Suche
Mein Konto
Searching for roots in Freudental: Emotional return of the descendants
The descendants meeting in Freudental brings together siblings in search of identity from the 11th to the 14th. September 2025. Activities and encounters including handover of the artwork.
Searching for roots in Freudental: Emotional return of the descendants
The second Freudental descendants meeting took place from September 11th to 14th, 2025 and offered participants the opportunity to explore their family roots and refresh memories. Barbara Rubin, daughter of Margot Stein, reported on her search for identity during the event. Her voice was heard when she traveled with her brother David to her family's roots, even though their mother had previously forbidden them from traveling to Germany. Despite this past, the siblings viewed their journey as crucial and positive. Barbara said: “Being in Germany feels like a bit of peace.”
It was particularly emotional for Elisheva Rubin, Margot Stein's granddaughter. She said that the descendants meeting was both “sad and happy.” Visiting her grandmother's house and taking part in the theater walk “The Last Shammes” left a lasting impression and many emotions on her. In his speech, Mayor Alexander Fleig emphasized the intensity of the encounters and emphasized the friendliness and openness of the people from Freudental that were shown to the guests during their stay.
Diverse events
The Descendants Gathering included a series of events, all aimed at fostering community and memories. The meeting opened on September 11th with a vernissage entitled “Returning to Freudental” by David Rubin, a descendant of a Freudental family. Historian Steffen Pross introduced the guests to history and opened the weekend. An ecumenical service in the former synagogue on September 14, 2025 and a public brunch in the Evangelical Community Center offered further opportunities for exchange and remembrance.
A very special highlight was the new installation of a memorial sign on the “Margot Stein” house and the symbolic tree planting in the Garden of Remembrance, which took place on September 14th. These ceremonies emphasized the importance of the meeting and the connection between past and present.
Art and memory
Another moving moment was Reinhard Maier’s purchase of the artwork “The Dark Angels” by David Rubin. He purchased the work of art for 5,000 euros, which was given to the community. Maier explained that the work of art should remain in Freudental in order to convey the message: “To create new light out of darkness”. These words reflect the participants' quest to shed new light on their families' stories through their return and memories.
PKC leader Michael Volz stated that participants had signaled that they would return for a future meeting. This was seen as a positive sign of connecting descendants and their roots in Freudental. The initiative that comes from such meetings shows the importance of keeping heritage alive and honoring the stories of the past. Visitors from near and far were invited to take part in the numerous commentaries and associated events.
These exchanges have not only revived personal stories, but also created a community that connects across generations. A return to basics that can be both painful and healing.