“A salon of words,” Rahel Varnhagen von Ense once mused, “where minds clash and wit sparks fly.” Here, at the Rahel Varnhagen von Ense Plaque on Jägerstraße 54, we glimpse into that very world. The Rahel Varnhagen von Ense Plaque commemorates the vibrant literary salon she hosted, starting in 1793. Rahel, born Rahel Levin, a young Jewish woman, defied societal norms by creating a space where people from diverse backgrounds could gather. This wasn’t just a social gathering. The Rahel Varnhagen von Ense Plaque stands as a testament to intellectual ferment. Here, words were weapons, wielded with wit and spirit. The plaque itself bears a quote from Rahel: “Property? Peculiar? Our property is only that which no one can copy. To which belongs our very being.” The inscription, etched alongside a relief portrait of Rahel, captures her fierce individuality. It speaks to the core of her salon’s purpose: the celebration of unique perspectives and intellectual freedom. Imagine Rahel, holding court in her salon, surrounded by the leading thinkers of her time. The likes of Schlegel, Schelling, and Humboldt graced her rooms, engaging in passionate debates. Even Goethe himself crossed paths with Rahel, captivated by her intellectual prowess. Rahel Varnhagen von Ense, the plaque reveals, rests in the Trinity Cemetery in Kreuzberg. But her spirit lives on here, in the heart of Berlin, where her salon once blazed a trail for intellectual discourse. Her legacy continues to inspire us to question, to challenge, and to embrace the power of our own unique voices.
Genossenschaft PA58
From 1981 the Genossenschaft PA58 stands tall. It’s a self-managed house project. This is its story. This impressive building in