Leonard Freed, Simhat Torah ball, Köln, 1961; Jewish Museum Berlin, accession 2006/198/8
German Jews Today
Leonard Freed
At the start of the 1960s, not even 20 years after the abyss of the Holocaust, the American-Jewish photographer Leonard Freed (1929‒2006) spent several months traveling through West Germany. He wanted to use his camera to capture how German Jews were currently living. Through his images, Freed set out to counteract the Germans’ ignorance of the invisible Jewish minority living among them. He took photographs in several Jewish communities, especially in the areas around Frankfurt and Düsseldorf.
11 Nov 2024 to 27 Apr 2025
Where
Libeskind Building, ground level, Eric F. Ross Gallery
Lindenstraße 9–14, 10969 Berlin
In 1965, 52 of his photographs were published with accompanying texts under the title Deutsche Juden heute (German Jews Today). These images and texts focus on the Jewish communities and discuss the relationship between Jews and Germans. Jewish life is fragile; there are only a few small communities whose existence is controversial both within and outside of Germany. The themes in Freed’s book were also discussed in two earlier publications that appeared in 1963 and 1964: an issue of the news magazine Der Spiegel with the title “Juden in Deutschland” (Jews in Germany); and a volume published by Hermann Kesten called ich lebe nicht in der Bundesrepublik (I don’t live in the Federal Republic). The question of whether it is possible to live as a Jew in Germany shapes a debate that lasts until today.
All 52 photographs from Leonard Freed’s series, purchased from the photographer’s widow Brigitte Freed, are part of the museum’s collection. They are exhibited in their entirety for the first time.
Leonard Freed, Groundbreaking ceremony for the new synagogue, Mainz, 18 June 1962; Jewish Museum Berlin, accession 2006/198/13. Further information about this photo can be found in our online collections (in German)
Leonard Freed, Groundbreaking ceremony for the new synagogue, Mainz, 18 June 1962; Jewish Museum Berlin, accession 2006/198/13. Further information about this photo can be found in our online collections (in German)
Exhibition Information at a Glance
- When 11 Nov 2024 to 27 Apr 2025
- Entry Fee Free of charge. You can book tickets for a specific time slot online before your visit at our ticket shop, or in person at the ticket counter.
- Where Libeskind Building, ground level, Eric F. Ross Galerie
Lindenstraße 9–14, 10969 Berlin
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