Blogerim

At work, view over the shoulder – open photo album of Olga Irén Fröhlich © Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Oliver Stratz

I’m looking at recorded instants of an eventful life. 511 moments. Captured by photography, meticulously organized according to subject matter over four photo albums. They come from the estate of Olga Irén Fröhlich, a German-Jewish singer and cabaret artist who worked from the 1930s into the 1960s.

Interesting and poignant biographical stories are often hidden behind the photographs that come into my hands every day. The history of these four photo albums and their one-time owner is a very particular one for me, however, because it’s at once unusual and moving. → continue reading

We’d like to let you know about a very special documentary screening at Kino Babylon Mitte, Berlin, on 25 August: L’chaim! To life!

The film portraits Chaim Lubelski, an orthodox Jew and successful businessman in New York who jet-sets to St. Tropez. When his mother, a Holocaust survivor, is in need of care, he returns to Antwerp to look after her.

Trailer

In his feature-film debut, producer and director Elkan Spiller presents his cousin, Chaim, as a rebellious, charming maverick – a man who tries to relieve his parents’ pain with courage, humor and love. → continue reading

The 14th European Maccabi Games (EMG) are taking place in Berlin from 27 July until 5 August 2015. More than 2,000 Jewish athletes from 36 countries will compete in 19 sports from football to fencing to chess. To accompany the games Tamar Lewinsky and Theresia Ziehe are producing a series of portraits with interviews, introducing a new member of the German delegation from Berlin every day here on the blog. They conducted the interviews on the grounds of the TuS Maccabi in Berlin’s Grunewald where Stephan Pramme also shot the portraits.

Daliah Hoffmann (24), half-marathon

Daliah (24) Half Marathon © Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

Daliah, why are you taking part in the European Maccabi Games?

I’m here because sports are an extremely important part of my life, and, of course, I want to experience this event in Berlin; it’s an opportunity not to be missed. However, I thought twice about it because I’ve already run a half-marathon this year, and that was enough. Yet it’s really nice to run together with family.

What’s required to participate in these Games?

First of all, you have to show you’re Jewish with your birth certificate and those of your family, as far as I can recall. If it were up to me, I’d also let people in who somehow feel connected to the religion. I think it’s unfortunate that some aren’t allowed to be part because they aren’t Jewish on paper, but feel Jewish or were raised Jewish, even if their mother isn’t.

What does Judaism mean to you personally? → continue reading