From high school to history: The inspiring journey of the Alsberg family

From high school to history: The inspiring journey of the Alsberg family

In the city of Wuppertal, where the fate of the Alsberg family is deeply rooted in the soil, the events of the past decades cast a long shadow on today. The family was highly respected in Wuppertal until the Nazi era and played an important role in the Jewish community. Paul Avraham Alsberg, born Paul Alfred Alsberg on March 30, 1919 in Elberfeld, is a key figure in this story and the last Jewish student who was allowed to take the Abitur in Wuppertal. [WZ] reports that Paul was arrested as a teenager during the pogrom night in Breslau and taken to the Buchenwald concentration camp.

His rescue took place in a heroic way by his future wife Betti, who was also studying in Breslau. Betti broke into the sealed university at night and issued release papers for those arrested to enable them to enter Palestine. The two emigrated to Palestine in 1939, where Paul later built a distinguished career as a state archivist and co-founder of the Israeli archives system. His contributions to German-Jewish understanding are considerable, and he is considered a pioneer for intercultural dialogue. [Wikipedia] describes how Paul headed the Israel National Archives from 1957 to 1971 and was actively involved in setting up the Yad Vashem memorial.

A legacy of resilience

But the history of the Jews in Germany is marked by painful twists and turns. This chapter, marked by integration, devastating pogroms and the Holocaust, spans over 1,700 years. The first synagogues appeared in the 11th century, while Jews were persecuted during the plague in the 14th century. [Wikipedia Germany] explains that when the National Socialists came to power in 1933, the systematic persecution of Jews began, which ultimately culminated in mass murder in the Holocaust. The majority of the Jewish community in Germany was almost completely wiped out.

After World War II, there were few Jews in Germany; many were Holocaust survivors. The history of the Jewish community has changed in recent decades due to immigration from Eastern Europe and Israel, resulting in a small but growing population. The Central Council of Jews in Germany, founded in 1950, today represents the interests of around 95,000 members who have organized themselves into 104 communities.

Present and challenges

The security situation for Jews in Germany has worsened since Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Members of the Jewish community face a number of challenges caused by anti-Semitism and social insecurities. Complaints about declining acceptance of Jewish traditions come from various corners of society. The story of survival and the legacy of Paul Alsberg and his family is not only a memory, but also a warning and an inspiration. They show how important understanding and resilience are in the face of discrimination and displacement.

Wuppertal is a valuable part of this story not only geographically but also historically. Here, near the location of her former residence at Roonstrasse 22, a square was named after Paul Alsberg in recognition of his contribution to history and German-Jewish understanding. In this way, the honorable memory of the Alsberg family is kept alive and reminds us of the need not to let the lessons of the past be forgotten.