Jewish Berlin: Minna-Schwarz-Heim

On Brunnenstrasse 41, a glass plate reminds of what once used to be a philanthropic Jewish institution in the Eastern part of Berlin. Minna Schwarz was born in Pyritz, Poland, at the end of the 19th century, and died in 1936. In 1888, she created the first Bnai Brith Lodge for women in Berlin. Bnai Brith is the oldest Jewish service organization for social service, philanthropy and mutual aid.  

In the yard of this block of houses was created at Schwarz's initiative a kindergarten for abandoned children and a refuge for single mothers. Between 1932-1940, the 'Heim' was named after the founder, who dedicated her time and energy to help the women and children in need, although herself childless. From 1940, the building was used as a 'Judenhaus', a residence where Jews were living in a kind of ghetto. From here, many of them were sent to death.