Traces of Belonging: Oral History and the Reinscription of a Former Jewish Neighborhood

Neighborhoods remember in more than just buildings—they recall through stories, rituals, and rhythms that outlast physical change. This research utilizes Jewish oral histories to examine the transformation of Bursa’s historic neighborhood from Yahudilik to Kuruçeşme. Based on five in-depth interviews conducted between 2023 and 2024 with former and current Jewish residents, the study employs content analysis to uncover the neighborhood’s layered identity through the lenses of place identity and collective memory. The transformation is examined across five thematic dimensions: Interwoven Lives, The Street’s Lost Soul, From Functional Decline to New Spatial Configuration, Today’s New Normal, and Memory Places and Collective Memory. The findings demonstrate that oral histories effectively counteract the physical deterioration of the place, fostering a feeling of community amid demographic transitions and transformations. Incorporating informative signage and cultural pathways that embody our memories can illuminate the overlooked aspects of urban history, a method that not only safeguards the physical environment but also honors its intricate social and historical background.