Berlin, December 12 – The former Kohlfurter Straße in the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district was ceremonially renamed Regina-Jonas-Straße today, honoring the world’s first female rabbi, Regina Jonas, who was murdered by the Nazis. The renaming marks a significant step in recognizing Jonas’s legacy and her contributions to equality, education, and humanity.
Ceremonial Renaming Event
The event, organized by the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district office, commenced in the early afternoon. The first part of the ceremony took place at the new Regina-Jonas-Straße, at the corner of Fraenkelufer, followed by a second part at the Künstlerhaus Bethanien. District Mayor Clara Herrmann (Green Party) emphasized the importance of the renaming.
“This street should remind us that progress always begins where people have the courage to stand up for their convictions,” said Mayor Herrmann. “Regina Jonas was the world’s first female rabbi. Her commitment to equality, education, and humanity remains an inspiration to us today.”
Who Was Regina Jonas?
Regina Jonas was born in Berlin in 1902. She pursued her studies at the College for Jewish Studies in Berlin, where she wrote her groundbreaking thesis on the question, “Can women hold rabbinical office?” After completing her studies, Jonas dedicated her life to pastoral care and religious education. She worked in a synagogue not far from the street that now bears her name, as well as at the Jewish Hospital and various liberal synagogues across Berlin.
Her life was tragically cut short during the Holocaust. In November 1942, she was deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp, and in October 1944, she was transferred to the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp, where she was murdered shortly thereafter.
A Long-Awaited Recognition
The initiative to honor Regina Jonas has been in progress for several years. The street, previously known as Britzer Straße for decades, was renamed Kohlfurter Straße in 1949, after a Silesian village now called Weglinec in Poland. Plans to rename a street after Jonas were first decided by the district parliament (BVV) in 2021. In December 2023, the BVV specifically chose Kohlfurter Straße for the renaming, a decision that was confirmed by the district office at the end of May.
Assistance for Residents with Document Changes
To facilitate the necessary changes for residents affected by the street renaming, the Citizens’ Office has announced three special appointments for adjusting personal documents. Residents can attend these appointments without prior booking and can also access other services. The announced dates and locations are:
- Friday, December 12, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg Museum, Adalbertstraße 95A.
- Monday, December 15, and Tuesday, December 16, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Wilhelm Liebknecht / Namik Kemal Central Library, Adalbertstraße 2.
The renaming of Kohlfurter Straße to Regina-Jonas-Straße serves as a lasting tribute to a pioneering figure whose courage and commitment continue to resonate, reminding the community of the importance of fighting for equality and human dignity.
Source: https://www.berlin.de/en/news/10075855-5559700-kohlfurter-strasse-in-kreuzberg-becomes-.en.html
