Just last year, following an unexpected marketing follow-up, the 49-year-old businessman approached a retired Israeli teacher to apologize for his actions, which his grandfather never visited.
Growing up, Edelman heard rumors about the family business and suspected that it was previously owned by Jews who were forced to sell it to his paternal grandfather, Wilhelm.
Fascinated, the seller gave the story to the company’s research team.
Two weeks later, Edelman received a call from My Heritage. He discovered two important records: Heidelberger’s 1942 British Mandatory Palestine Naturalization Record, and his cemetery in northern Israel with his wife, Emma. What’s more, they discovered that Heidelberger has a living granddaughter.
Hanna Ehrenrich, an 83-year-old retired teacher, knew all about the store, known as Will Edelman. So much so, that a black-and-white picture of him – his grandfather’s first name – still adorns the walls of his home in Israel.
Edelman, who lost contact with his father after his parents divorced in the early 1970s, knew little about the history of his paternal family and had no connection to the rich retail chain that sprang up from the hardware store.
While the store itself does not exist, Edelman’s family still owns the building, as well as numerous other properties in the city. However, it has no stake in Pay.
Adhelmann sent a letter to Ehrenreich in English although My Heritage – he did not know that he had really grown up speaking German.
He wrote: “I believe that if my family supports the injustices experienced by your grandparents, it is our duty to consider this and at least be in touch with you to listen and learn. I am part of the Edelman family. I want to take the first step and listen to you.
“I understand that you will not see any benefit for you personally in talking to me. But being able to teach my children and possibly other family members about the impact of special historical decisions, this will help make them better.” Decisions in, “Edelman continued.
“Currently, the political climate in our country is poisoned. A new antagonism is about to come. I want to make sure that at least my family will never again be responsible for the injustice experienced by others, but stand to participate.” “For the weak,” he wrote.
After receiving Edelman’s letter, Ehrenrich agreed to speak with him, and weeks later, the couple spent 90 minutes in German, on the telephone, discussing their family’s paste.
“It was a very good conversation,” Ehrenrich told CNN. “I wanted to hear how we live. I said we’re happy, and our lives are good.”
Ehrenrich told Edelman that Benjamin Heidelberger and his wife, Emma – his paternal grandfather – used the money from their shop to forcibly flee Palestine in 1938 in a violent anti-wave a few weeks before the horrific events in Kristalnachat. Jewish pogroms held on November 9 and 10.
Ehrenrich’s parents had previously arrived in Israel and she was born there in 1937. Sadly, her motherhood Grandparents lived in Germany and died under Nazi rule.
“He was very fascinated and said he was very happy to hear the story from my side – he was almost crying,” he said.
Ehrenreich, who was close to his grandfather, shared with Edelman the editing of events surrounding the store’s takeover, allaying his fears and suspicions.
She said Heidelberger often spoke of her hometown and kept a diary in her mother tongue.
In it he wrote: “My business successor, Wilhelm Edelman, came to pay the first rent of every month, and despite being a member of the Nazi party, he was not an anti-Semit but a decent man.”
“In the fall of 1937, we sold our house to him at 10,000 remark, although my asking price was 15,000. In July 1938, we sold our shop and warehouse at a bargain price of 28,500, the same amount I bought. That was 30 years ago. , ”Heidelberger continued.
“Under different circumstances, I could have sold it for 000 1,000,000. But at the time, many Jewish businesses in Bed Mergentim were sold under the price,” he explained.
He wrote, “One day, Edelman came to me and said I should leave Germany as soon as possible.” “There were plans to take action against the Jews and they forced me to warn their good acquaintances.”
Ehrenrich, who visited the store on a family trip to Bed Mergenteme in the 1980s, told CNN: “I knew Edelman was really the person who bought the store. I thought he was a good man, even though he was a member of the Nazi Party. “
Adlam said he was deeply inspired by the call and the pair have been in touch; He hopes to visit Israel in the future.
He said, “It was this emotional moment when I was listening to Henna on the phone and when he told me about his grandfather.” “Although her family was treated very badly, she was very friendly and did not hold me responsible for anything.”
But when Ehrenrich is happy to hear the version of events, Edelman says he still has doubts. About his grandfather.
“I know my grandfather was a very good businessman. He was already a member of the Nazi Party when he was a student in the 1920s, before Hitler came to power.
“So I don’t believe he was such a good man, I don’t believe 100%. I doubt he took advantage of the situation.”
Edelman feels that coming to terms with the past is an important lesson for his children, especially his 15-year-old son Finn, who began learning about Germany’s Nazi past in high school. Last year
“I want him to understand what history is, and what history means. Although it has nothing to do with this story, it is our ancestors who have influenced the lives of entire families living in this country.” Said. “I want him to learn and understand that whatever decision he makes has an impact on someone else’s life.”
My Heritage’s head of research, Roy Mendel, told CNN that the company’s support team has been trained to find unique cases that may require additional support with research.
“Although we just named it ‘Benjamin Heidelberger’ to work with, the weight of history falls heavily on our shoulders,” he said.
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