An experiment by a Jewish couple to see whether Germans here have really developed to the point of accepting Jews back into their midst, seems on the way to success. The experiment was attempted by Kurt Israel, who had spent three years in Auschwitz. His wife had been in concentration camps four years. The Nazis had gassed their first-born son, then only a little over 3 years old, at Auschwitz. Now they operate a women’s specialty store on Koenigsallee, this city’s” Fifth Avenue,” where some of the most luxurious stores are located. And their store bears openly their Jewish name–“Modehaus Israel.”
Jewish as well as non-Jewish friends had advised the Israels before they opened the shop against using their own” very Jewish” name in connection with the shop. But the Israels felt that was the only name they wanted to use. Friends warned them they would not be able to hire German help. Among their 80 employees now, many are Germans. There have been no overt or even hidden demonstrations against Israel. They have received much mail–only one letter, from an anonymous writer, was hostile.
But the venture is still an experiment, Mrs. Israel feels. The Israels are willing to continue to keep their shop open under their own name. If it should ultimately fail, they say, they would forsake Germany for good and move to Holland.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
