Events on Jewish history and present in Berlin
Jewish culture and Jewish life are deeply rooted in Berlin. A great cultural diversity, but also the eventful history of Jewish citizens and their families have shaped the past centuries in Berlin.
In 1671, 50 Jewish families came to Berlin and formed the first Jewish community. The Große Kurfürst, the Great Elector, brought them, as well as other religious refugees, to the city for reconstruction after the 30 Years' War. In the centuries that followed, Jewish culture unfolded, melded deeply with the city and enormously enriched life, diversity and progress in Berlin. Names such as Moses Mendelsohn, Rosa Luxemburg and Albert Einstein are only representative of the many important Berliners.
In the 1920s, around 170,000 Jewish citizens live and work in Berlin. The catastrophe that soon began changed this picture forever: most of them fled after 1933 or were forced to emigrate. 55,000 Berliners become victims of the Shoa, the organised mass murders of European Jews that originated in Berlin.
Since the late 1980s, Jewish life in the city has experienced a modest renaissance. With its comprehensive programme of events, the Jewish Museum Berlin in particular is a place of dynamic discussion and reflection. Everywhere in the city, whether at the Anne Frank Centre or the New Synagogue, whether in cafés or on stages, you can experience vibrant Jewish culture, music and tradition in Berlin.
