JTA-a few years ago, leafing through an old family album, Laura Chanin saw a confusing photo of her paternal great-grandfather, Max Solomon, wearing women's clothes.She wanted to know why.
" What is it about ?Why is it in Drag Queen?"Exclaimed Chanin, a 53 -year -old Californian, mother of a child, about this discovery.
This discovery led Chanin, who works in a logos printing company, to discover that Solomon was one of the founders of the first Jewish group to officially participate in the carnival of his hometown, Cologne.
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Carnival, an event that lasts a week to celebrate Lent, the period of 40 days preceding Easter, is one of the most expensive traditions in the German city.Hundreds of thousands of participants put on colorful clothes and consume considerable amounts of alcohol in the street.
The culmination is a parade during which the registered groups are in competition and show the creations on which they have worked all year round - tanks, often with caricatures in papier mache making the satire of politicians or phenomena.Creators ride or parade by carrying their costumes and showing their choreographies.
A Renaissance of the Salomon group was about to join the festivities this year, with a tank for the first time in decades - since the Nazis banished the Carnival club in 1933.But the Covid crisis intervened and the event was canceled.
In 1923, Solomon became the first president of Kleinen Kölner Klub, or Club de la Petite Cologne, which was the first Jewish group registered with the event.He remained active until the Nazis power in power.The photo of Solomon in Transvestite was part of the show of the group, discovered Chanin.Solomon immigrated to the United States before the Shoah.
Chanin and other descendants of the Jewish group of the beginnings - ironically, he was known under the same three initials than the Ku Klux Klan - also learned that the local Jews of Cologne, for the first time in decades, recently reconstructed aOfficial Jewish group at the carnival: the Kölsche Kippa Köpp.
The group, whose name means "heads with Kippa de Cologne" and is a tribute to the original holding of Solomon, was created in 2017.The goal was that the new club, which has around twenty members, participates with its own chariot for the first time in the parade, which generally takes place in mid-February.
It was spoiled by the pandemic.
"It is disappointing, especially since this year is the one in which the Jewish community and the government celebrate the 1,700 years of Jewish presence in Germany," said AaronKnappstein, who co -founded the new Jewish club." But it's like that.Next year, we will celebrate the 1,701st year of Jewish presence, I suppose.»»
The proximity of the Purim's Jewish Carnival and the Jewish party, where it is also customary to disguise themselves, gives members of the Jewish club an additional reason to party.
« Il faut se déguiser, libérer son esprit et montrer qu’il n’y a pas de mal à être différent»», a déclaré en 2019 à la Jewish Telegraphic Agency Robert Katona, 49 ans, originaire de Cologne."This is also what Pourim represents: we have survived and we show that we are happy.»»
But in a country where the resurgence of anti -Semitic incidents leads certain Jews to question their future, the simple fact of organizing a Jewish chariot highlighted certain annoying questions.
Les frères Patric et Frank Levy, à bord de leur char au carnaval de Cologne, « Rosenmontag»». (Toby Axelrod)
"When we have the tank, it will be necessary to provide security around it. C’est comme ça que les choses se passent actuellement»», a déclaré M.Knappstein.
Security was also there at the Cologne synagogue where Kölsche Kippa Köpp organized its launch event in 2019. De nombreux journalistes et amateurs de carnaval non juifs étaient présents, etKnappstein a attiré l’attention des invités sur les vigiles.
Knappstein relaunched the Jewish carnival club by a deep feeling of belonging to Cologne, a city in western Germany with a tradition of tolerance and a relaxed atmosphere.But because of anti -Semitism, even considered him to leave for good for the first time in his life.
It happened in 2019 after a neonazi tried to perpetrate a massacre in the synagogue of Halle, near Berlin, during Yom Kippour.The extremist, who has since been tried and sentenced to life prison, filmed herself while he was trying without success to introduce himself into the building when he was filled with faithful, then killed two people toproximity.
Knappstein a pleuré devant son téléviseur lorsque la nouvelle a été annoncée et a commencé à se demander si l’Allemagne est « mon endroit, où je voudrais rester, est-ce ma maison»», a-t-il déclaré à JTA."After Halle, I cannot say that I am 100 % sure. Et je suis très heureux d’avoir au moins un endroit où aller»», a-t-il dit, en faisant référence à Israël.
Amit Beumling et son père, Dieter Beumling, portant ses couleurs, à la soirée de lancement de Kölsche Kippa Köpp dans la synagogue de la Roonstrasse de Cologne. (Toby Axelrod)
Les costumes de la Kölsche Kippa Köpp reflètent le dilemme décrit parKnappstein.
The members wear a pointed hat, with blue and white tiles, the colors of the Israel flag.The central part has a fold which is normally closed when the hat is worn but which can be opened to reveal a star of David and the prayer of the traveler printed on a red background - the dominant color of the Banner de Cologne.
The choice was the subject of a debate, said Mr..Knappstein.
« Nous voulions avoir l’étoile de David, mais pas la porter à l’extérieur»», a-t-il expliqué."Not because we are afraid, but ... my grandparents had to wear David's star on exterior clothes.I don't want that.It doesn't seem correct to me.»»
Knappstein, a human resources professional who is homosexual, has lived in the city with her husband for 13 years.He refused to talk about the survival of his own family at the Shoah.
Max Solomon, habillé pour participer à un carnaval de mardi gras en tant que président du Kleinen Kölner Klub, ou Club de la Petite Cologne, avant 1933. (Autorisation de Laura Chanin/JTA)
" I do not do it.I'm not talking about that. J’ai promis à ma mère avant qu’elle ne meure»», a-t-il dit.
Back in California, Ms. Chanin hopes to go to the Cologne carnival in the coming years to attend the rebirth of tradition that her great-grandfather has helped to establish.
« Je pense que c’est génial qu’ils le ressuscitent, cela a tellement de sens»», a-t-elle déclaré.
Despite some research on the history of his family, the role of Max Solomon as the first president of the original Jewish group of the Cologne Carnival is one of the rare facts she knows about her.
« Je n’avais aucune idée de tout cela avant il y a seulement quelques années»», a-t-elle déclaré à propos de son rôle dans le Carnaval. « Mais maintenant, cela nous rend très fiers de lui»».
