A city is a space that is constantly changing: residents come and go, businesses open and close, streets and neighborhoods change their appearance and character. Only a small part of the memories are preserved in the archives and libraries, while the great majority are found in the personal memory of the residents and in the family photo albums.

The urban memory project, which is being developed as part of the Eliyahu Lab, aims to create a “memory map” that will be accessible from everyone’s computer and phone, and where we can share the memories we have of different places on the street, in the neighborhood and in the city: facts, stories, photos, even recordings. This way we can pass on the memories that only we have, and through the memories of others get to know better the places where we live.

The project is now in its running phase, in cooperation with the Haifa Municipality. As part of an academic course, male and female students go to interview sessions with residents of the Ein Hayam neighborhood in Haifa, which has a rich past, a rich memory and a diverse population that includes Christians, Jews and Muslims. The course was selected for the prestigious “flagship program” of the University of Haifa for courses that integrate social and community action.