Jews can be traced to Berlin as far back as 1295. Over the next 400 years, the Jews were expelled on numerous occasions and their property confiscated. During this period, when allowed residence, the Jews engaged mainly in commerce, handicrafts and money lending. By 1700, there were about 1,000 Jews in Berlin. Until 1812, Jews were subject to systematic exploitation by means of various taxes. In addition, there were substantial restrictions on the number of Jews allowed to reside in the city.
By the late 1700's, Jews had assumed a significant role in manufacturing and banking. In 1791, the Itzig family became the first German Jews to be granted full civil rights. By an edict of March 11, 1812, Prussian citizenship was bestowed on all the Jews of Berlin, and as a result, all restrictions on their residence rights were abolished.
Berlin ultimately became a stronghold of liberalism and tolerance toward the Jews. Many Jews became active in the political and social life of the city. Jews played a prominent role in the arts, newspaper publishing, banking, department stores, textiles and manufacturing. As a result of these successes, Berlin also became a center of anti-Semitism.
The Jewish population of the city increased from 3,300 in 1812 to about 173,000 in 1925. Berlin was the center of the national German-Jewish organizations, which institutions served as a model for Jewish populations throughout the world, such as B'nai B'rith. Jewish newspapers and periodicals were published in Berlin, including the communal organ with a circulation of 60,000 copies. About 70,000 Jews paid dues to the community.
At the time the Nazis came to power, the Jewish community numbered about 172,000. There soon followed numerous laws aimed at stripping the Jews of their rights and property, all in the name of "aryanization". In the initial years of this process, there was a significant upsurge in Jewish religious and cultural life, particularly since Jewish institutions became the only ones available to Jews (most notably schools).
Beginning in 1938, mass arrests of Jews commenced. Kristallnacht marked the turning point with the mass destruction of synagogues and shops and imprisonment of 10,000 Jews. After the outbreak of the War, the living conditions and situation of the Jews became much worse. By the fall of 1941, the Jewish population of Berlin had dropped to about 40,000. From this point on, virtually all the remaining Jews were deported to various concentration camps where most perished.
After the War, the Jewish population was officially reconstituted with Berlin becoming a center for Jewish displaced persons. Over the years, the situation of the Jews in West Berlin has steadily improved as a result of the prosperity of West Berlin, the return of confiscated property and indemnification of Nazi victims. In addition, the West Berlin Senate spent substantial sums to rehabilitate the Jewish community.
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