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Going-away Present

Unusual Objects from Our Core Exhibition Tell Stories of Jewish Life

In late 1936 Ernst and Margot Rosenthal left Germany and immigrated to the United States in hopes that they could live a life free of discrimination and persecution.

Opened album with pictures of the Chicago skyline, a skyscraper and a painted head with feather decoration, and handwritten text

Bruno Heidenheim, Album to bid farewell to Margot (1913–2010) and Ernst Rosenthal (1898–1971), Chemnitz, 1936; Jewish Museum Berlin, accession 2017/285/0, gift of Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

In order to ease their departure, friends of theirs, the Heidenheim family, gave them “Small Tips for Great People”, an affectionately handmade album that was a collage of self-composed sayings and poems and pictures cut out of the newspaper. The charming going-away present was to prepare the Rosenthals for their host country.

The Album to Browse Through

Dedication from the Heidenheim family to the Rosenthals on the flyleaf of the farewell album; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

"To our dear friends Margot and Ernst Rosenthal, Our sincerest wish of happiness to you in this farewell hour." Bruno Heidenheim, Eva Heidenheim, Annamaria Heidenheim. Chemnitz, 10 December 1936," reads the flyleaf of the farewell album; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Bruno Heidenheim’s jocular title for the farewell album; Jewish Museum Berlin, Inv.-Nr. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

"Little Book of Etiquette for Big People, This book is the production of Bruno Heidenheim, Chemnitz, 10 December 1936." The home-made album’s jocular title is the prelude to the humorous collages that follow; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Poem about the Rosenthals’ new home illustrated with the Chicago skyline; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

"Hope of New Happiness" – America, the land of dreams, enables anyone who knows how "to work hard" to live in prosperity. Heidenheim uses images of the Chicago skyline to illustrate his poem of the Rosenthals’ new home; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Poem about the evening of the Rosenthals’ farewell party; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Of mayonnaise eggs and Morpheus, the god of dreams – allegorical figures decorate the Heidenheim’s humorous rhymes about the evening of the Rosenthals’ farewell party; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

"Help me, America!" – Frame story of the farewell album; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

These pages tell a kind of background story: The Rosenthal couple are in their beds when Ernst has a nightmare. His wife – who is called "Hasi" - tries to wake him up. Finally, he rouses from his sleep, screaming: “Help me, America!” Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Introduction to the following etiquette for America; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

"A book of undeniable facts" - here Heidenheim introduces the etiquette for America, so that the Rosenthals are not in danger of any faux pas; Jewish Museum Berlin, Inv.-No. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Chapter 1 of the rules of etiquette to be observed in the United States, on greeting others; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Chapter 1: What should a gent know about greeting people? This is where the humorous rules of etiquette begin. According to Bruno Heidenheim, this is how one should behave in the United States: Many cut-out cartoon figures, some with the head of Ernst Rosenthal, explain how a gentleman should behave on the street. These range from raising the hat in greeting to the typical recommendation to "Keep Smiling", illustrated by Stan Laurel, a popular comedian at the time shown smiling broadly; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Chapters 2 and 3 of the rules of etiquette, "The Kiss" and "Where the Gent walks"; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März.

Different country, different customs – The Doʼs and Donʼts of dating must of course have their place, and can be found here in Chapters 2 "The Kiss" and 3 "Where the Gent walks," as different customs prevail in America than in Germany. Thus, the man always walks on the street-side of the sidewalk to protect the "Miss" from being splashed by cars; Jewish Museum Berlin, Inv. No. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Chapter 4 "The Conversation" – translations of everyday speech; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

"Beach" or "Bitch"? Chapter 4, "The Conversation," tells of the little quirks of everyday language use accompanied by humorous illustrations; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Chapter 5 "At the Table." Heidenheim explains the rules of etiquette when visiting a restaurant; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

On the right, the two friends, Ernst Rosenthal and Bruno Heidenheim, are seated at a restaurant table. The rules of etiquette in this situation are then explained: Help the lady to her seat, don’t put too much on her plate, don’t confuse the meat and fish knives, don’t drink the water from the finger bowl and above all: “Never burp and always eat quietly. One only burps in Chinatown.” Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Chapters 7 and 8 – etiquette for a well-groomed appearance; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

In typical collage technique, combining colourful magazine cuttings and handwritten rhymes, we see the weekly visit to the Barber shop, some tips on hand and face care, and the question of flowers in the buttonhole; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Chapter 9 – further instructions on how men are to behave around women; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

This page features further rules of behaviour in the company of ladies as well as language mistakes to avoid; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Chapter 10 – further good and bad habits; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

The "bad habit of spitting" – Heidenheim omits nothing in his little book of etiquette; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Chapters 11 and 12 – Chewing gum and visiting the bar; Jewish Museum Berlin, Inv. No. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

