Berlin’s rich Jewish heritage has long captivated visitors, and this immersive walking tour offers a chance to explore its poignant history, particularly during World War II. Led by a certified expert in German-Jewish history, the tour takes participants through significant sites, sharing compelling personal narratives and highlighting the resilience and contributions of the city’s Jewish population. From the Block of Women memorial to the New Synagogue, this wheelchair-accessible experience promises a respectful and informative exploration of a deeply moving chapter in Berlin’s past.

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Key Points

Explore Berlin’s Jewish heritage through a guided walking tour, covering significant sites related to the community’s history and the impact of World War II.
Visit poignant memorials, including the Block of Women, and learn about efforts to protect Jewish employees during the war.
Discover the city’s first Jewish cemetery and the former Great Synagogue, gaining insights into the long-standing presence of the Jewish population in Berlin.
Engage with a local expert in German-Jewish history who provides an engaging and thought-provoking narrative, highlighting the resilience and contributions of the community.
Tour is wheelchair-accessible, with recommendations for comfortable attire and respectful behavior during the site visits.

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Tour Overview and Details

The Berlin: Jewish Walking Tour including World War II offers an immersive exploration of the city’s Jewish heritage.

An immersive exploration of Berlin’s Jewish heritage through a walking tour.

Priced at $267.15 per group of up to 10 participants, the 3.5-4 hour tour is available in English and Hebrew.

The wheelchair-accessible tour departs from Hackescher Markt’s Starbucks, with a free cancellation policy up to 24 hours prior.

Highlights include the Block of Women, Otto Weidt Workshop, New Synagogue, and Jewish Cemetery.

Optional extensions explore additional historic sites.

Led by Tal, a certified Berlin guide with expertise in Jewish history, the tour delivers engaging insights into the community’s past and present.

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Itinerary Highlights

This tour offers a captivating journey through Berlin’s Jewish heritage, with a carefully curated itinerary that highlights the community’s pivotal moments.

Guests start at Hackescher Markt, exploring the historic square. Next, they visit the poignant Block of Women memorial before touring the Otto Weidt Workshop, where the owner risked his life to protect Jewish employees.

After a break at a local café, the tour continues to the New Synagogue and the Jewish Cemetery, the city’s first.

Optional extensions include the Schönhauser Allee Cemetery and memorials commemorating the Kindertransport and Grunewald deportations.

Historical Significance

Exploring the Jewish community’s storied history in Berlin, this walking tour offers a profound glimpse into their hotel in the 17th century and the tragic decline experienced during World War II.

Participants will discover significant sites related to the Jewish experience, including the Great Synagogue and the first cemetery. They’ll learn about prominent figures like Moses Mendelssohn and explore how the community flourished before the horrors of the Holocaust.

The tour provides a deeper understanding of this complex history, honoring the resilience and contributions of Berlin’s Jewish population, past and present.

Tour Guide Profile

Guiding this immersive exploration of Berlin’s Jewish heritage is Tal, a certified local expert with a wealth of knowledge in the city’s German-Jewish history.

With a professional and academic background in the subject, Tal brings an engaging storytelling approach to the tour. Participants can expect to learn about the Jewish community’s hotel in the 17th century, its golden days, and the tragic decline during World War II.

Tal’s focus is on sharing the community’s significant sites and the personal narratives that shaped its history, providing an insightful and thought-provoking experience for all who join the tour.

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Participant Information and Recommendations

For those joining this walking tour, comfortable shoes and a hat or head covering are recommended, as the tour will involve extended periods of walking and exploring outdoor sites. Plus, sunscreen and water are also advised to stay comfortable during the roughly 4-hour experience. While photography is allowed, the use of flash is prohibited to respect the tour’s sites. Please refrain from smoking during the tour as well. The tour’s highlights and accessibility make it suitable for most participants, though those with mobility concerns should consult the tour provider beforehand.

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There's plenty more to explore in Berlin

Exploring Hackescher Markt

As the tour begins, guests are introduced to the vibrant Hackescher Markt, a lively public square nestled in the heart of Berlin’s historic Mitte district.

This bustling marketplace serves as the starting point for the Jewish walking tour, offering a glimpse into the city’s rich history.

The key highlights at Hackescher Markt include:

Hackescher Markt’s key highlights: the Hackesche Höfe, Neue Synagoge, former Jewish-owned shops, and the Rosenstrasse protest monument.

The Hackesche Höfe, a collection of interconnected courtyards that once housed Jewish-owned businesses.
The Neue Synagoge, a renowned synagogue that stood as a symbol of the Jewish community’s prosperity before its destruction during the Nazi regime.
The former Jewish-owned shops and residences that line the surrounding streets.
The monument commemorating the "Rosenstrasse protest," a remarkable act of civil disobedience during the Holocaust.

Witness to the Horrors of the Holocaust

The tour then heads to the Block of Women, a poignant site that bears witness to the horrors of the Holocaust.

This memorial marks the location where, in 1943, a group of courageous women staged a protest to save their Jewish husbands from deportation to the Theresienstadt concentration camp.

Though their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, the women’s bravery and determination in the face of Nazi tyranny serve as a powerful reminder of the human capacity for resistance and moral courage.

The guide shares the moving stories of these women, underscoring the profound impact of the Holocaust on Berlin’s Jewish community.

Discovering Jewish Culture and Resilience

After witnessing the tragic history at the Block of Women, the tour shifts its focus to uncovering the resilience and cultural vibrancy of Berlin’s Jewish community.

Participants explore:

The Otto Weidt Workshop for the Blind, a hidden factory that sheltered Jews during the Nazi regime.
The New Synagogue Berlin – Jewish Centre, a symbolic hub of Jewish life and identity.
The Memorial Jewish Cemetery, a solemn reminder of the community’s enduring presence.
Optional extensions to sites like the Schönhauser Allee Cemetery and the Kindertransport Memorial, further enriching the understanding of Jewish heritage.

The Sum Up

This Jewish walking tour of Berlin provides an immersive and poignant exploration of the city’s rich Jewish heritage. Led by an expert guide, the tour takes visitors through significant sites, sharing compelling personal narratives and highlighting the resilience and contributions of the Jewish community, especially during the harrowing years of World War II. It’s an informative and respectful journey that sheds light on this important aspect of Berlin’s history.