My recent ‘featured’ Times of Israel column, I’m Jewish, American and happy to live in Berlin, sparked some outrage and hateful messages from people like Nanette (“I spit on your post!” she screamed into my inbox). Ah well, naysayers like Nanette can’t seem to digest positive reports from Jews who live in Germany. All the more reason to keep writing and seeking to promote understanding of the different ways to lead a Jewish life.
Nasty comments aside, the year is off to a wonderful start. Though this blog is on the back burner, I’ll continue to post occasional news and announcements. So here’s the latest:
Shortly after last month’s book launch at the Leo Baeck Institute, the New York Post published an in depth story, Why American Jews are moving to Germany, that explores the reasons why my family and some of my co-authors chose to reclaim our German citizenship. It’s refreshing to see an American newspaper (a tabloid no less!) provide coverage of Jewish topics that diverges from the usual narrative.
My new book, A Place They Called Home, got stuck in a major holiday distribution backlog, leading me into endless and ultimately fruitless communications with Amazon customer service reps. It has finally started shipping and a couple of book reviews are in the works.
The foundation that supported my book project, the Stiftung Zurückgeben, was chosen for a 2019 Obermayer German Jewish History Award, along with Hilde Schramm, one of its founders. Last week I was honored to attend the awards ceremony and see Hilde and the foundation receive the recognition they deserve for supporting the creative pursuits of Jewish women in Germany. Hilde is the daughter of Hitler’s chief architect and one of his key ministers. You can read about her amazing life story here: Reinvented Legacy: Nazi’s Paintings Fund Foundation for Jews
Donna Swarthout 
Hi Donna,
Thanks for keeping me on your email list – it’s great to see what you are up to. Congratulations on the book and all the other work you are doing to make Jewish German residents more visible.
Just wanted to let you know that my son Arjun FINALLY received his restored German citizenship. It took much longer than it should have, and I was asked for the same documents numerous times, and in general treated shabbily during the process, but at least it’s done! Thanks for your support regarding this.
All the best,
Mona Bachmann
Missoula, Montana
Hi Mona, thanks for letting me know the good news about your son. I’m so happy the application process has finally come to a successful conclusion. Let me know the next time you are in Berlin! Liebe Grüße, Donna