Jay Geller
@jaygeller.bsky.social
Professor of History, scholar of the German-Jewish experience, biographer of Gershom Scholem and family, and devotee of modernist architecture and design.
In the German Federal Archive in Koblenz, I found a letter from Yale professor Hans Gatzke, who held the chair in German history at Yale before my own graduate advisor, to German Federal President Theodor Heuss, complaining about the quality of American graduate students (presumably in 🇩🇪 history).
I think we need a mega thread of everyone's craziest archive stories.
December 22, 2025 at 7:21 PM
In the German Federal Archive in Koblenz, I found a letter from Yale professor Hans Gatzke, who held the chair in German history at Yale before my own graduate advisor, to German Federal President Theodor Heuss, complaining about the quality of American graduate students (presumably in 🇩🇪 history).
I just learned that an
acquaintance has been in ICE custody since last Thurs. She will not even see a judge until 2026.
I don’t post this to yield Likes. But as this continues, ever more of us will know people being detained. Who will be able to look away or say this doesn’t affect their circle?
acquaintance has been in ICE custody since last Thurs. She will not even see a judge until 2026.
I don’t post this to yield Likes. But as this continues, ever more of us will know people being detained. Who will be able to look away or say this doesn’t affect their circle?
December 22, 2025 at 2:38 PM
I just learned that an
acquaintance has been in ICE custody since last Thurs. She will not even see a judge until 2026.
I don’t post this to yield Likes. But as this continues, ever more of us will know people being detained. Who will be able to look away or say this doesn’t affect their circle?
acquaintance has been in ICE custody since last Thurs. She will not even see a judge until 2026.
I don’t post this to yield Likes. But as this continues, ever more of us will know people being detained. Who will be able to look away or say this doesn’t affect their circle?
I can see why scholars, in their third or fourth year of graduate school, pick a dissertation topic and a subfield to work on — and stick with that subfield for the rest of their careers.
(Or at least why historians do that.)
(Or at least why historians do that.)
December 19, 2025 at 6:39 PM
I can see why scholars, in their third or fourth year of graduate school, pick a dissertation topic and a subfield to work on — and stick with that subfield for the rest of their careers.
(Or at least why historians do that.)
(Or at least why historians do that.)
Saying this vote was unanimous is like saying, "Not a single member of the KPD voted against the Enabling Act!"
Source: www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...
Source: www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...
December 18, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Saying this vote was unanimous is like saying, "Not a single member of the KPD voted against the Enabling Act!"
Source: www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...
Source: www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...
I love it when journalists and other non-academics casually cite Robert Darnton.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/o...
December 15, 2025 at 4:12 PM
I love it when journalists and other non-academics casually cite Robert Darnton.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/o...
I can’t stand contemporary holiday pop music, but if I have to listen to an original Christmas or Hanukkah song, let it have the flair of a song by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=VT2_...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=VT2_...
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings "8 Days (of Hanukkah)" Lyric Video
YouTube video by DaptoneRecords
m.youtube.com
December 14, 2025 at 6:12 PM
I can’t stand contemporary holiday pop music, but if I have to listen to an original Christmas or Hanukkah song, let it have the flair of a song by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=VT2_...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=VT2_...
It's really a shame how larger publishers acquire smaller publishing houses, but end up dropping almost all of their titles. So huge numbers of great books go out of print.
Rowman & Littlefield acquired Jason Aronson. But then Bloomsbury acquired Rowman & Littlefield. Most J.A. titles are now gone.
Rowman & Littlefield acquired Jason Aronson. But then Bloomsbury acquired Rowman & Littlefield. Most J.A. titles are now gone.
December 11, 2025 at 7:44 PM
It's really a shame how larger publishers acquire smaller publishing houses, but end up dropping almost all of their titles. So huge numbers of great books go out of print.
Rowman & Littlefield acquired Jason Aronson. But then Bloomsbury acquired Rowman & Littlefield. Most J.A. titles are now gone.
Rowman & Littlefield acquired Jason Aronson. But then Bloomsbury acquired Rowman & Littlefield. Most J.A. titles are now gone.
I’ve never understood Very Famous Professors who can’t seem to be bothered to chitchat at conferences with or reply to emails from a) scholars at “lesser” universities or b) very junior scholars (unless they think those scholars are going to be Very Famous Professors one day).
December 11, 2025 at 1:11 AM
I’ve never understood Very Famous Professors who can’t seem to be bothered to chitchat at conferences with or reply to emails from a) scholars at “lesser” universities or b) very junior scholars (unless they think those scholars are going to be Very Famous Professors one day).
There will be free admission to national parks on Trump’s birthday.
A few days ago, a federal government office building in Washington was named for him.
His photo will be on the national parks pass in 2026.
His likeness will be on a coin in 2026.
All this as a sitting president.
A few days ago, a federal government office building in Washington was named for him.
His photo will be on the national parks pass in 2026.
His likeness will be on a coin in 2026.
All this as a sitting president.
