The Yiddish Book Center's

Wexler Oral History Project

A growing collection of in-depth interviews with people of all ages and backgrounds, whose stories about the legacy and changing nature of Yiddish language and culture offer a rich and complex chronicle of Jewish identity.

Surprising Discovery of Jewish Roots in My Nazi Grandfather’s Side of the Family

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Uwe von Seltmann, German author and journalist, describes his surprising discovery that his father, whose own father was an SS officer, might have had Jewish roots in Austria.

This is an excerpt from an oral history with Uwe von Seltmann.

This excerpt is in English.

Uwe von Seltmann was born in Musen, Germany in 1964.

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This interview is part of the Yiddish and the Arts: musicians, actors, and artists series.

Other video highlights from this oral history

Connection to the Concept of Gilgul

2 min 20 sec

Connecting to the Old Testament: Reading an Illustrated Bible from the 19th Century with My Great-Grandmother

1 min 39 sec

Living in Jerusalem and Working for Schalom Ben-Chorin

3 min 32 sec

Hasidic Jew at the Western Wall Being Disappointed that Uwe Wasn't Jewish

1 min 54 sec

Beloved Writers and Musicians

3 min 8 sec

Evolution of Kazimierz and Discrepancies Between History and Current Neighborhood

4 min 27 sec

Advice to Younger Generations: Learn from the Past to Create the Future, Make Love Not War

3 min 11 sec

First Visit to Krakow, October 1989

2 min 25 sec

Life-Changing Encounter with Jewish Man in Remah Synagogue

6 min 1 sec

Discovering Jewish Roots on Mother's Side

5 min 5 sec

Family's Reactions to Uwe's Interest in Judaism

5 min 45 sec

Making "Boris Dorfman: A Mentsh"

4 min 46 sec

More information about this oral history excerpt

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