The Fate of the Jews Amid the destruction, an even darker tragedy unfolded. Beginning in 1941, Cologne’s Jews were deported in wave after wave. They were herded onto trains in the Deutz-Tief station, watched by neighbors who often dared not intervene. Some were sent to Lodz, others to Minsk, Riga, and later Auschwitz. Almost none returned. Of Cologne’s 20,000 Jews, only a few hundred survived. The synagogues, burned and desecrated, became silent witnesses. A city that had once been a center of J

What happens when a place dedicated to history struggles with its own values? We dive into the surprising story of a young Jewish man at the Anne Frank Museum who faced a challenging decision about wearing his yarmulke. After months of deliberation, the museum board had to confront an uncomfortable truth about identity and respect. This story raises important questions about cultural representation and the legacy of Anne Frank herself. Curious to hear the full discussion? Tune in to Wondering Je

First beer garden in Cologne, whose 20.000 Jews were annihilated in the Holocaust, was started by Jews in 1318 | Rabbi Shmuley Boteach