Logo of the Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Logo of the exhibition "Home and Exile. Jewish Emigration from Germany since 1933" in the Jewish Museum Berlin

Jeckes


Café Mugrabi in Tel Aviv, 1935

As the German Jews emigrate to Palestine, suddenly there are whole neighborhoods in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa where German is spoken. The German educated middle class brings along its culture to the Orient. Coffeehouses become their favorite meeting places.

The Jews from Germany soon earn the nickname "Jeckes": Their propensity for punctuality and good manners make them a favorite target of derisive jokes.