A Doorway to Heroism
November 19, 2023 |
1:30 pm -
2:30 pm
$0-5
Imagine a German Jew who was a decorated German soldier in World War I, a resister in Cologne at the start of Hitler’s reign of terror, and a Silver Star decorated U.S. Army soldier. Three heroic actions, at three different times, in three different places. This is the story of Richard Stern, whose photograph of his protest hangs in multiple German museums, showing a rare Jewish protest in Nazi Germany.
Richard Stern’s history connected to the Holocaust is unique. Hear his story as told by his great-nephew, Rabbi W. Jack Romberg, as he tells his full story along with how the Shoah impacted his family.
About the Speaker:
W. Jack Romberg retired as the rabbi of Temple Israel in Tallahassee, FL in the summer of 2019. It was his second career. He intended to enter rabbinic school after graduating from University of Pittsburgh in 1976 with a BA in history focusing on Germany, but his father asked him to help in the family’s furniture manufacturing business. In 1995 he decided to pursue the lifelong dream to be a rabbi, entering Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1996, earning a master’s degree in 1999 and ordained in 2001. Before retiring, Rabbi Romberg decided to write the book on his great uncle Richard Stern, perhaps forming a third career.As a rabbi, Romberg was deeply involved in the general community, interfaith programs as well as non-partisan community issues. He did frequent opening blessings at the state legislature, the governor’s cabinet meetings, and county commission meetings. He wrote many editorials for the Tallahassee Democrat, the local newspaper. In 2008, he served on the paper’s editorial board as the chosen community person. Romberg led these organizations: The Interfaith Clergy Association, The Village Square, and the Tallahassee Equality Action Ministry, and was on the board of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra for 15 years. For a special concert in 2017, that told the story of music performed by prisoners in the Theresienstadt ghetto during the Holocaust, he wrote the narrative, selected the music, and was a narrator in the concert. He was a frequent guest speaker on local TV discussion shows and a local NPR radio show. At the retirement gala celebrating his role in the city, the mayor presented him a key to the city.
We are a proud participant in Blue Star Museums which offers free admission for active military and their immediate families. The 2025 program will begin on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 17, 2025, and run through Labor Day, September 1, 2025.
Come view our exhibitions, attend a Kaffee und Kuchen program, and more. Check out all of the participating museums here: https://www.arts.gov/blue-star-museums-map
Enjoy our seasonal guided tours of the museum! Our next tour is this Saturday, May 17th at 11:00 am.
The tour is open to the public and included with regular admission.
View our admission rates: https://gahc.org/admission-2/
Tour begins at 11:00 am in the lobby. No RSVP required. The tour will last until approximately 12:30.
Visitors will explore our permanent exhibition, The German Immigrant Experience, along with our two rotating galleries.
The tour is open to all ages. We have children’s activity kits and sensory kits available at the front desk for visitors to use for free during their visit.
Learn more on our website: https://gahc.org/events/guided-museum-tour/
Our Next Kaffee und Kuchen is this Sunday, May 18th. Join us for cake, coffee, and conversation about a local historic treasure, The Hauberg Estate.
The Weyerhaeuser and Denkmann Lumber Company helped shape the Midwest’s lumber industry, with Frederick Denkmann and Friedrich Weyerhaeuser building one of the most successful timber businesses of the 19th century. The Hauberg family, through Susanne Denkmann Hauberg (Denkmann’s daughter and her husband John Hauberg), continued this legacy of business leadership and philanthropy in Rock Island. Their impact lives on in local landmarks including the estate, which is now a civic center, historic home museum, and public gathering space.
This program is free for our members and $8 for non-members. Registration is encouraged but not required: https://events.humanitix.com/kaffee-und-kuchen-the-hauberg-estate
We have LOVED seeing your favorites from our Recent Acquisitions exhibition. 💕
We are so thrilled to see our visitors make connections to items from our collection to things or people in their own lives.
This exhibition is open through June 1st, so make sure to come by and see it if you haven`t already.
📍 712 W 2nd St
Davenport, Iowa 52802
Sundays 12 – 4 pm
Tuesdays – Saturdays 10 am – 4 pm
Did you know our banquet hall is available to rent? With gorgeous views of downtown Davenport, competitive rates, ample parking spaces, no catering contracts, this is a great space to utilize for graduation parties, birthday parties, wedding showers, and more!
To inquire about rates and availability, contact [email protected] or by calling 563-322-8844. All details available on our website: https://gahc.org/private-events/
We have some new items in our gift shop! We have large canvas tote bags with various designs including Gustave Klimt and Albrecht Dürer. These would make great Mother`s Day gifts or a fun summer purchase for trips to the farmer`s market. ☀️🎁🎨🧺🌱
Purchases in our museum are always tax free!
$16.00 each
$14.40 member price
📍 712 W 2nd Street
Davenport, Iowa 52802
Become a Volunteer Tour Guide This Summer at the GAHC+M!
The German American Heritage Center is seeking volunteer tour guides to present our Historic Summer Walking Tours through the Gold Coast Neighborhood. Our tours explore the architecture and rich history of the homes and businesses in one of Davenport`s oldest neighborhoods. As a tour guide, you will lead intimate groups along a 1.5 mile route stopping at a selection of some of the most interesting sites in our historically German neighborhood.
Skills Required: Tour guides should be comfortable walking uphill and public speaking. Training will be provided.
Tours occur on the following Saturdays this summer: June 14 and 28, July 12 and 26, August 9 and 23. (Volunteers are not required to be available for all tour dates.)
To apply: Send a letter of interest to [email protected].
Choice for this position is dependent on an interview.
Please submit your letter of interest no later than Friday May 27th.
Pictured: Henry Lischer House. Lischer was the owner and publisher of one of Davenport`s German-language newspapers, "Der Demokrat." The paper was founded by German immigrants in November 1851 and went defunct in 1918 due to anti-German attitudes during World War I.
Our next Kaffee und Kuchen program is this Sunday May 4th! Linda Meadors will be talking about our upcoming Rhine cruise trip in the summer of 2026. This program is FREE and open to the public. It will be a great afternoon of learning about wonderful sites on the Rhine and the beautiful landscapes through the Netherlands, Germany, and France.
*May Kaffee und Kuchen programs are on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month due to holiday conflicts.
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