Hand painted Torah binder brought with German Jewish refugee family

Erich Junker (later Eric, 1935-2012) was born in Aschaffenburg, Germany, to Friedrich (Fritz, later Fred, 1900-1980) and Betty (nee Keller, 1905-2005) Junker. Erich had an older brother, Herbert (b. 1933). They were among nearly 600 Jewish families living in Aschaffenburg. Friedrich worked as a clerk and served in the German infantry during World War I. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany by President Paul von Hindenburg. Under Hitler, authorities quickly began suppressing the rights and personal freedoms of Jews, and boycotting their businesses. In November 1936, Friedrich traveled alone to the United States, while Betty took the children to her family in Worms. Friedrich initially stayed in New York City with his brother, Max (1897-1990), who had immigrated in 1930. Friedrich Americanized his name to Fred, and soon moved to Philadelphia, where he worked as an order clerk at Rosenau Brothers, a children’s clothing manufacturer. The company was founded by a cousin of Fred’s father, Fred J. Rosenau. After getting settled in Philadelphia, Fred brought his family over as well. Betty, the children, and her mother Martha Keller (nee Metzger, 1880-1937) arrived in July 1937. Martha died that November. Fred later left Rosenau Brothers, and opened his own dress shop. Erich Americanized his name to Eric, and became a naturalized US citizen in May 1955. Eric was married twice, to Rosalie Polsky (b. 1939) and Florine Jaffee (b. 1936), and had five children.

The Torah binder was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2016 by Florine Junker, the wife of Eric Junker.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Florine Junker

Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.