Jewish Berlin Private Tour: Stories of Hope and Desperation

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Berlin’s former Jewish neighborhood around Hackescher Markt is brimming with untold stories, and on this captivating 2-hour tour, we’ll explore them all. Have you ever wondered why this area became a Jewish hub? Why were there no Jews in Berlin during the 16th century, and where were they before? How did modern Jewish history take shape in Berlin, and how were Jews treated throughout the centuries? 

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We begin by visiting the site of the Old Synagogue, exploring the humble beginnings of the Jewish community in Berlin and the harsh laws that once bound them. We’ll reflect on the transformations that led to Jewish emancipation and enlightenment. Then, we’ll stand at the Rosenstraße Memorial, dedicated to the brave women who led the only successful protest against the Holocaust—an act of defiance that changed the course of history.

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Next, we’ll head to Otto Weidt’s Workshop for the Blind, where the Berlin equivalent of Oskar Schindler risked his life to hide Jewish employees and their families during the war. We’ll see the original rooms where these courageous actions took place, a testament to resistance in dark times.

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In the vicinity, we’ll also visit one of the only surviving Wertheim department stores, once owned by the Jewish businessman Georg Wertheim, who revolutionized the shopping experience in Berlin.

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As we walk through the Scheunenviertel, once a thriving Jewish "shtetl" with Eastern European Yiddish culture at its heart, we’ll discuss what happened to this area. We’ll pass the former Almstadtstraße and Rosa Luxemburg Platz, where we’ll reflect on the legacy of this Jewish socialist icon and explore the complex history of Jews being blamed for post-WWI political unrest.

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Continuing on, we’ll visit Große Hamburger Straße, once the site of the main deportation center during the Holocaust, now a somber memorial. Nearby, we’ll see The Missing House—a poignant reminder of Berlin’s WW2 past—and St. Hedwig's Hospital, where staff courageously worked to save Jewish lives during the war. This is also the location of Berlin's oldest Jewish Cemetery including the grave of philosopher Moses Mendelsohn.

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Along the way, we’ll stop at the Plaque for Regina Jonas, the world’s first female rabbi, and marvel at the New Synagogue, an architectural gem that partly survived the horrors of war. We’ll explore the Former Jewish Girls School, an example of beautiful Bauhaus architecture, and take note of the Stumble Stones, scattered throughout the city as reminders of the Jewish families lost during the Holocaust.

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We’ll also visit the Ahawah Orphanage, a place of refuge for children during the Holocaust, and the Adass Jisroel Orthodox Synagogue. Our final stop will be the Leo-Baeck-Haus, once a Jewish college, where we’ll reflect on the life of Rabbi Leo Baeck, a key figure in liberal Reform Judaism.

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To end our journey, we’ll touch on Jewish life today and perhaps finish with a bite at Hummus & Friends or Night Kitchen, both run by Israeli expats, where you can enjoy a taste of modern Jewish culture in Berlin.

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If you’re up for it, we can also take the S-Bahn to the Brandenburg Gate, where we’ll reflect on the legacy of famous Jewish figures like painter Max Liebermann, who once lived nearby. We’ll end with a visit to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin’s iconic Holocaust memorial, ensuring this unforgettable journey through Jewish Berlin leaves you with a deep understanding of the city’s vibrant, resilient, and complex history.