Scope and Content Note
The Jewish Renaissance Project oral histories collection consists of video-taped oral histories of Jewish-American World War II Army veterans George Kaiser and Maurice A. Amdur. The veterans describe their experiences in the Army during World War II and the impact the war had on their lives.
In the oral history of George Kaiser (49 min. 22 sec.), Kaiser explains that he enlisted because of the on-going persecution of European Jews at the hands of the Nazis. He describes the six years he fought in Belgium and Germany, including liberating the Dachau concentration camp and encountering anti-Semitism within his own unit.
In the oral history of Maurice A. Amdur (39 min. 22 sec.), he describes his unit's activities in Europe, including liberating Russian prisoners of war from a Nazi labor camp. He also describes the unit's revolt against the U.S. War Department, in which they demanded not to be sent overseas again. Following subsequent court battles, the unit was honorably discharged in 1945.
Both videos have been transcribed by the archives staff, and the transcripts are available in the collection.
Dates
- Creation: 2000-2002
Creator
- Fogelson, Miriam (Person)
Conditions Governing Access:
This collection is unrestricted.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use:
Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the University Archivist.
Extent
.15 cubic feet (1 container)
Language
English
Overview
The Jewish Renaissance Project (JRP) began in 2000 as an optional project for Northeastern University students minoring in Jewish Studies. The JRP requires students to undertake a service-learning module, such as working with the elderly to record their life histories or with the Anti-Defamation League, in association with a four-credit course of the student's choice. Miriam Fogelson was a Northeastern student who interviewed George Kaiser and Maurice Amdur as part of a Jewish Renaissance Project in 2000. George Kaiser (b. 1922) enlisted in the Army in May 1940 when he was 17. He served in multiple units during World War II, spending the most time in the 20th Armored Division of the 8th Infantry. Maurice A. Amdur (b. 1924) was drafted into the United States Army in 1942. He served for three years, mostly in the 95th Infantry. His unit was sent to Normandy in June 1944 and fought in France, Germany, and Belgium.
Overview
The Jewish Renaissance Project oral histories collection consists of video-taped oral histories created by Northeastern University student Miriam Fogelson. She interviewed Jewish army veterans Maurice A. Amdur and George Kaiser. They discussed their experiences in the Army in World War II and the impact of the war on their lives.
System of Arrangement:
This collection is arranged alphabetically.
Physical Location
64/4
Bibliography
- Northeastern University Jewish Studies Program homepage: http://www.jewishstudies.neu.edu/
- Jewish Renaissance Project homepage: http://www.jewishstudies.neu.edu/JewRen.html
Subject
- Amdur, Maurice A. (Person)
- Keiser, George (Person)
- Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.) -- Students (Organization)
- Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Jewish Studies Program (Organization)
- Title
- Finding aid for the Miriam Fogelson Papers
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Jessica M. Parr
- Date
- 2004 December
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections Repository