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Blog

September 9, 2026

Call-out for Soviet Jewry Stories

We’re seeking objects and personal stories of how Jewish identity, tradition and community endured under Soviet rule – often quietly, and often in private.

The Sydney Jewish Museum is seeking objects and personal stories from former Soviet Jewry about how they preserved their Jewish identity, traditions and connections to community while their religious and cultural expression was suppressed and even criminalised.

These artefacts and experiences will form part of a new exhibition – when SJM reopens next year – exploring ideas, concepts and stories that unpack more than 4000 years of Jewish history and culture.

For many families in the former Soviet Union, Jewish life continued quietly and privately. Maybe they hosted discreet visits from Western Jewish leaders. Perhaps Shabbat candles were lit behind closed curtains. A siddur, tallit or other ritual object may have been hidden away, shared among family and friends, or passed discreetly from one generation to the next. Perhaps treasured photographs, letters, books or documents were carefully safeguarded for decades.

But the stories SJM is calling out for are not limited to traditional Judaica.

They may be found in the most unexpected places: a postcard from abroad, a Hebrew-language book, a souvenir, a food wrapper, a record, a photograph or another everyday object that offered a tangible connection to Jewish life, culture, heritage or Israel.

Senior Curator Shannon Biederman said that the smallest objects often carried the most powerful memories.

 “We are interested in the ordinary as much as the extraordinary. You do not need to know whether an item is historically important or belongs in a museum collection. If it carries a story about maintaining Jewish identity, faith, culture or connection under Soviet rule, we would love to hear about it.”

At this stage, SJM is simply seeking to uncover and document these stories; there is no expectation that objects will be permanently donated.  Deadline for submissions is 31 October.

If you, your parents or grandparents came from the former Soviet Union and may have an object or story to share, we would be delighted to hear from you.
For more information, fill in the form below.

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE 31 OCTOBER 2026.