European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 27, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Old jewish Quarter it s Berlin s newest tourist attraction inside the Silberstein one of the in cafes of Oranie Burger Strasse is Michael Abrans by Petra Kaminsky Deutsche Presse Agen Lur the gilded dome of Berlin s new synagogue built in moorish byzantine style and largely destroyed by the nazis rises from amid the City s Gray roofs and gleams in the rays of the Sun. The renovated facade of this Monument currently one of Berlin s prime tourist attractions and the ongoing reconstruction of its interiors Are proof that jewish culture is undergoing a revival in what was formerly one of Europe s prominent cultural capitals you can see it from afar says Elke Melkus who knows Berlin intimately and runs Art Berlin an Agency that organizes City Tours. People stand in front of the new synagogue All Day Long to film take pictures or just look  the opulent Structure on Berlin s or a men Burger Strasse was first inaugurated by the City s jewish Community in 1866. The fact that 300 years of jewish history Are to  at one Small City Square is what attracts Many visitors to this area says Melkus. There s a steady Stream of tourist buses in front of the Brick building. Renovation of the interiors will proceed until May 1995, after which the former synagogue will House a jewish Community Center and a library./. A plaque displayed on a front Wall reminds visitors of the persecution of jews under Hitler and the arson attack on the night of nov. 9, 1938,. For Many berliners the elaborate reconstruction of the building is visible proof of a revival of jewish life and traditions. Almost three decades ago 6,000 jews lived in the Western part of the City and around 800 in the Eastern part. Estimates place e the number today at 17,000 total. The Community continues to grow especially through the influx of immigrants irom the Lormer soviet Union. 1 lie City experienced its largest wave of be ish immigrants immediately alter the Berlin Wall was dismantled and the two  unified in 1990.  who came to Berlin then have settled in Well and the positive effects of the influx Are now making themselves Felt said one member of the jewish Community. Christoph Kreutz Mueller a part time tour guide often takes tourist groups on walkabouts in Berlin s historical parts past the Green stretch of the All but forgotten old jewish cemetery 1672 1827 and through the inner courtyard of the partly empty former jewish Hospital. He even shows visitors a cafe serving Kosher food. In the 1920s, Berlin was a key Center of jewish life in Europe with More than 170,000 jews. Many visitors Are not aware of the fact that the area around vie new synagogue was a popular residential Quarter. Jewish scientists and artists in Berlin like Walter Benjamin Ernst Lubitsch and Max Liebermann enjoyed widespread Fame both at Home and abroad. This spirit of German jewish influence was not revived after the downfall of the nazis in 1945,. When Only 3,000 jews remained in Berlin. The Quarter called Spandauer Vorstadt formerly in the communist ruled Eastern part of Berlin and unknown to most Western berliners now lies in the heart of the unified City which has a total population of 3.7 million. After 1989, the obvious Charm of its neglected streets once again began attracting artists and Young people. Galleries jewish history and new Chic restaurants within buildings needing renovation have created an unusual ambience in the Quarter but waiting in the wings Are Rich investors who Are looking for an Opportunity to tear dowry old buildings and launch Gigantic projects in their place. And there is something else to mar the Harmony of Spandauer Vorstadt the heavily armed policemen who routinely patrol the area outside the new synagogue. Unfortunately righting terror attacks also form part of Day to Day reality in Germany today. Distributed by scrupps Howard news service Uso has new Homes a Michael Abrams the renovated new synagogue is one of Berlin s top tourist draws. Zoolo Fiscner Garten a Barm zoo aquarium Kan str. Kaiser Opheim Gedacht Nis Kirche Kun Damm k us Burggraf Fenstra. 2a 10787 Berlin phone 030 2696 780/781 a Bahn Wittenberg Pfautz is . Troops May be gone but there s still a Uso in Berlin. V the Center which recently moved is now located behind the schweizerhof hotel in downtown  office is within walking distance of the zoo Haupt Bohnhof. The closest u Bahn Stop is Wittenber Platz. Services the organization can provide include booking hotel rooms including some that offer discounts to military . Card holders arranging English language City Tours. Offering tips on clubs shows shopping and restaurants. Luggage storage. A Reading Book Swap area. _ snacks and Coffee Are available in the lounge. The Uso also offers a Berlin information pack. For details write the Uso at Burggrave Strasse 2a, 10787 Berlin. To Telephone dial 030/269-6780 or 030/269 6781 or Send a fax to 030/269-6293. When calling inside Berlin drop the City code 30. To Call from. Outside Germany dial your International Access code the country code 49 and drop the first 0. Stripes Magazine october 27, 1994