Agreement to commemorate: New plaque for the Philippson family in Feldberg

Agreement to commemorate: New plaque for the Philippson family in Feldberg

In Feldberg there is light at the end of the tunnel: the community representatives have reached an agreement on a memorial plaque for the Jewish Philippson family. This agreement comes after a period of intense debate over the correct location and text design of the plaque. The factions of the Left, the Greens and the individual candidate Godenschweger raised their points of criticism at the most recent meeting, and they worked together on a solution that is acceptable to everyone. In the future, the new text will indicate that the Philippson family's Jewish department store was on the opposite side of the street and will also be supplemented with a historical photo of the building.

On the face of it, the old formulation “Here it stood…” was problematic, as a new building has now been built at the location of the memorial plaque. These adjustments are not only symbolic, but also shake up the culture of remembrance. The Philippson family was highly respected in Feldberg's Jewish community and played a crucial role in the founding of the Jewish cemetery. But in 1937 the family was expropriated by the National Socialists and the tragic events began.

The fate of the Philippsons

Ferdinand Philippson and his wife Rosy Alberta were deported in 1942. While Ferdinand, who was 72 years old at the time, survived the concentration camp, his wife starved to death in the Theresienstadt camp in 1944. Her story reminds us not to forget. Ferdinand returned to Feldberg after the war and lived again in the apartment above the former department store, where he died in 1959. His funeral was the last in the Feldberg Jewish cemetery and thus a silent testimony to history that often fades into the shadows of time.

The new memorial plaque opposite the current multi-generational house will not only commemorate the fate of the family, but also encourage vigilance against anti-Semitism and racism. This commitment is more necessary than ever. The multi-generational house itself, on the site of the former department store, was inaugurated in 2022 and contains a time capsule with information about the Philippson family so that future generations can also learn something about this eventful history.

Remembering and commemorating

Culture of remembrance is more than just putting up plaques. It lives through the exchange of stories and awareness of our past. Every year on January 27th, the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust is celebrated. This day of remembrance was established by the United Nations in 2005 to commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the horrific crimes of National Socialism. In Germany and Austria, this day is celebrated with various events and memorial rallies to remember the victims and send a message of tolerance and humanity.

This commitment is visible in Feldberg with the new memorial plaque. The historical context and human stories behind the plaques aim to ensure that such atrocities never happen again and that the memory of the Philippsons and their community remains part of our local culture forever.

For anyone who would like to learn more about the Philippsons' history and memorial work, further information is available at Northern Courier and FIZ Feldberg to. There is also an interesting compilation about the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust exists that illustrates the importance of such remembering.