Regina Jonas Honored: Berlin to Rename Kreuzberg Street After First Female Rabbi

A street in Berlin's Kreuzberg district will soon be renamed in honor of Regina Jonas, the world's first ordained female rabbi, following extensive planning and a series of administrative delays. The decision marks a significant recognition of Jonas's historical contributions and her enduring legacy within the city and beyond.

The street, currently known as Kohlfurter Straße, is set to officially bear the name Regina-Jonas-Straße. This follows the conclusion of legal challenges that had previously postponed the renaming process. The local district authority has confirmed that preparations for the formal renaming are underway. Official notifications for local residents and the mandatory public announcement are being finalized, with the installation of new street signs expected to accompany the inauguration event later this year.

Regina Jonas, born in 1902, made history in 1935 when she became the first woman to be ordained as a rabbi. Her academic work addressed the role of women in the rabbinate, and she subsequently served in various religious and educational capacities across Berlin. Jonas provided chaplaincy services, taught religious studies, and was actively involved in the Jewish community, including work at the Jewish Hospital and several liberal synagogues throughout the city.

During the Nazi regime, Jonas continued her religious and community service despite increasing persecution. In 1942, she was deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp, and in October 1944, she was transferred to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where she was killed shortly after her arrival.

The street that will now commemorate her contributions has undergone several name changes throughout its history. Originally called Britzer Straße, it was renamed Kohlfurter Straße in 1949 after the Silesian village of Kohlfurt, now known as Wegliniec.

The formal decision to rename the street in honor of Regina Jonas was made by the district council in December 2023, and the local administration confirmed the resolution in late May. The process faced delays due to objections raised by some parties, but with the expiration of the appeal window and no legal challenges filed, the renaming is set to proceed.

The district authorities plan to hold an inauguration event for the newly named Regina-Jonas-Straße, which is anticipated to take place in December. The new street signs will be installed at that time, while the previous signage will remain temporarily as part of the transition process.

The decision to name a Kreuzberg street after Regina Jonas serves as a lasting tribute to her pioneering role in religious history and her commitment to her community in one of Berlin's most diverse districts.