Jewish family memory
Preparing a Holocaust family testimony interview
A testimony interview must center the narrator's consent and control. Preserving history never requires pressing someone for painful detail.
By Pinkas · Updated September 28, 2026
A practical first step
Discuss recording and future use in advance. Let the narrator choose topics, pause, or stop. Consult specialist oral-history guidance when planning a testimony project.
An example to follow
Let the narrator decide what future generations should hear rather than assuming a particular experience. Preserve the full context around any excerpt.
Keep the record useful for the next relative
Save the original item or recording, the source of each claim, and the date you added the note. Label estimates and disputed details. Decide who should have access before inviting other people to help.