Case studies

Explore case studies that show how Yerusha will impact historical research

The story of the “Hungarian Jewish Gold Train” was more or less dormant for decades. Independently from each other, Hungarian, Israeli and American scholars launched research projects in the 1990s to reveal the details of the infamous cargo’s fate. The records of the multifaceted story were hidden in dozens of collections in several archives in five countries. Finding and processing the relevant bodies of documents took years. With the Yerusha portal in place, the location of relevant collections would have been much easier.

The Jewish Historical and Ethnographic Society (JHES) played a key role in the creation of modern Jewish culture and scholarship in Russia and other countries in the 20th century. It was the first to systematically document Jewish life in the Russian empire. The value of the JHES archives and collections for scholars as well as the general public can hardly be over-estimated. Yet, the material is scattered in archives throughout Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Israel and the US and a comprehensive catalogue is still to be authored. The Yerusha project could be instrumental in bringing this significant collection closer to the public.

Max Gottschalk (1889-1976), born in Liège to German-Jewish parents, was one of the emblematic leaders of the Jewish community in Belgium. He was a scholar, university professor, humanist and Freemason, lawyer, and high-ranking (inter)national functionary. He became actively involved in the Jewish community already from an early age. His name remains especially linked to his support for the Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany and Austria in the 1930s.