"At dinner, stick it under the table" - Heidenheim jokingly advises his friend on what to do with chewing gum. Even "in the saloon," the Rosenthals should know "how to behave"; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Hypocrisy rather than gambling; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Hypocrisy rather than gambling – Bruno Heidenheim's last piece of advice for the Rosenthals is not to be fooled by flattery; Jewish Museum Berlin, Inv.-No. 2017/285/0, donated of Karin and Steve Rosenthal, Photo: Roman März

Prophesy and premonition; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo by Roman März

“I can make it in America!” is what it says on the sign that Ernst Rosenthal holds up. His wife "Hasi" is happy and proud of her husband. He seems to have managed to settle in to his new life. The album ends with a vision of the future. In 1966, thirty years later, the Heidenheims will come to visit the Rosenthals in Chicago. "Farewell, farewell and don't forget us. All our blessings go with you. You will reap the reward of happiness across the sea. Believe me, it will be difficult for us to say goodbye"; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Heidenheim's vision for his friend Ernst Rosenthal; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

"Lotte: ,Say Alfred-Dear, who is this man on the monument?'
Alfred: ,Well, Darling, do you remember little Ernst of Chemnitz? He went famous all over America.'
Lotte: ,What is the inscription on the monument?'
Alfred: ,The thankful Stars the grand Doc.'
Lotte: ,Ain't he great?!'"

This is Bruno Heidenheim's "premonition" for his friend Ernst Rosenthal; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Back of farewell album; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März

Back of the farewell album. But the visit never happened. Bruno Heidenheim died in 1940 as the result of forced hard labour; Jewish Museum Berlin, inv. no. 2017/285/0, donated by Karin and Steve Rosenthal, photo: Roman März.

Our Stories: “Farewell, farewell, think of us oft, we'll send you our well-wishing thoughts. Happiness awaits across the sea, but saying goodbye to you isn't easy.” Aubrey Pomerance, head of our archive and curator of the new core exhibition, talks about this testimony to a close friendship and two diverging life paths. Further information on this object can be found in our online collections (in German).

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Core Exhibition: 13 Objects – 13 Stories (13)

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13 Objects – 13 Stories

A Torah shield, a sculpture, a cushion: 13 unusual objects tell 13 stories of Jewish life. One of the tours of the JMB app leads right through the exhibition to eye-catchers of all kinds, some small, some big. What would a museum be without its many objects, each rich in meaning? You can get a sneak peek of the objects here on our website.

Female statue with traces of rust, missing the head

L’amitié au coeur (Friendship of the Heart)

by Étienne-Maurice Falconet (1716–1791), Paris, 1765, marble

 Various crumpled documents with Hebrew letters, a shoe and a bag

Finds from the Memmels­dorf Genizah

Memmelsdorf (find site), ca. 1725–1830, paper, ink, fabric, leather, porcelain

 Silver Torah shield with gilded columns and lions holding law tablets

Torah Shield

donated by Isaak Jakob Gans (1723–1798), Hamburg, 1760–1765, silver

 Sculpture of a library made of lead with inserted glass fragments

Shevirat ha-Kelim (Breaking of the Vessels)

Anselm Kiefer, 1990–2019, lead, iron, glass, copper wire, charcoal, Aquatec

 Oil painting with a family scene

Manheimer Family Portrait

by Julius Moser (1805–1879), Berlin, 1850, oil on canvas

 Puppet with a crown and moving parts, which are connected with rivets

Puppet Show

King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, Käte Baer-Freyer (1885–1988), Berlin, ca. 1924, plywood, metals

 White pillow with blue script

Decorated Cushion

“ISRAELI, JEW, and now SEVERELY DISABLED ...,” Daniel Josefsohn (1961–2016), Berlin, 2014/15, textile

 Glass showcase full of tableware, cutlery and other silver objects

Silver Formerly Owned by Jews

Provenance: up to 1939 unknown Jewish owners, 1939 Hamburg Tax Authority

 Opened album with pictures of the Chicago skyline, a skyscraper, a painting, and handwritten text

Going-away Present

Bruno Heidenheim, Album to bid farewell to Margot (1913–2010) and Ernst (1898–1971) Rosenthal, Chemnitz, 1936

 Silver washbasin with flowers and ornaments, in the middle a Hebrew inscription

Hand Washbasin

Manufacturer: S. & D. Loewenthal, Frankfurt am Main, 1895/96, silver

 Membership card with a heart-formed photo

No Longer in the Country

Unclaimed membership cards for the Jewish community Frankfurt am Main, 1949

 Abstract painting in blue, black and yellow tones

Composition

by Otto Freundlich (1878–1943), 1938, tempera on cardboard

 Yellow star with the word Jude (Jew) on it

Yellow Star

of the Lehmann family, Berlin, 1941–1945

More on This Topic …

Emigration/Exile

Online Showcase

Digital presentation of our archive collections on different topics, video projects, and more

At a Glance…

 Colorful glittering curtain in motion

Jewish Life in Germany: Past and Present

More about our core exhibition

Exhibition
since Aug 2020

JMB App

The Jewish Museum Berlin Audio Guide

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