Press release: 30.11.2016

The German Exile Archive 1933-1945 of the German National Library is presenting snapshots of German-Jewish history in an exhibition of the Leo Baeck Institute New York | Berlin from 7 to 20 December 2016. The exhibition opens at 19:00 on 6 December 2016.

What do chocolate cups, a woman's portrait, a letter of safe conduct from 1777 and the log book of a charity association have in common? All of these things are more closely linked to German-Jewish history than might be expected at first glance. An exploration of everyday objects provides an insight into the lives of their owners.

Four unique exhibits are shown in the exhibition. They symbolize snapshots of the diverse history of the Jews in Germany and reveal how the character of German-Jewish life has changed over the centuries. Jews have been an integral part of the German-speaking regions for over 1000 years, yet they have repeatedly had to renegotiate their position in society. It changed from limited business transactions in the 17th century through to legal equality and social integration in the early 20th century.

“In addition to the fascinating approach of casting a spotlight on German-Jewish history based on four objects, we are also pleased about the collaboration with the Leo Baeck Institute New York | Berlin and the Jewish Museum Frankfurt,” said the Head of the German Exile Archive 1933-1945 of the German National Library, Dr. Sylvia Asmus.

Through the exhibits, the Leo Baeck Institute New York | Berlin provides a new approach to understanding the full extent to which German-Jewish history is a part of German history. The exhibition is being shown in Frankfurt thanks to the co-operation between the German Exile Archive 1933-1945 of the German National Library, the Leo Baeck Institute New York | Berlin and the Jewish Museum Frankfurt. The German Exile Archive 1933-1945 is already collaborating with the Jewish Museum Frankfurt on the virtual Arts in Exile exhibition, and in January 2017 the two institutions will also be jointly organising a symposium on the work and influence of the painter Ludwig Meidner.

GERMAN AND JEWISH - Snapshots of German-Jewish history

The German Exile Archive 1933-1945 of the German National Library presents an exhibition of the Leo Baeck Institute New York | Berlin
7 to 20 December 2016
Monday to Friday 14:00-20:00, Saturday 14:00-18:00. Closed on Sundays and public holidays. Free admission.

Exhibition opening: 6 December 2016 at 19:00

Welcome speech: Dr. Elisabeth Niggemann, Director General of the German National Library
Welcoming address: Dr. Ina Hartwig, Head of the Department of Culture and Science of the City of Frankfurt am Main
Welcoming address: Dr. Mirjam Wenzel, Director of the Jewish Museum Frankfurt
Introduction to the exhibition: Dr. Miriam Bistrovic, Berlin Representative of the Leo Baeck Institute - New York | Berlin
Opening talk: Dr. Schimon Staszewski, Chairperson of “Freunde und Förderer des Leo Baeck Institute e. V.”
Press tour with Dr. Miriam Bistrovic, Berlin Representative of the Leo Baeck Institute - New York | Berlin at 17:30 on 6 December 2016

Companion event

Bertha Pappenheim (1859-1936) - Women's rights activist, writer and social worker
Monday, 12 December 2016, 18:00

In 1904 Bertha Pappenheim founded the Jewish Women's Association to combat international trafficking in women and advocated the introduction of vocational training for women. Part of the “German and Jewish” exhibition is dedicated to the work of Bertha Pappenheim and its ongoing relevance. Individual aspects of her work are examined in the event. With Dr. Natalie Naimark-Goldberg, Research Fellow at the Leo Baeck Institute Jerusalem, and Prof. Dr. Christian Wiese, Vice Chairperson of the German Board for Scientific Research of the Leo Baeck Institute. Free admission.

Background

For over a century now the German National Library has been collecting, documenting, archiving and making publicly available all written and sound recording publications issued in Germany, or in German, since 1913. The German Exile Archive 1933-1945 of the German National Library collects printed and unprinted testimonies of German emigration from 1933 to 1945. The German Exile Archive 1933-1945 of the German National Library was founded shortly after the War by exiled writers and publicists. With its events, exhibitions and talks, it plays a significant role in actively communicating the preserved past, helping to bring it alive and restoring to the collective cultural memory what was forgotten due to exile and emigration.

Contact person
Dr. Sylvia Asmus