Who just incredibly loves living in Frankfurt? And why? My reasons are numerous, two of them can be found directly but unfortunately very hidden in the city center: in the former Jewish quarter and the Jewish Museum at Untermainkai. In general, immersing myself in the rich, Jewish heritage of our city is always a real joy for me: in my early years, I was constantly on the go to learn about this history or discover those traces. It is also reassuring that despite the three-year closure of the Judengasse Museum, the current cultural offerings leave nothing to be desired. But there are also numerous other traces of Jewish life in the city:
Jewish Culture Weeks. The synagogue in the Westend is not normally open to the public, but in October it invites visitors for tours and concerts and tells of Jewish life in Frankfurt. Efrat Alony, vocals, effects, one of the most important voices of German jazz Oliver Leicht, clarinet, electronics: together, two musicians search for the "home away from home" - the special timbres and aesthetics of Israeli music. With their own compositions and new interpretations of Israeli folk songs, they go on an exciting musical journey.
More Jewish music fancy? Klezmer Rock from Israel offer the " Jewish Monkeys" and we feel almost like in Tel Aviv. Where the eight musicians from Frankfurt's twin city perform, it becomes wild, cheeky and surprising. Amazing, because their story began in the 1970s in the boys' choir of the Frankfurt synagogue. It was here that Roni Boiko and Jossi Reich met and became lifelong friends. Three decades later - in the meantime both had emigrated to Israel - together with Gael Zaidner they formed that deliciously irreverent singing trio that gave itself the name "Jewish Monkeys" and is accompanied by trombone, accordion, electric guitar, bass and drums. Armed with politically incorrect lyrics and and a keen sense of nonsense, they spread Marx Brothers-like tumult.
Former Palais of the Rothschild family is now museum. The beginnings of the family in the Judengasse in the middle of the city center, between Konstablerwache and Staufenmauer, can unfortunately no longer be found. But the entrance to the alley gives an idea of the narrowness in which the people had to dwell at that time.
The old Jewish cemetery was in the 16th century still at the "Judenmarkt" and then changed its address over time about five times: at the current Battonnstraße can be found original graves from 1272.
Bunker Friedberger Anlage: Ostend - a Jewish quarter. Very worth seeing exhibition to look behind the scenes of the city.
Ach by the way: from 2018 in the Rothschild Palais the time after 1800 and from spring 2016 in the Museum Judengasse the time before will be presented. Until then, still wishes? Yes! As a Frahling lover, I miss a truly Jewish café in Frankfurt like the one I recently discovered in Berlin: Beth's Café in Mitte, run by the local community there. Happy to emulate. Again ah: Germany and Israel re-established diplomatic relations in 1965. In light of this, a translator from Israel recently presented his collection of German loan words in Hebrew - my funniest discovery? The @ sign. Means "strudel" :-)
If you now feel like learning Hebrew, you will find it in the language program of the Volkshochschule.
Sabina Brauner is on twitter @WentoManderly and FB.
