Biographical studies have always been central to the field of history, but the relevance of biographical research seems to have increased in recent years, calling for a deeper analytical study and a critical re-evaluation of the newly developing “biographical turn.” Especially in an increasingly digitized world, including in academia, life stories seem to offer new perspectives through which personal narratives, cultural phenomena, or literary works can be examined, understood, and presented. Furthermore, these sources raise new questions about the interests and perspectives of the author(s), the reliability and subjectivity of the individual, as well as the constructiveness and authenticity of associated texts and sources.
While these questions might be universal, they are inherent in Jewish history and culture. The worldwide spread of digitization offers answers to some of these questions, but also leads to new demands and difficulties in the study of biographies. Therefore, in the digital age, biographical research is a complex but promising method for expanding knowledge about phenomena such as Jewish (forced) migration, the Holocaust, the development of diasporas, exiles, and transnational networks, but also questions of acculturation, representation, remembrance, and the formation of memory.