The history of Berlin's Jewish community

Duration:

5 hours

Start & End-point:

Pick up from the Hotel

Inclusions:

• Private Expert Guide • Pick up and Drop off at your Hotel • Entrance or Admission Fees • Private Driver/Black Van for the driving option

Exclusions:

• Gratitude for your guide • Food & drinks

About:

Join one of our local history experts on this half-day tour of Berlin’s oldest Jewish neighborhood, Spandau suburb. Sites and memorials dedicated to Jewish life can be found at every turn in this suburb, from the former Jewish girls’ school to the home of Regina Jonas, the first woman rabbi in the world. The history of the Jewish community in Berlin goes back to 1671. And before the Second World War and the devastation of the Nazis, the Spandau suburb was the largest Jewish community in all of Germany. After reunification, the district began to flourish again, and it is now one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing Jewish communities in the world. As you stroll the narrow streets of the Spandau suburb, visiting museums and monuments, the past will come alive, and you’ll learn how Jewish heritage continues to shape modern-day Berlin. Your guide will share stories that bring the past and present together for you, in a way that only a true Berlin local can. And since this is a private tour just for you, we can take our time, adjusting our itinerary and answering any questions you have along the way. We’ll explore the lifestyle district of Hackesche Höfe, where beautifully restored courtyards, charming boutiques, chic cafes, and trendy galleries await. Visit the site of the first synagogue in Berlin and learn about the origins of the Jewish community here. Stop at Otto Weidt’s former workshop for the blind; Weidt was honored as one of the righteous among the nations for saving the lives of so many Jewish Berliners during the Nazi era. Wander along Grosse Hamburger Strasse, which was of central importance for Jewish life. It’s here that you’ll find, among other things, the Jewish high school, the former Jewish nursing home, and the oldest Jewish cemetery in Berlin — where you can see the grave of Moses Mendelssohn, an influential Jewish intellectual and representative of Haskalah, or the ‘Jewish Enlightenment.’ Finally, the most important architectural testimony to Berlin’s once-glamorous Jewish life can also be found in the Spandau suburb, the New Synagogue. This impressive building from the 19th century is now a museum and cultural center.

About Our Guides:

Our Berlin tour guides are more than just guides — they are true characters of the city, with deep knowledge of Berlin’s history, art and politics. Some of them were eyewitnesses to the Cold War, and all of them enthusiastic ambassadors of their city. As our guest, we want you to feel welcomed and catered to. Our guides will always take the time to answer your questions and can adapt the itinerary to suit your personal wishes and interests.

Tour Flexibility:

Our guides are experts in their subjects, but this is your private tour, and the city has no shortage of fascinating places to see. It’s our pleasure to tailor this tour to suit your interests. Simply tell us where your interests lie, and we’ll be happy to accommodate your wishes.

Please note:

• Please wear comfortable shoes
• Germany is still a cash country - please bring some cash