Visits by former Jewish residents and their descendants bring the history of Vöhl’s Jewish community to life. For the visitors, these visits are a confrontation with what is often a deeply distressing family history. Since 2000, many such visits have taken place, and lasting connections have been formed.
In the year 2000, the Support Group of the Synagogue in Voehl invited former Voehl residents of Jewish faith to the town. The first meeting took place in Café Tassius in Voehl on 6 September 2000 and the introductions were recorded on tape.
Henriette Hennig transcribed the audio recordings in 2018 during her work as a "Landkulturbotin".
The following Jewish persons or their descendants were present in the order in which they were seated:
Walter Mildenberg (*1921) und Marian Mildenberg, geb. Katz (*1925); USA
siehe: Stammbaum Familie Mildenberg, Levi
Audio recording and transcription of the person's introduction
Gisela Frees, geb. Mildenberg (*1931) und Werner Frees; Vöhl
siehe: Stammbaum Familie Mildenberg, Mayer
Audio recording and transcription of the person's introduction
Ursula Behrend, geb. Mildenberg (*1924) und Howard Behrend (*1923); USA
siehe: Stammbaum Familie Mildenberg, Levi
Audio recording and transcription of the person's introduction
Carol Baird, geb. Davidsohn, ihre Großmutter war Ida D., geb. Frankenthal (*1945) und Stephen Baird (*1944); USA
siehe: Stammbaum Familie Frankenthal, Herz
Audio recording and transcription of the person's introduction
Geffroy Baird (*1974), seine Urgroßmutter war Ida Davidsohn., geb. Frankenthal; USA
siehe: Stammbaum Familie Frankenthal, Herz
Audio recording and transcription of the person's introduction
Walter Rothschild (*1920) und Sonja Rothschild, geb. Jäger; Argentinien
siehe: Stammbaum Familie Rothschild, Ascher + Sprinz
Audio recording and transcription of the person's introduction
Richard Rothschild (*1905) und Gerda Rothschild, geb. Westfeld (*1913); Israel und Deutschland
siehe: Stammbaum Familie Rothschild, Ascher + Sprinz
Audio recording and transcription of the person's introduction
Rudolf Rothschild (*1931) und Sigrid Rothschild, geb. Mayer; Argentinien
siehe: Stammbaum Familie Rothschild, Ascher + Sprinz
Audio recording and transcription of the person's introduction
The other persons present were (in the order in which they were seated):
| Person | Funktion |
|---|---|
| Kurt-Willi Julius | Förderverein Synagoge in Vöhl |
| Ilse Schenk | Förderverein Synagoge in Vöhl |
| Dr. Ingrid Engelsing | Ärztin in Vöhl |
| Barbara Sahra Küpfer | Förderverein Synagoge in Vöhl |
| Heinz Schäfer | Förderverein Synagoge in Vöhl |
| Anna Evers | Förderverein Synagoge in Vöhl |
| Günter Maier | Pfarrer in Vöhl |
| Claus Hömberg | Architekt der Renovierung |
| Birgit Stadtler | Förderverein Synagoge in Vöhl |
| Sandra Stadtler | Förderverein Synagoge in Vöhl |
| Peter Göbel | Förderverein Synagoge in Vöhl |
| Karl-Heinz Stadtler | Förderverein Synagoge in Vöhl |
You can play the entire recording and the complete transcript here:
This round of visitors was the start of the programme for the Visit by former Jewish residents in September 2000.
Fifteen descendants of Vöhl Jews visited Vöhl for the 25th anniversary of the association. Here are pictures of the visit.
