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Benno and Pesha Bermann collection

 Collection
Identifier: AR 25661

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of correspondence between Benno and Pesha, official documents, genealogy tables, passports pertaining to the couple, and photographs.

The correspondence in Series I contains original letters that Benno and Pesha exchanged daily for almost a year between 1926 and 1927 from Frankfurt to Jerusalem. The content is personal matters. An English translation/summary of the correspondence can be found in Series I.

Series II includes genealogy tables of the Bermann family, the Mannheim family, the Dimitrovskz family and others. Moreover it contains official documents and passports of Benno and Pesha, genealogy tables, photographs and a brochure about an exhibition called "Pesha's journey". The official documents include for example Pesha's matriculation, certification and graduation from Elisabethenschule in Frankfurt, the marriage certificate of Benno's parents Ferdinand and Rachel, work certificates pertaining to Benno, and Benno's and Pesha's certificates of citizenship in the United States. The brochure "Pesha's journey" includes photographs and a biographical description about the couple's lives. The passports are from Deutsches Reich, Palestine, and America between 1921 and 1974. Most of the photographs in this collection were taken by Benno, and are dated between 1897 and 1931. They were taken in Frankfurt am Main, Jerusalem and New York City, and show family members among others.

Dates

  • 1897-2012
  • Majority of material found within 1920-1930

Creator

Language of Materials

The collection is in German, English, and Hebrew.

Access Restrictions

Open to researchers.

Access Information

Collection is digitized. Follow the links in the Container List to access the digitized materials.

Use Restrictions

There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact:

Leo Baeck Institute, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011

email: lbaeck@lbi.cjh.org

Biographical Note

Benjamin ("Benno") Bermann, 1901-1990, was born and raised in Frankfurt am Main, Germany and worked as a photographer. His wife Pesha Bermann (née Dzimitrovsky), 1906-1968, was born in Jerusalem and worked as a social worker. Benno was the son of Ferdinand Bermann and Rachel Bermann (née Mannheimer). Pesha's parents were the orthodox Ashkenazi rabbi Yakov Josef Dzimitrovsky, 1880-1964, and Sarah Dimitrovsky (née Shapiro), 1880-1968. As schooling possibilities for girls were limited in Palestine, Pesha went to Elisabethenschule (High school) in Frankfurt am Main, Germany at the age of 16. There she met Benno and they started a relationship in 1923. After her graduation from high school in 1926, she returned to Jerusalem while Benno stayed in Frankfurt am Main. In 1927 Benno arrived in Jerusalem where the couple married. They returned to Frankfurt am Main and immigrated to New York in 1936, where Benno worked as a photographer and Pesha as a NYC Welfare Department Social Worker.

Extent

0.75 Linear Feet

Abstract

The collection consists of personal letters that Benjamin ("Benno") and Pesha Bermann exchanged between 1926-1927 from Frankfurt to Jerusalem; official documents and passports of Germany, America and Palestine pertaining to the couple; family trees; and copies of photographs.

Arrangement

The described materials have been subdivided into two series as follows:

Processing Information

The correspondence and legal documents were rearranged chronologically.

Title
Guide to the Papers of Benjamin and Pesha Bermann 1897-2012 AR 25661
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Adrijana Blatnik
Date
© 2016
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.
Edition statement
This version was derived from Benjamin_and_PeshaBermann.xml

Revision Statements

  • June 29, 2017 : Links to digital objects added in Container List.

Repository Details

Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository

Contact:
15 West 16th Street
New York NY 10011 United States