Emotional search for roots: Americans visit Hamm and discover history

Emotional search for roots: Americans visit Hamm and discover history

On May 17, 2025, Andy Baum of Denver, Colorado, traveled to Hamm an der Sieg with his father-in-law Don Weinhouse to explore his family's roots. This emotional journey was enriched by the support of Horst Moog, a committed honorary citizen of Hamm, who maintained contacts with Jewish families over many years and invited descendants of former citizens to the city. These meetings are part of a broader commitment to remembering Jewish culture, which also includes the work of the Working Group for a Jewish Museum in Hamm, which is dedicated to researching the history of Jewish families.

Horst Moog, 89 years old, is known for his tireless efforts to keep the memory of Jewish life in Hamm alive. His commitment was recognized by the local community of Hamm; He will receive honorary citizenship at a celebratory event planned for November 15, 2025. This makes Moog the city's fourth honorary citizen, an award that has been presented three times to date. The council decision on honorary citizenship was supported by local mayor Thomas Christmann.

An emotional legacy

During their visit to Hamm, Baum and Weinhouse were received by Horst Moog and members of the working group. Here they were able to delve deep into history as Karlernst Stosch, the head of the working group, presented information about the former citizen Leopold David, his wife Jetta Bär and their relatives. Conversations revolved around the lives of Jews on the Sieg, the construction and destruction of the local synagogue, and the expulsion of the religious community during the Nazi era.

A particular highlight of the trip was the visit to the Jewish cemetery in Hamm, where Baum found the grave of his great-great-grandfather Max Bär. This touching experience highlighted the close connections to history and the personal roots that Baum's family has in Hamm.

Collaboration across borders

The event took place in a significant context as the need for cooperation between Americans and Germans was emphasized in May 2025, 80 years after the end of the Second World War. The stumbling blocks, which commemorate our Jewish fellow citizens, were explained and documented during a shared walk. Isabel Christmann, Michael Wagener and Karlernst Stosch accompanied the American guests on this emotional journey through the past.

In view of his commitment, Horst Moog also plans to give a lecture on November 9th to keep the memory of the Jewish community before the Second World War alive and to emphasize the importance of the past for the future. Ak-Kurier reports that... Moog's work and the associated events make an important contribution to education and remembrance.

The connection between history and personal experience is kept alive through such visits and shows how important it is to learn from the past. The Rhein-Zeitung highlights that… The work of remembrance like that of Horst Moog builds a bridge between generations and cultures.