The University of Haifa has become the first university in Israel with access to the USC Shoah Foundation Institute’s Visual History Archive, a searchable repository of nearly 52,000 video interviews with Holocaust survivors and other witnesses.

Nearly 52,000 video interviews archived digitally LOS ANGELES—June 28, 2012—The USC Shoah Foundation Institute has completed a multiyear, multimillion-dollar project to digitally preserve the video interviews in its Visual History Archive. The archive contains testimony from nearly 52,000 Holocaust survivors and other witnesses.

On June 6, Steven Spielberg, Founder of the USC Shoah Foundation Institute, presented Robert A. Iger, Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, with the Institute’s highest honor, the Ambassador for Humanity Award. Iger was honored at the Institute’s annual gala, where he was recognized for his support of the Institute’s work, his longtime philanthropy, and his leadership role in corporate citizenship. The gala presenting sponsor was jcpenny. Jimmy Kimmel hosted, and Mary J. Blige gave a special musical performance.

As a part of Yad Vashem's 8th International Conference on Holocaust Education taking place in Jerusalem, Martin Šmok, the USC Shoah Foundation Institute's Senior International Program Consultant, will present the IWitness educational platform on June 20, 2012.