Biographical Note
Miriam Gillis-Carlebach (1922-2020) was born in Hamburg, the third daughter of Chief Rabbi Dr. Joseph Zvi Carlebach and Lotte Carlebach (nee Preuss). In November 1938, at the age of 16, she immigrated to Mandatory Palestine, where she continued her studies at the Religious Youth Village under the guidance of Dr. Eugen Michaelis.Read more
In 1944, she married Moshe Gillis, a nature teacher, and the couple settled in Kfar Avraham near Petah Tikva. Early in her career, she served as a remedial teacher at the Amishav transition camps (Ma'abarot). Her academic journey culminated in 1985 when she earned a Ph.D. in Special Education and Hebrew Reading Instruction. A pioneering educator and researcher, she founded the Hadad Center for Dyslexia Research in 1986.
In March 1992, she established the Joseph Carlebach Institute for Jewish Thought and Education. Created in collaboration with the University of Hamburg, the Institute commemorates the life and legacy of her father, Rabbi Dr. Joseph Zvi Carlebach (1883-1942), his family, and the Jewish community of Hamburg—many of whom perished in the Holocaust.
Over a career spanning nearly four decades, Prof. Dr. Miriam Gillis-Carlebach was deeply engaged in academic research and teaching. She authored and edited numerous works on the biographies of Rabbi Dr. Joseph Carlebach and Lotte Carlebach, the history of the Carlebach family, the Jewish communities of Hamburg and Altona, Holocaust education, and special education. In recognition of her significant contributions, she was honored with numerous awards including: Honorary Senator of Hamburg University (1995), Honorary Doctorate from Oldenburg University (2009), German Federal Cross of Merit [Bundesverdienstkreuz] (2008), and Medal for Art and Science from the City of Hamburg (2017).
Collection Overview
The Archive documents the extensive research and scholarly work of Prof. Dr. Miriam Gillis-Carlebach. The collection—available in Hebrew, German, and English—comprises official and private correspondence, administrative records, publications, newspaper clippings, and audiovisual recordings. It also features modern digital records, including a comprehensive printed email archive.
The collection is organized into the following key subject areas:
- Personal papers
- JCI Administrative correspondence and records
- Rabbi Joseph Carlebach's Life and Legacy
- Carlebach Family correspondence and historical materials
- Private Collections, Hamburg Jewish Community
- Holocaust Studies and Remembrance
- Special Education Research
The bulk of the MGC Archive collection is housed at the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People in Jerusalem. A significant portion of the research materials and media holdings is retained at the Carlebach Institute. The JCI Library provides also digital access to a growing selection of text, print, and photo materials from this collection.
Collection Highlights: Biographical papers
This gallery offers profound insight into the life and work of Prof. Dr. Miriam Gillis-Carlebach. We hope that these documents provide researchers and the public with a clear record of the key milestones in Miriam's life and academic career.