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German Jews Today
Leonard Freed
Leonard Freed, Simchat Tora-Ball, Köln, 1961; Jüdisches Museum Berlin, Inv.-Nr. 2006/198/8 – Fotografie eines Simchat Tora-Balls, Menschen trinken und tanzen
© Jüdisches Museum Berlin
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.
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.
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.
Runtime: Mon, 11/11/2024 to Sun, 27/04/2025
Price info: Admission to the core exhibition is free of charge for everyone. Except for certain temporary exhibitions, all other presentations in the Libeskind Building are also free.
We recommend purchasing a time slot ticket in advance in our ticket shop. For spontaneous visitors, there are a few remaining tickets at the ticket desk.
Price: €0.00
We recommend purchasing a time slot ticket in advance in our ticket shop. For spontaneous visitors, there are a few remaining tickets at the ticket desk.
Price: €0.00
Takes place here:
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