A new exhibit at the New York Historical highlights rare Holocaust recordings

Last week, the New York Historical unveiled a deeply moving new exhibition: “The Recordings: Voices from the Shoah Tapes,” on view through March 29, 2026. Presented in partnership with the Jewish Museum Berlin, the exhibition offers a rare listening experience drawn from the recently uncovered audio archive of Shoah, Claude Lanzmann’s groundbreaking 1985 Holocaust documentary.

Unlike traditional exhibitions that focus solely on visuals, this installation places the voices of history at the center. Visitors will hear selections from 152 previously unknown cassette tapes, capturing conversations Lanzmann conducted in the 1970s with survivors, bystanders and even perpetrators. These recordings offer an intimate glimpse into the research and storytelling process behind Shoah, revealing the raw, unfiltered memories that shaped one of the most important documentaries ever made about the Holocaust.

“Hearing the voices and personal stories of those who survived the Holocaust will, we hope, provide a vital history lesson to a new generation,” said Dr. Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of the New York Historical, said in an official statement. “In the context of rising antisemitism today, ‘The Recordings’ reminds us how quickly dangerous ideologies can take hold and why preserving these testimonies matters now more than ever.”

Curated by Tamar Lewinsky and coordinated for New York by Valerie Paley, Sue Ann Weinberg and Keren Ben-Horin, the exhibition not only preserves Lanzmann’s research but also underscores the enduring power of memory and testimony. The installation arrives on the centenary of Lanzmann’s birth, highlighting the filmmaker’s lifelong dedication to documenting the Holocaust and ensuring that these voices are never forgotten.

For those who cannot visit in person, the recordings will be fully accessible online by 2027, making this remarkable collection a resource for scholars, students and anyone committed to remembering the past.