimore and around the state. Few submissions up to now, but expansion of staff and volunteer energy on this project is hoped to yield results through greater outreach efforts. Collecting digital material online through Google Forms and email.
