Ruth Stern, the only deaf member of her family, was just five years old in 1933 when she was sent to live at a Jewish school for the deaf in Berlin.

Ruth Stern, the only deaf member of her family, was just five years old in 1933 when she was sent to live at a Jewish school for the deaf in Berlin. 

She spent summers with her family, but lived and learned alongside her deaf Jewish peers during the school year. 

“They took good care of us at school,” Ruth remembered fondly. “I’m really grateful for that.” She also affectionately remembered the school’s headmaster, Felix Reich.  Ruth (second from left) is standing in front of Felix practicing speech in this photo.

In 1935, Ruth’s father, Julius, immigrated to the United States. A year later, Ruth’s mother, Sylvia, and two younger brothers, Norman and Martin, joined Julius there. Ruth, however, stayed behind in Berlin, as the United States had restricted the immigration of deaf people.

Despite living within the protection of her school, Ruth was not spared from witnessing the increasing antisemitic sentiment and discrimination in Germany. 

“There were signs everywhere saying, ‘Verboten,’ meaning ‘not allowed’ ... I’ll never forget that word, ‘Verboten.’”

While her family settled into life in America, Ruth remained at boarding school in Berlin and spent the summer months with her grandparents in Burghaun, Germany. 

Finally, in September 1938, ten-year-old Ruth sailed by herself to join her family in the United States.

Ruth was lucky. Many of her classmates and friends, including Lotte Westheimer (pictured here seated to the right of Ruth in class), were killed in the Holocaust.

Photo 1: Ruth in speech class. Bildarchiv Pisarek / akg-images

Photo 2: Ruth's passport. Courtesy of Ruth Stern