Jews in Berlin
In 1573 Jews were expelled from Berlin.
They came back in 1671.
By 1812 there were 3,300 Jews in Berlin.
By 1910 there were 142,000.
Why did Käthe’s mother and father decide to
change religion?
What might it have been like living as a Jew at this time in
Berlin?
You may find this interesting to read: http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/nazioccupation/berlin.html
A Jewish childhood
Käthe would certainly have known some of the Jewish festivities
such as Passover, Yom Kippur, Chanukah, Purim.
She may also have visited the Synagogue.
Find out what you can about these activities.
What would it have been like going to the Synagogue?
The Lehrs family (Käthe was called Lehrs until she married
Hans Edler) were never that serious about their religion, either as Jews or later
as Lutherans.
Imagine Käthe writing a letter to her friend
about some of these festivities.
Race not religion
Käthe understood very well that she was Jewish by race rather
than religion. Her mother, Clara, never
quite grasped this. Two laws were brought out on September 15, 1935. These really
affected her family:
Reichsbürgergesetz (law of the Reichs Citizen)
Blutschutzgesetz (Blood Protection Law)
Find out what these two laws meant for Käthe
and her daughter Renate.
Both Käthe and Renate managed to get to England. However, the second
law also meant that Hans Edler had to divorce Käthe.
If you were Käthe how would you explain that to Renate?
Write a letter to explain.
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