Germany the Jews and Israel

Germany, the Jews and Israel: An Evolving Exhibition.
A number of significant milestones relating to German history are currently being commemorated around the world including 100 years since the outbreak of World War I; 75 years since the outbreak of World War II and 70 years since its conclusion; 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall; and 50 years since the beginning of diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany.

The period between 1914 and 1989 saw Germany in its vicissitudes. World War I ended in massive defeat and hyperinflation, though it also precipitated the rise of the first true democracy in German history and the “Golden Age” of the 1920s, shortly followed by the Nazis’ rise to power, the Nuremberg Laws, Kristallnacht, and the Holocaust. The defeat of the Nazis, in turn, led to the partition of Germany and its ultimate reunification at the end of the Cold War. The reparations agreements between Israel and Germany and the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries are both significant historical events in and of themselves.

Twentieth-century German and Jewish histories are closely intertwined in a complex relationship. Jews historically played an active role as part of the German nation. They were active in politics and economics, played a seminal role in culture, and were victims of the darkest chapters in German history. It is not at all surprising that in existing historiography, there is a strong interest in the “German-Jewish symbiosis” and its failure. Today, years later, the general population in Israel has taken a renewed interest in German history and culture. Israeli tourism to Germany, and mainly to Berlin, is a well-known phenomenon, but it is also only one expression of this renewed interest, and of a re-examination of this complex history at the dawn of the 21st century.

Revealed: Albert Einstein’s Forgotten Assistants

Recently uncovered letters in the Gnazim Archive reveal the extraordinary life stories of two Eastern European Jewish scientists who worked alongside Einstein and helped develop the theory of relativity. This is the story of brilliant minds largely erased from historical memory, and of an archival discovery that brings them back into the light.

From “The Magic Mountain” to the Fight Against the Nazis: The Story of Thomas Mann

Who was the celebrated German author who began his life as a nationalist and later joined the democratic opposition in exile against the Third Reich? What was his connection to Israel and to the National Library? And why do visitors place stones on his grave? On the 70th anniversary of the death of Thomas Mann, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, we trace the man who gave us “The Magic Mountain” and who became one of the clearest and most steadfast voices against what was happening in his homeland.

The German Boy: Who Was Karl M. Baer?

Behind an unassuming headstone at Kiryat Shaul Cemetery in Tel Aviv lies one of the most remarkable life stories of the 20th century. By the time of his death, few people knew that this seemingly ordinary insurance agent from the Tel Aviv suburb of Bat Yam was in fact a true global pioneer.

The Eichmann Effect

Sixty-five years ago, Israel tracked down and arrested Adolf Eichmann, an architect of the Final Solution. In many ways, the capture and subsequent trial marked a turning point in Israeli history. A look back at a seminal event.

“Schwester Selma”: Jerusalem’s Legendary Nurse

She’s considered Jerusalem’s first Jewish head nurse, a trailblazer who introduced professional nursing practices many of which are still in use today. But what prompted a young woman from Germany to leave everything behind for the dusty, underdeveloped hills of the Land of Israel? This is the story of a woman for whom nursing was a calling—a way of life. Her legacy still shapes nursing in Israel to this day.

Where Did Friedrich Gernsheim Disappear To?

He was a musical prodigy, a gifted composer whose works were performed in Europe’s most prestigious concert halls. He was also a Jew, and his compositions were banned by the Nazi regime, which sought to erase his legacy. For nearly a century, he remained in the shadows of history. Now, thanks to his archive at the National Library, things are about to change—This is the story of Friedrich Gernsheim.

Walter Trier: The Jewish Illustrator Who Depicted Germany at Its Best

You likely know Walter Trier’s illustrations—even if his name doesn’t ring a bell. For many, the characters and landscapes he brought to life have been etched into memory through countless childhood readings of “Emil and the Detectives,” “Lisa and Lottie,” or “The Flying Classroom.” This is the story of the talented illustrator who breathed life into Erich Kästner’s characters.

From Hitler’s Beer Hall to the National Library in Jerusalem

In the immediate aftermath of the Holocaust, a large number of Jewish books were discovered by the Jewish Brigade in a famous Munich beer hall considered to be the cradle of Nazism. How did the books end up there? And after they were discovered, where did some of them disappear to?

Why Did Hitler Want a Jewish Delegation at the 1936 Nazi Olympics?

The 1936 Olympics in Berlin were an international event which Hitler used as an awesome spectacle. He wanted to show off Aryan Germany rising from the ashes, with its crowds giving the Nazi salute and shouting “sieg heil”. Yet still, Jewish athletes participated in competitions, and a delegation was even invited from Mandatory Palestine, which would be allowed to march under the Jewish flag. How did the Nazis attempt to legitimize the 1936 Olympics? What did the Germans really want? And how was the Nazi invitation received back home in the Land of Israel?

When the Nazis Stole Lea Goldberg’s Doctoral Thesis

What did the famous Israeli poet Lea Goldberg have to do with medieval translations of the Torah? Why did her doctoral thesis focus on this subject? And how did it fall into Nazi hands before eventually ending up at the National Library of Israel?