Dear friends,
it has been a long time since we last wrote - we were very busy working almost 7 days per week and had no time to sit down and write. So here are our latest news, about our private life and Berlin:
About our privat life
You might have read about the interesting exhibit at the Jewish Museum Berlin with a living Jew (a volunteer) sitting in sort of a very open box as a living part of the exhibit and giving the visitor a possibilty to ask questions.
I was the Jew in the box on August 22, 2013 with Aaron near by my side and it was quite interesting. Most of the visitors came close and asked questions, some funny questions such as „how does a Jarmulka stick on a bald head?“ which had to be answered by Aaron or „why do you sit here?“ and quite interesting talkings came up. Unfortunately, the museum had so many volunteers willing to sit in the box and due to our full agenda I was only able to sit there once. But it was quite an experience. I would repeat it anytime! It was fun and joy and interesting.
Sue = "Jew in the Box"
For some business, I visited Colombia, and also my home town Barranquilla and met some of my classmates for our 40th anniversary. It was fun, nice, warm and emotional. Basically, I am happy to be back in Berlin, the city of my ancestors and my family. I returned with the feeling that I absolutely belong to Berlin and do not want to live anywhere else but here. As a symbol of gratitude I offered a special Kiddush at our congregation in January 2014.
Here is a foto of the meeting with my classmates in December 2013:
The Jewish Community of Berlin at the "Edge of Chaos"
I find it difficult to explain the details of what exactly is going on in the JCC of Berlin - the umbrella organisation that right now administrates 9 of 13 synagogues in Berlin.
But I found this article in the "Jewish daily forward" giving quite a good description of what our problems are in Berlin
http://forward.com/articles/184592/germanys-largest-jewish-organization-is-at-the/
New restaurant „GLASS“ with Israeli Chef Gal Ben Moshe in former West Berlin at Uhlandstrasse 195
This brandnew restaurant might be of interest, it is closed Sunday and Monday - if you want to give it a try ask your concierge for reservations
Vienna Berlin - from Schiele to Grosz exhibit at Berlinische Galerie
A wonderful exhibit of this great art is to be visited until January 27. There is an App for the exhibit (here) which I find very helpful.
Commemoration of the Pogroms on November 9, 1938 (so-called „Kristallnacht“)
I again and again am surprised how much commemoration takes place every year by the German people and specifically here in Berlin. I have the feeling that it increases from year to year: I remember that 30 years ago people wouldn’t talk much about it and it gives me a good feeling that the new generation is aware of our history.
Within this commemoration on November 9, last year there was a project within the exhibit „Variety destroyed“ and voluntary participation of shops in Berlin: Those, who wanted to show the acknowledgement to German-Jewish history would bring on their shop- or office-windows a transfer picture with broken glass. It was very moving to see how many volunteers participated.
"Broken Window" at KaDeWe department store
Shalom and we wish you a healthy and happy secular year 2014!
We hope to see you soon in our beautiful city!
Sue and Eckart Aaron Arns
your Berlin Dream-Team
January 18, 2014
You got this newsletter because you are a customer of ours or requested our services. At any time you can subscribe or unsubscribe to our newsletter on my websites www.sue-arns.de or www.jewish-touring-berlin.com.
If you run into problems reading this newsletter, here you can open it online: http://www.sue-arns.de/newsletter/nl201401.html - the archive of our newsletter is to be found at: http://www.sue-arns.de/newsletter/archive.html
Our address is:
Sue Arns
Landshuter Str. 28
10779 Berlin
Germany
tel: +49 (0)30 214 76 881
mobile: +49 (0)179 591 27 75
sue@arns.de
www.sue-arns.de www.jewish-touring-berlin.com www.aronhold.de