Tribute to Sarah Mimoun (1939-2024)

Sarah Mimoun was born Fryde in 1939 in Paris to parents of Polish origin.

In October 1960, she became secretary of the Centre for Contemporary Jewish Documentation (CDJC).

The organisation, created by Isaac Schneersohn (1881-1969) in 1943 in Grenoble, aims to document the Nazi exactions suffered by the Jewish community in France during the Second World War.

Gradually, Sarah will become an archivist and will lead the CDJC with Mrs. Sarah Halperyn. Sarah was in direct contact with the victims' families and with the survivors themselves. She listened attentively to the family stories of those who came to tell their tragic stories at a time when interest in the history of the Shoah was not that of today, helping them to heal the still open wounds caused by the Shoah.

Self-taught historian like the entire generation that led our institution at the time, Sarah dedicated her life to the history of the Shoah. She was one of the pillars of our institution at a difficult time for the Memorial.

Our institution owes her a lot. Moreover, in 2010 it received the Medal of Labour from Éric de Rothschild, president of the Memorial.

Sarah Mimoun passed away in August 2024.