11th July 2024 The group photo at the beginning of the evening. On the left, the block of nine from the Baird family, followed by Ruben and Ingrid Herzberg from Hamburg, Camille Calman and Elizabeth Foote as well as Michael and Dalia Dimor. 2nd from right: District President Mark Weinmeister from Kassel.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
11th July 2024 The district president Mark Weinmeister from Kassel and the chairman of the association Karl-Heinz Stadtler.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
11th July 2024 All those present introduce themselves. This is Flynn Baird, who incidentally currently works at Porsche in Stuttgart, the city that his great-grandparents left for the USA in 1939 and therefore escaped the Holocaust.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
12th July 2024 At the "reception", H. Heider from the Network for Tolerance, which sponsored the anniversary, to the right of her, Th. Brömmelhaus from the association Rückblende - Gegen das Vergessen Volkmarsen; to the left in front of them Mayor K. Kalhöfer, in the left door frame Pastor M. Müller, at the right door frame of Mr and Mrs Göbel, at the left pillar Camille Calman and Elizabeth Foote, in the foreground Michael Dimor and the Baird family.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
12th July 2024 Visiting the Jewish cemetery: Ingrid Herzberg and Dalia Dimor, behind them Eliszabeth Foote. On the right: Günter Maier and Christian Schnatz.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
12th July 2024 Ulrich Müller and Ruben Herzberg at the memorial plaque, Elizabeth Foote walks there. Carol Baird and Karl-Heinz Stadtler in the foreground.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
12th July 2024 Father Steve Baird and son Geoffrey Baird with grandchildren Galen and Flynn.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
12th July 2024 Artist and craftsman Christian Schnatz explains how he made the memorial plaque at the cemetery. from left to right: Michael Dimor, Theo Brömmelhaus, retired colonel Jürgen Damm, Ingrid and Ruben Herzberg.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
12th July 2024 Lunch in Müller's garden. Ulrich Müller and Peter Göbel at the two barbecues, beef and pork strictly separated.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
12th July 2024 Anna Evers and Günter Maier from the support group.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
12th July 2024 In her lecture, Prof Dr Christiane Brüning asked herself and us whether and, above all, how the Shoah should be remembered in the future.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
12th July 2024 Sahra Küpfer at the Kiddush on Friday evening before the anniversary celebration in the synagogue.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
12th July 2024 Sahra Küpfer and Beate Lambert provide the musical framework for the celebration.
12th July 2024 Welcome by the chairman of the synagogue support group in Voehl.
12. Juli 2024 Carol Baird, assisted by Karin Keller, for the descendants of the Frankenthal family. She wrote down her memories in the brochure: “Memories from Carol Davidson Baird”.
12. Juli 2024 Daniel, Noah and Steve Baird with the song "Deportieren", which deals with the question of whether anyone has really realised that no one is coming back.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
12th July 2024 Philipp Wecker, 2nd Chairman of the Sponsors' Association, presents certificates and pins to the new honorary members, represented here by Peter Göbel.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
13th July 2024 There was great interest in the naming of the previously nameless alleyway below the synagogue as Salomon Bär Gässchen.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
13th July 2024 Salomon Bär was a teacher at the Jewish school in Vöhl for 40 years. He lived from 1815-81.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
13th July 2024 Carol Baird unveils the house plaque in front of the house on Schulberg.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
13th July 2024 Ruben Herzberg and Elizabeth Foote unveil the plaque on the house at Arolser Str. 8.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
13th July 2024 Michael Dimor in front of the plaque on the property at Arolser Str. 13.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
13th July 2024 On the podium from left to right: Dr Wolfgang Werner, ‘Arbeitskreis Rückblende - Gegen das Vergessen’ in Volkmarsen; Dr Annegret Wenz-Haubfleisch, Landsynagoge Roth; Dr Marion Lilienthal, Gedenkportal Korbach; moderator Prof. Dr Dietfrid Krause-Vilmar; Sebastian Sakautzki, Trutzhain Memorial and Museum; Dr Martin Arnold, Association of Friends of Jewish Life in the Werra-Meißner District; Julia Drinnenberg, Jewish Department at the Hofgeismar Museum.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
13th July 2024 Aquabella. Her only instrument is her voice. A capella concert with Maria Thomaschke, Pamela Neuffer, Nina Gronich and Bettina Stäber.
Foto: Ulrich Müller
14th July 2024 Church service in the protestant Martinskirche in Vöhl.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
14th July 2024 Pastors Matthias Müller and Günter Maier conducted the service together, also in dialogue.
Foto: Ulrich Müller
14th July 2024 At the invitation of Mr and Mrs Klein, visit to the Place of Mutual Respect at the entrance to the Jewish cemetery in Volkmarsen.
Foto: Ulrich Muller
14th July 2024 US-Americans, Hamburgers, Volkmarser and Vöhler at the entrance to the Gustav-Hüneberg-Haus in Volkmarsen.
Foto: Ulrich Müller
14th July 2024 The medieval mikvah in the Gustav Hünberg House in Volkmarsen: standing on the glass plate, you can see the water in the depths.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
14th July 2024 Farewell evening with Sahra Küpfer, Elisabeth Foote and Karl-Heinz Stadtler. Karl-Heinz Stadtler thanks the guests for coming and the members of the Board of Directors and their partners for their commitment before and during the anniversary.
Foto: Walter Schauderna
14th July 2024 Farewell talks.