Simo Muir

I am an Associate Professor of Jewish Studies and I specialise in Yiddish Studies and Holocaust Studies. Currently I am a Co-I in the Swedish Research Council funded project ‘Witnessing for the Future. Holocaust, Sweden and Forgotten Early Testimonies’ (2024-2026) led by Professor Andrej Kotliartchouk and in cooperation with Associate Professor Karin Kvist Geverts, director of the Institute for Holocaust Research in Sweden IHRS.

My current research focuses on early Yiddish language witnessing in Sweden about the Holocaust. In my study I look at various ways of witnessing, which include besides witness testimonies, statements and memoirs, artistic ways of witnessing like poetry, drama and songs, and other ways of self-expression such as diaries.

I look at the various arenas where the witnessing takes place, including survivor journals, performances, concerts, and commemorative events in Yiddish in Sweden. I also study the early ways of collecting testimonies and related documentation about the Holocaust, like organised efforts of historical commissions, and private initiatives to collect ghetto and camp songs.

I am especially interested in the meaning of the ‘act of witnessing’ in dealing with the trauma and for psychological rehabilitation of the survivors.