personal data
Bamberger Mendel Hirsch Menachem, Dr.
Parents: Moses Löb Bamberger and Esther née Goldschmitt
Siblings: Benzion, Joseph Aaron, Sarah m. Rosenbaum, Isaac, Judith, Seligmann Bär, Kehla m. Wechsler, Nathan, Hanna
Spouse: Rahel née Winter
Children: Judith Wallenstein née Bamberger, Ella Ruth Dotan née Bamberger, Bamberger Josef Ayalon (Friedel)
Maxstraße 5/ Theresienstraße 23/ Ludwigstraße 13 (today 18)
November 1934 emigrated to Palestine
biography
Mendel Hirsch Bamberger was born in Bad Kissingen on May 31, 1884 as a son of Moses Löb and Esther Bamberger, née Goldschmidt. At first, he lived with his parents in Maxstrasse 5, later in Theresienstrasse 23 and finally in Ludwigstrasse 13. After his studies at a university he worked in the spa town as a dentist.
Just like his brother Isaak Bamberger, who practiced as physician, he belonged to the few Zionists in Bad Kissingen. In their liberal attitude, they were also very different from the orthodox family of his father and his sister. The Zionist attitude prevented them from the fatal illusion of hoping for an improvement of the political situation and encouraged their decision to leave Germany in time.
Mendel Hirsch Bamberger married his wife Rachel Winter in Cologne on December 28, 1909. She was four years his junior and came from Mönchengladbach. By the way, her sister Leah was married to his older brother Benzion who died from a war injury in 1918. Mendel Bamberger had four children with Rachel: Judith (born in 1911 and married to Stephan Wallenstein), Ruth Ella (born in 1912 and married to Menashe Dotan), Moses Löb/ Martin (born in 1915 and married to Rivka Lehmann), and Benzion Seligmann Josef Friedel (born in 1919 and married to Ruth Schüler).
Dr. Bamberger was also a dedicated member of the Jewish community administration, where he was particularly committed to supporting the poor and those in need. His farewell letter
to the Jewish community in October 1934 shows just how close he was to his hometown, whose board had previously expressed Bamberger's services to the community in a letter of thanks
.
In the early 1930s the family emigrated to Palestine. The first one to make his home in Palestine was Mendel Bamberger’s then 15-year-old son Friedel. In 1934, he left Bad Kissingen with only two suitcases. His parents Rachel and Mendel Bamberger followed him to Palestine on November 1, 1934 together with his older sister Judith and his unmarried uncle Isaak Bamberger. In Jerusalem, Mendel Hirsch Bamberger also practiced as a dentist and died there in August 1942.
References
Angaben stammen im wesentlichen aus: Hans-Jürgen Beck, Kissingen war unsere Heimat, Stand 2017, S.444ff
Meldeunterlagen Stadt Bad Kissingen
Schülerakte Jack-Steinberger-Gymnasium
Family tree & family history at geni
Photo credits
Porträtfoto © J. Ayalon
Foto mit Ehefrau Rachel © Abi Wallenstein
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