Hermann Helfgott - Zvi Asaria. A transnational rabbi's life in the age of extremes

The project aims to biographize the life of Hermann Helfgott/Zvi Asaria (1913-2002), who had a decisive influence on German-Jewish history in the post-war period and on German-Israeli relations through his many and varied activities. His life path led from Yugoslavia via the prisoner-of-war camp in Osnabrück-Eversheide and the Bergen-Belsen DP camp to Israel. For decades, he played a decisive role in the reconstruction of Jewish life in Germany, first as rabbi in Cologne (1953-1961) and later as state rabbi of Lower Saxony (1966-1970). As a convinced Zionist, he was committed to the establishment of Israel and also took on leading positions here. In addition, Helfgott/Asaria was also a thinker and historian who wrestled with the fate of the Jews in the 20th century in his writings. In our research project, we will shed light on these different aspects and take a differentiated look at a personality who was significant for German-Jewish-Israeli history in the 20th century.