The Trump administration, which has railed against what it describes as "woke" policies, removed MLK Day and Juneteenth from next year's list of fare-exempt days for visitors at dozens of national parks. n.pr/48oR7tq
National parks fee-free calendar drops MLK Day, Juneteenth and adds Trump's birthday
The Trump administration, which has railed against what it describes as "woke" policies, removed MLK Day and Juneteenth from next year's list of fare-exempt days for visitors at dozens of national parks.
n.pr
December 8, 2025 at 12:25 AM
There will be free admission to national parks on Trump’s birthday.
A few days ago, a federal government office building in Washington was named for him.
His photo will be on the national parks pass in 2026.
His likeness will be on a coin in 2026.
All this as a sitting president.
A few days ago, a federal government office building in Washington was named for him.
His photo will be on the national parks pass in 2026.
His likeness will be on a coin in 2026.
All this as a sitting president.
2010 hörte ich Konrad Jarausch einen Vortrag halten, in dem er sagte, dass die Geschichte der DDR eines Tages einfach noch eine regionale deutsche Geschichte wäre, so wie z.B. die Geschichte des Kgr. Bayern. Laut Flüchter ist dieser Zeitpunkt im Grunde hier.
www.deutschlandfunk.de/ddr-geschich...
www.deutschlandfunk.de/ddr-geschich...
DDR-Geschichte als Teil der Zeitgeschichte lehren, Interview A. Flüchter, VDH
www.deutschlandfunk.de
December 7, 2025 at 6:27 PM
2010 hörte ich Konrad Jarausch einen Vortrag halten, in dem er sagte, dass die Geschichte der DDR eines Tages einfach noch eine regionale deutsche Geschichte wäre, so wie z.B. die Geschichte des Kgr. Bayern. Laut Flüchter ist dieser Zeitpunkt im Grunde hier.
www.deutschlandfunk.de/ddr-geschich...
www.deutschlandfunk.de/ddr-geschich...
#OTD vor 128 Jahren wurde der israelische Philosoph und Religionswissenschaftler Gershom Scholem im Berliner Fischerkietz (auch Fischerinsel genannt) geboren.
Er liebte seinen Geburtstag. Er liebte es, Geburtstagsgeschenke zu bekommen. Er heiratete sogar *zweimal* an seinem Geburtstag.
Er liebte seinen Geburtstag. Er liebte es, Geburtstagsgeschenke zu bekommen. Er heiratete sogar *zweimal* an seinem Geburtstag.
December 5, 2025 at 3:31 PM
#OTD vor 128 Jahren wurde der israelische Philosoph und Religionswissenschaftler Gershom Scholem im Berliner Fischerkietz (auch Fischerinsel genannt) geboren.
Er liebte seinen Geburtstag. Er liebte es, Geburtstagsgeschenke zu bekommen. Er heiratete sogar *zweimal* an seinem Geburtstag.
Er liebte seinen Geburtstag. Er liebte es, Geburtstagsgeschenke zu bekommen. Er heiratete sogar *zweimal* an seinem Geburtstag.
It’s so typical of the @nytimes.com that they report a culture story six weeks (!) after @theguardian.com.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/s...
At Last, a Name for the Murderous Face in a Holocaust Photo
www.nytimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:39 PM
It’s so typical of the @nytimes.com that they report a culture story six weeks (!) after @theguardian.com.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/s...
Ukraine Faces ‘Difficult Choice’ Over U.S. Plan to End War, Zelensky Says
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The @nytimes.com has reviewed the newest big book on the collapse of Weimar. The reviewer cites Peter Gay, Eric Weitz, and Harald Jähner.
Weitz's book is great (though Berlin-centric, IMHO). Jähner's book is very recent. But Gay is an odd choice if you know the literature on this topic.
1/3
Weitz's book is great (though Berlin-centric, IMHO). Jähner's book is very recent. But Gay is an odd choice if you know the literature on this topic.
1/3
November 12, 2025 at 12:54 AM
The @nytimes.com has reviewed the newest big book on the collapse of Weimar. The reviewer cites Peter Gay, Eric Weitz, and Harald Jähner.
Weitz's book is great (though Berlin-centric, IMHO). Jähner's book is very recent. But Gay is an odd choice if you know the literature on this topic.
1/3
Weitz's book is great (though Berlin-centric, IMHO). Jähner's book is very recent. But Gay is an odd choice if you know the literature on this topic.
1/3
Today, November 11, @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social is officially publishing its translation of "Effingers" by Gabriele Tergit.
This multi-generation saga of a Jewish family in Berlin is a masterpiece, and I highly recommend it.
www.nyrb.com/products/eff...
1/5
This multi-generation saga of a Jewish family in Berlin is a masterpiece, and I highly recommend it.
www.nyrb.com/products/eff...
1/5
Effingers
Gabriele Tergit’s Effingers is a novel, at once epic and intimate, about the lives and fates of three generations of a German Jewish family. Beginning in 1878 and ending in 1948, we follow the Effinge...
www.nyrb.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Today, November 11, @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social is officially publishing its translation of "Effingers" by Gabriele Tergit.
This multi-generation saga of a Jewish family in Berlin is a masterpiece, and I highly recommend it.
www.nyrb.com/products/eff...
1/5
This multi-generation saga of a Jewish family in Berlin is a masterpiece, and I highly recommend it.
www.nyrb.com/products/eff...
