73 Winter 2025 potentially identifying information relevant to legal investigations. However, it also raises important considerations regarding memory contamination, witness fatigue, and potential impacts on legal proceedings. The testimonies collected by Edut 710 have the potential to serve as a cornerstone for future restorative justice initiatives, which often depend on detailed survivor narratives to achieve key objectives. These narratives can help establish factual records and identify patterns of violence through aggregated and analyzed testimonies. The ethical and technological commitment of Edut 710 documentation efforts enhance its potential application to future justice processes. Edut 710’s thorough documentation of the entire testimony collection process, including witness information and testimony metadata, upholds the truthvalue, authenticity and integrity of the testimonies. By adhering to international standards for civil documentation, including guidelines from the International Criminal Court, Edut 710 ensures its work does not compromise evidentiary value or survivor autonomy. Moreover, the project’s work contributes to an emerging framework of memory-related rights in legal discourse. This includes the developing concept of a “right to leave a record,” which is the right of individuals to have their experiences documented and preserved by authorized entities. This right aligns with other established and emerging rights related to memory and documentation, such as the right to truth and the right to memory, which are increasingly recognized in international human rights law. The project’s technological infrastructure and methodological rigor position it as a potential model for future documentation initiatives that bridge the gap between civil society documentation efforts and formal legal proceedings. By maintaining high standards of documentation and preservation while respecting both legal requirements and survivor needs, Edut 710 demonstrates how contemporary documentation projects can serve both historical memory and legal justice objectives. Conclusion: From Emergency Response to National Archive As Edut 710 enters its second year, the project stands at a critical juncture where immediate documentation needs intersect with long-term institutional aspirations. The dual challenges of expansion and institutionalization require careful balance between maintaining the project’s responsive, survivor-centric approach and establishing sustainable infrastructure for the future. The vision of creating a permanent national repository for October 7 survivors’ testimonies represents more than just an archival endeavor – it embodies the intersection of historical documentation, legal evidence preservation, and collective memory formation. The project’s commitment to uncompromising quality standards takes on particular significance in light of the potential legal implications of these testimonies. As both documentary evidence and potential legal resource, the testimonies must meet rigorous standards of documentation and preservation while remaining accessible for multiple purposes: historical research, legal proceedings, education, and commemoration. This multifaceted approach reflects an understanding that survivor testimonies serve not only as historical documents but as potential building blocks for future justice initiatives. Looking ahead, Edut 710 objectives extend beyond merely expanding the testimony database. The incorporation of additional perspectives seeks to create a comprehensive record that captures the full scope of October 7’s impact across different communities and experiences. The development of educational and commemoration programs represents an important bridge between documentation and social impact, ensuring that these testimonies contribute to collective understanding and memory formation. The project’s innovative use of digital humanities methodologies and advanced technological infrastructure positions it as a potential model for future documentation initiatives. By demonstrating how contemporary documentation projects can effectively serve both historical memory and legal justice objectives while maintaining ethical standards and survivor dignity, Edut 710 contributes to evolving discussions about the role of testimony in addressing mass atrocities. n Dr. Renana Keydar is Associate Professor of Law and Digital Humanities at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Head of Content, Research and Archive in Edut 710.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjgzNzA=