About this talk

This Jewish Berlin tour explores the fascinating history of Berlin's Jewish community, from its early settlers to the present day. Who were the first Jewish settlers in Berlin, and when was the community established? What set Berlin's Jewish community apart? What was the Jewish Reform movement, and how did it shape Jewish life in the city?

You'll stroll through a historic neighborhood in Berlin's city center that was once home to a thriving Jewish community and visit the city's oldest Jewish cemetery. You'll see the imposing New Synagogue and the grand mansion that once belonged to the chief financier of the King of Prussia.

We'll take you back to the vibrant world of Jewish Berlin and share fascinating stories of the Jewish merchants, financiers, and intellectuals who played key roles in the economic and cultural life of the German capital.

At the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and the "Trains to Life – Trains to Death" monument, you'll confront the darkest period in the history of Berlin's Jews. Finally, you'll learn about Jewish life in the GDR and how Jewish communities were rebuilt on both sides of the Berlin Wall.

About Olga

An Odesa local, Olga Bokhonovskaya has spent much of her life living abroad. She earned her MBA in the US and previously worked in international marketing in California, London, and Moscow. In 2011, she transitioned to the tourism industry and founded Odessa Walks, a tour agency in her hometown of Odesa. During the pandemic, she began creating live-streamed virtual programs in 2020, sharing her hometown's beauty and rich history with people around the world.

In September 2022, Olga moved to Berlin and Kraków because of the war in Ukraine. She launched a new tour agency, Your Jewish Heritage Guide, which specializes in Jewish heritage as well as cultural and historical in-person and virtual tours in Berlin, Kraków, and throughout Poland.