Life in Germany's largest Jewish retirement and nursing home | DW Documentary

Key Concepts

• Holocaust survivors finding refuge in Germany
• Jewish Senior Center in Frankfurt as a safe haven
• Ukrainian Jewish refugees seeking shelter
• Intergenerational trauma and resilience
• Importance of community and shared experiences
• Preservation of Jewish traditions and culture
• Remembrance of the Holocaust and November Pogroms
• Combating antisemitism and fostering understanding

Life in the Frankfurt Jewish Community Senior Center

The video focuses on the lives of residents at the Frankfurt Jewish Community Senior Center, highlighting their diverse backgrounds and experiences. The center serves as a home for Holocaust survivors, Jewish refugees from Ukraine, and other elderly members of the Jewish community.

Specific Details:

• Approximately 150 residents live at the center.
• It is Germany's largest Jewish nursing home.
• 20 Ukrainian Jews sought refuge there after the Russian invasion.
• Over 60% of the residents are Russian speakers.
• The center was rebuilt in 1973 on the site of a former Jewish hospital where Nazis deported patients and staff to extermination camps in 1942.

Key Points:

• The center provides a safe and secure environment for diverse Jewish life.
• Residents find comfort in shared experiences and community support.
• The overall spirit is built on strength, optimism, and enjoying life.

Stories of Resilience and Trauma

The video shares personal stories of residents who have experienced war, persecution, and loss.

EA Shephery:

• Holocaust survivor who lost her entire family during the Nazi regime.
• Liberated from Auschwitz on January 27, 1945.
• Returned to Germany in 1954 after her husband found work in Frankfurt.
• Considers it her mission to speak for those who can't anymore.
• "I didn't want to come to Germany, but it was fate. It was meant to be."
• Spent 50 years in silence due to shame and fear.
• Began sharing her story in 1995, particularly in schools.

Bella Leovna Kisalovva and Marina (daughter):

• Fled Kharkiv, Ukraine, in the spring of 2022 due to bombings.
• Find stability in the daily routine of the retirement home.
• Brought their parakeet, Gisha, as a reminder of home.
• "The dangers in Ukraine are still there. We'll stay until it's safe there again."

Leonid Vinderman:

• Refugee from the Soviet Union who came to Germany in 1992.
• Lost most of his family at an early age.
• Experienced antisemitism in Romania and the Soviet Union.
• Influenced Frankfurt's Jewish community for 30 years.
• "We didn't want to go to Germany, but it was the collapse of the Soviet Union and many people fled, especially Jews."
• "You also have to be human. A mench and help others."

Important Examples:

• Shephery's photos of her family as the only remaining connection to her past.
• Kisalovva's parakeet as a symbol of home and continuity.
• Vinderman's involvement in the community despite past hardships.

Community and Tradition

The video highlights the importance of community and the preservation of Jewish traditions within the senior center.

Key Points:

• Residents participate in weekly daytime programs, birthday celebrations, and Shabbat services.
• The center offers a daytime program since 2011 for senior citizens to socialize and take part in various activities.
• Shabbat is observed with candle lighting, blessings, and songs.
• Services are held in the synagogue every Friday and Saturday.
• Jewish laws are followed, with exceptions made for health reasons.
• The center provides kosher food options.

Specific Examples:

• The weekly meeting of Dory, Rosa, and Rosa Marie in the cafeteria.
• The monthly birthday celebrations with presents, songs, and individual wishes.
• The Friday Shabbat preparations and services.

Remembrance and Reflection

The video addresses the importance of remembering the Holocaust and combating antisemitism.

Key Points:

• The center commemorates the victims of the November Pogroms of 1938.
• Security is tightened for remembrance events due to ongoing threats.
• Rabbi Apple emphasizes the need to learn from the past and combat those who want to suppress Jewish life.
• The senior center is seen as a symbol of cooperation between Jews and non-Jews in society.

Notable Quotes:

• Rabbi Apple: "It's a day of remembrance, but at the same time, it's a day when we ask ourselves, have we learned anything from the past or not?"
• Zandro Huberman: "Our house here is also a symbol of that house here."

Technical Terms and Concepts

• Holocaust: The systematic persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.
• Antisemitism: Hostility to or prejudice against Jews.
• Shabbat: The Jewish Sabbath, a weekly day of rest lasting from sundown on Friday to nightfall on Saturday.
• Kosher: Food that adheres to Jewish dietary laws.
• November Pogroms (Kristallnacht): A series of coordinated attacks against Jews throughout Nazi Germany and parts of Austria on November 9–10, 1938.
• Shower (Shoah): Hebrew term for the Holocaust.
• Kadush: A prayer recited in Jewish worship services.
• Kala: A type of braided bread eaten on Shabbat and Jewish holidays.
• Mensch: Yiddish word for a person of integrity and honor.
• Mazel Tov: Hebrew phrase expressing congratulations or good luck.

Conclusion

The Frankfurt Jewish Community Senior Center serves as a vital sanctuary for Holocaust survivors, Ukrainian refugees, and other elderly members of the Jewish community. The video portrays the resilience of these individuals, the importance of community and tradition, and the ongoing need to remember the past and combat antisemitism. Despite facing immense challenges, the residents find strength in shared experiences, celebrate Jewish culture, and strive to live fulfilling lives in their adopted home of Germany. The center stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Jewish people and the possibility of healing and hope even in the face of unimaginable trauma.