Learning At Authentic Sites

A Walk Through Jewish Halberstadt

The topography of Halberstadt, with its upper and lower levels, continues to provide us with a sense of how its Jewish religious minority lived within a German context.  A “walk through Jewish Halberstadt” shows us the historic restrictions which shaped the lives of Jews, as well as their active role as Halberstadt citizens, and the internal religious evolution of the Jewish Community.

The walk begins at the Klaus Synagogue in the former Jewish quarter below the Petershof, the onetime Episcopal palace and seat of the Prussian government.  The walk proceeds up   the Peterstreppe (“Peter's Steps”), over the the Domplatz ( “Catherdral Plaza”), to  the two oldest Jewish cemeteries, then returns to the lower town and  a visit to the installation “And the living take it to heart,” built on  the  site of the destroyed Baroque Synagogue. The tour ends at the  mikvah housed in the Berend Lehman Museum.

The “walk through Jewish Halberstadt” is scheduled for every third Sunday from March to October.  The tour begins at 11:30 a.m at the Klaus Synagogue, Rosenwinkel 18.

Tours Of The Cemeteries

Tours of the three cemeteries in Halberstadt can be arranged. More information is available here.

Dialogue Tours

Dialogue tours are customized to serve special interests. These may  focus on specific themes represented in the permanent exhibitions. Guided tours through the current special exhibitions can also be arranged.

Facilities And Opportunities For Schools

School groups at all levels are welcome at the Moses Mendelssohn Academy where particular
curricular needs are accommodated. An astonishing range of programs are available for every
grade level. In addition to our permanent collection of materials, special exhibitions may also be  relevant to classroom needs. Special projects can be developed in conjunction with the Moses Mendelssohn Academy. Seminar rooms, tech support, a library and multi-media are also available.
The Moses Mendelssohn Academy provides advise and support for long-term projects.  

The Museum-Coffee Shop Hirsch offers an outstanding menu and is well equipped to cater to groups.

Tours and Other Events

Permanent Programs

“A Walk Through Jewish Halberstadt” is designed to meet the individual profile and interests of groups of any size.

Duration: 150 minutes/ 5 Euros per person

Halacha – jewish religious laws

What's the meaning of “Kosher”?  Why are Jews circumcised? May a Jew use the telephone on the Sabbath? Why do laws written three thousand years ago still prevail? These questions point to salient issues in Judaism. “Kashrut” - a set  of dietary laws—distinguishes between permitted and forbidden foods. The Sabbath is the most sacred Jewish holiday on which work if forbidden to observant Jews.
Duration: 90  minutes/2 Euros per person

Dietary Laws

In order to provide a deeper understanding of the dietary laws, we offer a  breakfast menu which follows the religious formula for a “parve” meal, one that is neither meat nor dairy.  While a more complete presentation of a “kosher” meal is not possible. [[likely]] ingredients will be displayed.  Bring your own beverage.

Duration: 45 minutes/ group fee: a maximum of 20/5 Euros per person.

Moses Mendelssohn and Haskala

Every individual is first of all a citizen of the state in which he lives.  Religious affiliation, in contrast, is entirely a private matter.   This concept, which today we take for granted, was an idea conceived by Moses Mendelssohn (1729-1786). His ideas, which constituted the Jewish Enlightenment or Haskala, fundamentally altered Jewish life in Germany.

The age of fourteen, Moses Mendelssohn followed his teacher from Dessau to Berlin , then a Prussian urban center, a move which exposed the young scholar to the new  intellectual currents of eighteenth-century and to recognize their  implications. Moses Mendelssohn shaped the culture of his time by challenging Jews to learn the German language. He envisioned a Jewish life lived  in adherence to Jewish law but one fully reconciled with  the culture and conventions of the dominant society.

Duration: 90 minutes/ 2 Euros per person.

Customized Events

Meetings with Eye witnesses
The Moses Mendelssohn Academy  stays in touch with former Jewish  residents of  Halbserstadt. Many of them are prepared to share their life stories and experiences with school chldren and young people. Speakers' visits are planned to coodinate  with school schedules.  Students should indicate their interests and appropriate arrangments will  be made.

Purim

Every year a class or group of school children prepare a Purim play performed in the Klaus Synagogue. The skills and interests of the group depends on its composition.  Purim is celebrated on the 14/15 Adar which usually falls some time in March. This joyful holiday commemorates the rescue of Persian Jews from the threat of annhilation planned  by  Haman, the minion of the Persian king Ahasverus (likely Xeres I).  Esther, a Jewish woman, darling of the Persian ruler, was able to foil the plan and save her people. The holiday is celebrated with a reading of the Book of Esther and typically children as urged to make a lot of noise using special rattles called „gragers“  when the name of evil Haman is read.
It is customary for children to put on costumes and to re-enact the Purim story

Interested students should contact the Moses Mendelssohn Acadmy to make arrangments, projects are supported by a third party so that participants do not incur any expenses.