Faces of Berlin’s Jewish History: People, Families & Their Stories
Jewish Berlin Through the People Who Shaped It
What if you could discover Berlin’s Jewish history through the people who lived it? This private walking tour explores Jewish Berlin through the stories of remarkable individuals and families. Meet philosophers, bankers, entrepreneurs, artists, salonnières and philanthropists. Discover where they lived, worked and gathered. Their stories reveal how Jewish residents helped shape Berlin’s intellectual, cultural and commercial life. From Moses Mendelssohn and the Itzig family to James Simon and Wilfrid Israel, you’ll discover a very different side of Berlin’s Jewish history.
Moses Mendelssohn and the Mendelssohn Family
Follow in the footsteps of Moses Mendelssohn, one of the central figures of the Jewish Enlightenment. Discover how he arrived in Berlin as a young man and became one of the city’s most influential Jewish intellectuals. Learn about his ideas on Judaism, education, tolerance and participation in European society. Then follow the story of the Mendelssohn family through later generations. Discover how they contributed to Berlin’s music, culture, science and business.
Daniel Itzig and the Itzig Family
Discover Daniel Itzig, one of the most prominent Jewish bankers and community leaders in 18th-century Berlin. Learn how wealth, education and patronage gave the Itzig family an important role in the city’s Jewish community. Discover their connections with Moses Mendelssohn and the intellectual circles of the Haskalah.
Berlin’s Jewish Salons
Step into the world of Berlin’s famous literary and intellectual salons. Meet women such as Henriette Herz and Rahel Varnhagen, whose salons brought together writers, philosophers, artists and intellectuals. Discover how Jewish women played an important role in Berlin’s cultural life. Explore the relationship between Jewish identity, assimilation, education and the German Enlightenment.
Jewish Entrepreneurs, Bankers & “Cotton Kings”
Follow the stories of Jewish financiers, merchants and entrepreneurs who helped transform Berlin’s commercial life. Discover the people behind department stores, banking houses and the city’s garment industry. Learn how Jewish entrepreneurs became part of Berlin’s rapidly growing economy. Explore the world of Jewish business families and discover how commerce connected Jewish Berlin with the wider city.
James Simon: Businessman, Collector and Philanthropist
Walk through James Simon Park and discover the remarkable story of one of Berlin’s greatest Jewish philanthropists. Simon was a successful businessman and an important patron of the arts. He donated works of art (the bust of Nefertiti is just one of them) and supported major cultural institutions. Explore his connections with Berlin’s museums and discover how his philanthropy shaped the city’s cultural landscape.
Wilfrid Israel and the Kindertransport
Discover the story of Wilfrid Israel, a Jewish businessman and philanthropist who helped Jewish children escape Nazi persecution. Learn about his role in efforts that became part of the Kindertransport rescue operation. His story reveals another dimension of Jewish Berlin: wealth, responsibility, philanthropy and resistance in the face of Nazi persecution.
These are only some of the people whose stories you’ll encounter. Together, they reveal the extraordinary diversity of Jewish life in Berlin.
What Makes This Jewish Berlin Tour Different?
History Through Human Lives
We don’t simply show you buildings and landmarks. We tell the stories of the people who lived, worked and dreamed there.
People Behind the Places
A street becomes more meaningful when you know who lived there. A museum becomes more fascinating when you know who helped create it. A department store becomes part of Jewish history when you discover the family behind it.
Jewish Berlin Beyond the Holocaust
Jewish history did not begin with persecution. We explore Jewish intellectual, cultural and economic life before the Nazi period. This gives a fuller picture of the community and its contributions to Berlin.
Connections Across Jewish Europe
We trace the networks connecting Berlin’s Jewish families with other Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe.
Jewish History in the Wider Context
We explore the relationships between Jewish and non-Jewish Berliners through business, culture, education, art and everyday life.
Tour Itinerary and Price
This is a private walking tour. Tour price depends on the number of people in your party. Contact us at yourjewishheritageguide@gmail.com for the tour itinerary with price.
4 hrs
Walking Tour
*Hackescher Markt
*Museum Island
*Nikolaiviertel
*Hausvogteiplatz
These are just some of the sights included into the tour. Email us for the complete tour itinerary and price.
* Prices start from 45 Euro per person and vary depending on the size of your group. Contact us to receive the full tour itinerary, and detailed pricing for your party.