In the organizer's words:

Cologne's first modern Jewish community was founded in 1801 and the Israelite Women's Association was founded shortly afterwards. In the following decades, further Jewish women's organizations were founded in Cologne, in line with the general trend. In 1923, there were only 190 men's associations within the Jewish community in the German Reich, but 440 women's associations. In addition, there were around 1,550 welfare associations with a total of 200,000 members.

The lecture by historian and Judaist Monika Grübel will focus on the emergence, development and significance of Jewish women's associations from the early 19th century to the National Socialist era. Some of the women's associations and their main protagonists will be presented as examples. It also explains who founded the associations, who sat on the board and from which milieu the members came. In addition, Monika Grübel will shed light on how the associations presented themselves to the Jewish and non-Jewish public and how their self-image and work changed during the Nazi era.

The lecture is part of the accompanying program to the exhibition "Pioneers of Change - the First Women's Movement in Cologne", of the Historical Archive with the Rheinisches Bildarchiv, which can be seen until 22 March 2026.

Price information:

Places are limited and participation is free of charge. Registration by e-mail to anmeldungarchiv@stadt-koeln.de or by telephone on 0221/221-24455 is required.