Autobiographical interviews of Jews born in German speaking countries ("Yekkes") - 50/60 years after their immigration to Israel

Born 09/24/1913, Cham. Graduation from high school 1932. Two semesters law school in Munich. 2 years work in family business. Hachshara. 1938 informational trip to Palestine. Emigration 1938. Built up a Moshav. 1942 book keeper in the Moshav. 1983 retirement. Interview: Parents from Bohemia. Father emigrated to Bavaria, died in 1933. Heart attack after an incident with an SS member. Parents from liberal families, but religious. Mother forced sons to attend the ceremony in the synagogue. Cham: small Jewish community, 25 Jewish families. When parents were on vacation the Christian maid cooked pork. Went to school on Shabbat. High school in Weiden. Positive childhood memories, Christian friends. Anti-Semitic experiences. First they joked about Anti-Semitism, father was very liked by everybody. During the 20s they hardly experienced Anti-Semitism. First time in 1929 when 3 other students quit to talk to him. Only 2 Jews in class. About a history teacher who wore the swastika but lectured against anti-Semitism. They were Jewish but rooted in their surroundings, felt as Germans. Member of a Christian fraternity. Rejected Zionism. About a parade where Jews had to walk separately. Development of a Jewish self-consciousness. About being a Jew and a German patriot. He began to look for contacts with other Jews. Memories of Bohemia. About his mother's family. Most of his relatives died in Prague. 2 uncles were deported to Lodz-Liebmannstadt. Parents of his wife were also deported ; there. About his wife: 1933 she looked German, blond. Anti-Semitic incident in Kassel. She was from Schluechtern, a little city with more than 10% Jewish population. Attitude towards Judaism and Germany today. 1933 he dropped out of law school and worked for the family business. Anti-Semitic atmosphere in Germany, he decided to go on Hachshara in Augsburg. Beth Chaluz. Learning Hebrew. 1936 he met his wife. Life in Augsburg and Munich, positive memories. Met Georg Josefsthal who convinced him to lead Hachshara by the Rhine river. Lead a Zionist choir. 1938 first trip to Palestine to find a place for a Moshav. Kfar Yedidiya. His brother left in 1938. Building up the Moshav. 1942 serious illness (7 years), he became a book keeper. Preparational training. Life in the Moshav. About his sons. Adjustment to the new country was easy for him. Why they wanted to be around other Jekkes. Discrimination against Jekkes. Regrets his lack of knowledge about Jewish History. Cultural life in the village. Music (piano, violin). What they taught their children about German culture and being German. Friends in Germany. Children's attitude towards Germans. Influence of American culture. Contacts with Germany. Travels to Europe. Visits to Germany. Contacts with Germans. German friends.