They were philosophers, bankers, and musicians: The Jewish Mendelssohn family left distinctive marks on Germany's intellectual, economic, and cultural life as early as the 18th century.

However, the family's zenith ended abruptly in 1933, when the Nazis seized power in Germany. The eventful history of the Mendelssohns is commemorated in a building that once belonged to them, in the center of Berlin.

The Mendelssohn-Remise, which lies on a side street off Berlin's Gendarmenmarkt Square, was originally part of a bank and later used as a carriage house. Today, this historic site is home to a privately run museum that organizes concerts, readings, discussions and guided tours.

But the museum's position is only secure until the end of 2024. The building's owner, a hedge fund company, has drastically increased the rent, and is pressuring the museum to negotiate a contract that will include termination at short notice. The director of the Mendelssohn-Remise, Thomas Lackmann, told DW that these conditions will make running the museum impossible.

This gem that preserves Jewish German history — and its current cultural life — has for the past 20 years mainly been financed through the Mendelssohn Society by private donations and membership fees. The society was founded in 1967 and is responsible for running the museum and organizing the varied programs in the exhibition hall.

"If there is no forthcoming institutional support that can help compensate for our structural........

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