Siegmunds Hof is opposite the Tiergarten S-Bahn station. As you walk down this street towards the junction with the River Spree, you will come across a unique piece of public art. This sculpture, entitled Erinnerung (Memory), was created in 1986 by the German sculptor Georg Seibert to commemorate the once-thriving Jewish Congregation Adass Jisroel, which was established in the area. With the post-war reconstruction, all traces of the vibrant Jewish community had long since disappeared, making this monument an important testament to the community’s former existence.
In 1924, Congregation Adass Yisroel purchased and renovated an artist studio at Siegmunds Hof 11. They established a primary school, a girls’ Lyzeum (secondary school), the Adass Yisroel Schulwerk (high school), a second synagogue and other community facilities. The members of the community took an active part in cultural and religious activities, strictly adhering to the traditional customs of Orthodox Judaism. Siegmunds Hof 11 once housed the synagogue and other important community buildings, making it the heart of Jewish life in the area. However, this flourishing community came to an abrupt end during the Second World War.
After the war, with the rebuilding of the Hansaviertel and its modernist architecture, all physical traces of the Jewish community were erased from the area. To commemorate the Jewish Congregation Adass Yisroel that once flourished here, a commemorative ceremony was held on 9 September 1985 to mark the 100th anniversary of the recognition of Adass Yisroel by the Prussian state. The event was attended by the Mayor of Tiergarten, Hans-Martin Quell, and other prominent members of the community. On 25 June 1986, the Erinnerung monument was officially unveiled in a ceremony attended by national and international dignitaries, community members and friends. The monument commemorates the lives lost and cultural heritage destroyed during the war and post-war reconstruction.
The modern design of the monument appears to be inspired by the Jewish menorah, one of the oldest symbols in Jewish history. The menorah represents the sacred flame of the Jewish faith, symbolising hope and resilience in times of conflict, as well as the enduring strength and light of Jewish culture. The author believes that the shape of the monument also combines elements of a ship and a house, evoking a sense of both voyage and hope. It conveys the unwavering faith and expectations of the Jewish community for the future, even after enduring great hardship. Situated in a quiet riverside corner of the Hansa Quarter, this monument not only honours the once prosperous Jewish community of Israel, but also carries the hope that the flowing river will wash away the sorrows of the past.
*There is a memorial plaque right next to the memorial. On the eve of Rosh Hashanah 5759 (17 September 1998), a memorial plaque with inscriptions in German, Hebrew and English was unveiled by Jörn Jensen, Mayor of the Berlin-Tiergarten district, and Ari Abraham Offenberg, Chairman of the Adass Yisroel community. The plaque next to the memorial commemorates the victims of the Siegmunds Hof Centre. The victims were members of the community, teachers and pupils.
