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

The interviewee was born Hans Esriel Hildesheimer on 01/08/1912 in Halberstadt. Studies of philosophy and psychology and at a rabbinical seminary until his aliyah in 1933. He first attended a Talmud college, then became co-founder of a religious kibbutz. Afterwards he worked in a garden center and in an antiquarian bookshop. Later professional career in the Ministry of Defense and in the Audit Office (State controller's office). In advanced age he started again to pursue studies, did his M.A. and PhD. in history; research on German-Jewish history. ; Interview: Opening with general reflections about the German Jews (Yekkes) in Israel: Discussion of a quote from Ben Chorin: “Haftet den deutschen Juden das Deutschtum an?” (Are German national traditions inherent in German Jews?) About the religious peace-group “Os-we-Shalom” and the Yekkes' attitude towards the Israeli politics. Hildesheimer's life in Palestine/Israel: New beginnings after the immigration. About his profession as historian. His career from the work as gardener to his service in the Hagana to the work as book seller (about his customers). His participation in the War of Independence. About his activities in the government. Late studies of political science and social sciences. Comments on his academic papers and their topics. ; (German-)Jewish and Yekkish topics: Discussion of topics from the German-Jewish history. About the receivers/readers of his publications and his contacts with Germany. About certain circles of German Jews who could not gain a foothold in Israel. His contacts with German non-Jewish people before 1933 and now. His first encounter with Germany after the War was in 1978/1979 within the scope of his doctoral thesis. About his present language situation and his relationship to German literature. The problems with translating his own doctoral thesis into German. The missing relationship of his children and grandchildren with German traditions. Hildesheimer considers punctuality as a good Yekkish trait. More general considerations about the continuance of the “German Jews”. About the connection between knowledge of Hebrew culture and general culture. (He pities the discontinuance of the (orthodox) rabbinical seminary founded by his grandfather in Berlin where the idea of this connection was taught [“Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary”, founded in 1873 by Rabbi Dr. Azriel Hildesheimer]). Analysis of the privileged special status of the Jewish state which is based on Jewish law and the character of Zionism not only as a messianic, but also as a nationalist movement. About the Russian aliya where hardly any Zionists could be found. ; Discussion of the question if Jews should settle in Germany again after the Holocaust. About the relation between Israel and the Jews living in the Diaspora. (Intersection: the interviewer reports the lives of two female Jewish friends). Hildesheimer characterizes American Jews as “telephone-Zionists”. - Summary of Hildesheimer's experience of life and his attitudes: Review on his life (again the question about the possibility of a return to Germany; his attitude towards Judaism and its development when he got older; deliberations about the Holocaust and present-day Germany; what he considers as home: Judaism means home to him, and he believes that there was a species of “German Jews”).