Stumbling Stones Parkstraße 33

These small, brass, memorial plaques (Stolpersteine or stumbling stones) commemorate 2 sisters murdered by the Nazis:

* Julie Israel, born 1871, deported 1942, Theresienstadt, dead 01 January 1943.
* Rosalie Israel, born 1877, deported 1942, Theresienstadt, dead 27 November 1942.

Julie and Rosalie Israel were unmarried sisters living in the family’s shoe factory house called "Villa Wolf." Most of the rest of the large Israel family was able to escape the Nazis. Although the sisters made multiple attempts, they were unable to obtain exit visas.

In November 1940, they were forced to move to the Picard House, where older Jews from the area were being held. The Israel sisters stayed there until they and 22 other residents were deported two years later. Julie was age 71 and Rosalie 65.

A note on the story of Picard House. Picard House had been owned by Dr. Julius Picard. He and his wife were beaten during Kristallnacht and then were harassed by the Nazis, who shut off their water and did not let them leave to get food. Dr. Picard and his wife finally left, able to emigrate to the US -- with the help of a German veteran whose life Dr. Picard had saved in WW1!

"Stolpersteine" is an art project for Europe by Gunter Demnig to commemorate victims of National Socialism (Nazism). Stolpersteine (stumbling stones) are small, 10x10cm brass plaques placed in the pavement in front of the last voluntary residence of (mostly Jewish) victims who were murdered by the Nazis. Each plaque is engraved with the victim’s name, date of birth and place (mostly a concentration camp) and date of death. By doing this, Gunter Demnig gives an individual memorial to each victim. One stone, one name, one person. He cites the Talmud: "A human being is forgotten only when his or her name is forgotten."

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Source

• Text: Fedor de Vries & Anne Palmer
• Photos: Mary Craig
• Stolpersteine Heilbronn
• Paul Israel
• One Woman Against the Reich
• Stolpersteine.eu