Schulzendorf honors Richard and Bianca Israel with stumbling blocks

Schulzendorf honors Richard and Bianca Israel with stumbling blocks

History comes to life in Schulzendorf, and not just as part of the celebrations for the community's 650th anniversary. The recent laying of stumbling blocks in honor of Richard and Bianca Israel helps to perpetuate the memory of this remarkable family. As the maz online reported, the Israelis lived in the manor castle from 1890 to 1939 and thus shaped local history. At the ceremony, Mayor Markus Mücke emphasized the importance of the stumbling blocks for cultural and social life in Schulzendorf.

Not only were the Israel family known as friendly employers, they also made a lasting impression by establishing a four-grade school that provided better learning opportunities for the village's children. Another social commitment was the founding of a “play school” for the estate workers’ little ones. These initiatives show how committed Richard and Bianca are to the well-being of the Schulzendorfers.

An eventful fate

But the peaceful coexistence ended when the National Socialists came to power. As in the castleholic As can be read, Richard and Bianca were evicted in 1939. A little later he was deported to Theresienstadt. Tragically, Richard was murdered there in 1943. Bianca was lucky enough to reach Switzerland in 1945 on a “freedom transport” made possible by an agreement between the Swiss President and Heinrich Himmler. Their survival during this terrible time is a testament to the unbroken will to live of the Jews who lived in Germany at the time.

The stumbling blocks were placed on Richard-Israel-Strasse in front of the town hall to encourage passers-by to think. Gunter Demnig, the initiator of the project, had to hand over this task to employees of the municipal building yard for health reasons. Also present was Jochen Palenker, a great-grandson of the Israel family, who read from a moving letter from Bianca from 1946.

The legacy of Schulzendorf Castle

Schulzendorf is not only interesting because of its eventful history, but also architecturally. Schulzendorf Castle, a former manor, was built in the 18th century. The current appearance goes back to Richard and Bianca Israel, who acquired the property in the late 1880s and shaped the castle with their vision. Moritz Israel, Richard's father, was Berlin's oldest merchant, and his legacy is strongly linked to the history of the Nathan Israel department store. After the Second World War, the castle was confiscated by the Soviets and became state property. It was not until 1993 that the property came back into the hands of the Israel family, who still own it today, although there are currently no concrete plans for its use.

The stumbling blocks in Schulzendorf are more than just a memorial - they are a sign of change, remembering and hope for a better future. As in other cities in Germany, such actions remind us of what was lost and what courage was required to survive. This commitment should not only make people aware of the past, but also convey conscious values ​​for the present and future. Numerous memorial projects are also growing in neighboring towns that commemorate the victims of National Socialism, such as the Stolpersteine ​​in Charlottenburg or Babelsberg, which also remind us of the diversity of Jewish life.