Wedding in the Heidenheim Camp (1946)

The rabbis in Jewish DP camps devoted much care and attention to the numerous "Agunim" and "Agunot," that is, men and women whose spouses were missing and presumed dead, but of whom there was no news. In order to remarry, these people needed permission from the Rabbinate. This, however, could only be granted after a thorough investigation, complete with witness statements about the whereabouts of the previous partner. The numerous weddings in DP camps were always a big event, since, much like the numerous births, they testified to the survival of Jewish life. This photograph shows the celebration following the wedding of Chaim and Sonia Nishnillevich, the first wedding at the Heidenheim DP camp near Stuttgart (1946). Photographer unknown.

print version     return to image list

previous image      next image

© United States Holocaust Memorial Museum