Jewish Life in Berlin : Between the Synagogue and the Holocaust Memorial - Half-Day Tour

Jewish communities existed in Berlin since the Middle Ages, but in 1573, following false accusations of murdering the local ruler, Jewish people were banned from settling in the territory "for all times". Almost a century later, and subject to restrictive obligations, the arrival of some Jewish refugees marks the beginning of a modern Jewish community in Berlin. Economic and social advancement and the works of Moses Mendelssohn fostered the Jewish struggle for religious reform and civic emancipation. In 1866, the magnificent New Synagogue reflected the well-deserved self-confidence of the Reformed Congregation, before equal rights were granted in 1871. Subsequently, Jewish communities were challenged by right-wing circles using anti-Jewish propaganda and pseudo-scientific racist approaches. The Shoah became the final and fatal form to destroy all Jewish life in Germany. After WW II, a few Holocaust survivors rebuild a small Jewish community as a powerful sign of resistance against the Nazi Regime.