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

Dr. Elchanan Scheftelowitz was born Erwin Scheftelowitz on 12/30/1911 in Berlin, Germany. Law studies, doctoral thesis in 1934. Rabbinical seminary, activities in his Jewish community. emigrated to Palestine in 1937. Foreign Advocate's Examination, work as lawyer and notary. Publications about Jewish family law and Jewish constitutional law. Sara-Ruth Scheftelowitz biographical data: Former names: Maidenname: Frankenthal; former name (of her deceased first husband): Goldschmidt. Born 1915, Altenlotheim (district Marburg/Lahn). Kindergarten teacher. Emigration to Netherlands in 1934. 1943-1945 she was interned in concentration camps (Westerbork and Bergen-Belsen). Return to Netherlands in 1945. 1949 emigration to Israel; housewife. ; Fate of their families. Sara-Ruth Scheftelowitz's persecution during the Nazi era: About her first marriage in the Netherlands. Her deportation to Westorbork and Bergen-Belsen. Fate of her family members: Her first husband died, her child survived together with her despite being ill with typhus. About her liberation in 1945. Her mother's and brother's fates. ; Elchanan Scheftelowitz' life in Germany: About his law studies: Exam at the Court of Appeal in Berlin, “Rigorosum” [doctoral viva] in June 1934 in Leipzig. Additional rabbinical studies because of his orthodox family background. Emigration to Palestine together with his family in 1937: analysis of their both ideological reasons (Zionism) and pragmatic reasons (certificate for Palestine and professional reasons). ; The couple's life in Palestine/Israel: Elchanan Scheftelowitz languages: Excellent knowledge of Hebrew because of his rabbinical education. About his legal career in Palestine/Israel: He started legal work immediately, but had to repeat his exams in British law and language (Foreign Advocate's Examination). Worked as lawyer and notary, became a specialist of divorce legislation. About his publications on Jewish family- and constitutional law. Episodes from his work practice. About his contacts to Germany, his visits there and his professional cooperation with German colleagues (mainly in the frame of the German “Bundesentschädigungsgesetz” [German Restitution Laws/German Federal Compensation Law]).