1/5
Der Kommentar der Tagesschau beeindruckt mich: „Heute geht es [...] um eines: Das Leben in Freiheit und deren unschätzbarer Wert. Eine Freiheit, die im Osten von Mödlareuth fehlte.“
Dennoch stimmten 2/3 der lokalen Wähler für Parteien, die möglicherweise nicht vollständig demokratisch sind.
Dennoch stimmten 2/3 der lokalen Wähler für Parteien, die möglicherweise nicht vollständig demokratisch sind.
November 10, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Der Kommentar der Tagesschau beeindruckt mich: „Heute geht es [...] um eines: Das Leben in Freiheit und deren unschätzbarer Wert. Eine Freiheit, die im Osten von Mödlareuth fehlte.“
Dennoch stimmten 2/3 der lokalen Wähler für Parteien, die möglicherweise nicht vollständig demokratisch sind.
Dennoch stimmten 2/3 der lokalen Wähler für Parteien, die möglicherweise nicht vollständig demokratisch sind.
Frage an Politologen oder Soziologen:
Es ist schwierig, kontrafaktische Szenarien zu untersuchen, aber gibt es Studien darüber, wie die Abwanderung junger und/oder hochgebildeter Menschen aus Ostdeutschland den Wahlerfolg des politischen Extremismus, insbesondere der Rechten, ermöglicht hat?
Es ist schwierig, kontrafaktische Szenarien zu untersuchen, aber gibt es Studien darüber, wie die Abwanderung junger und/oder hochgebildeter Menschen aus Ostdeutschland den Wahlerfolg des politischen Extremismus, insbesondere der Rechten, ermöglicht hat?
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Frage an Politologen oder Soziologen:
Es ist schwierig, kontrafaktische Szenarien zu untersuchen, aber gibt es Studien darüber, wie die Abwanderung junger und/oder hochgebildeter Menschen aus Ostdeutschland den Wahlerfolg des politischen Extremismus, insbesondere der Rechten, ermöglicht hat?
Es ist schwierig, kontrafaktische Szenarien zu untersuchen, aber gibt es Studien darüber, wie die Abwanderung junger und/oder hochgebildeter Menschen aus Ostdeutschland den Wahlerfolg des politischen Extremismus, insbesondere der Rechten, ermöglicht hat?
This feels like nostalgia for an ex-spouse who was domineering and even occasionally abusive, but the final divorce was amicable, and you have discovered that a speedy remarriage may not have been a great idea or, at least, is very complicated and uncomfortable.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/w...
Why Germany Is Still Divided When It Comes to Russia
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:19 PM
This feels like nostalgia for an ex-spouse who was domineering and even occasionally abusive, but the final divorce was amicable, and you have discovered that a speedy remarriage may not have been a great idea or, at least, is very complicated and uncomfortable.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/w...
Question for the historians of postwar Germany, especially those who focus on political culture:
After 1945 (or 1949), was there tremendous bitterness and hatred among core SPD voters/members directed at their neighbors who had voted NSDAP between 1930 and 1933?
After 1945 (or 1949), was there tremendous bitterness and hatred among core SPD voters/members directed at their neighbors who had voted NSDAP between 1930 and 1933?
October 31, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Question for the historians of postwar Germany, especially those who focus on political culture:
After 1945 (or 1949), was there tremendous bitterness and hatred among core SPD voters/members directed at their neighbors who had voted NSDAP between 1930 and 1933?
After 1945 (or 1949), was there tremendous bitterness and hatred among core SPD voters/members directed at their neighbors who had voted NSDAP between 1930 and 1933?
Ich habe eine Bitte an alle, die Zugang zur UB in Vechta, Hamburg, Hannover, Marburg oder Zwickau u.a. haben. Ich würde gerne jemanden bitten, für mich etwas in diesem Buch nachzuschlagen, wenn möglich:
Vom Traum zum Alptraum. Sachsen in der Weimarer Republik von Claus-Christian Szejnmann.
Danke!
Vom Traum zum Alptraum. Sachsen in der Weimarer Republik von Claus-Christian Szejnmann.
Danke!
September 26, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Ich habe eine Bitte an alle, die Zugang zur UB in Vechta, Hamburg, Hannover, Marburg oder Zwickau u.a. haben. Ich würde gerne jemanden bitten, für mich etwas in diesem Buch nachzuschlagen, wenn möglich:
Vom Traum zum Alptraum. Sachsen in der Weimarer Republik von Claus-Christian Szejnmann.
Danke!
Vom Traum zum Alptraum. Sachsen in der Weimarer Republik von Claus-Christian Szejnmann.
Danke!
Ich fand dieses Interview sehr lehrreich, um eine Stimme (oder eine Gruppe von Stimmen) zu verstehen, die im aktuellen politischen Medienklima übersehen wird.
www.welt.de/kultur/artic...
www.welt.de/kultur/artic...
Zeruya Shalev: „Die israelische Seele hat sich in den letzten Jahren dramatisch verändert“ - WELT
Zeruya Shalev kam in einem Kibbuz am See Genezareth zur Welt, heute ist sie eine der berühmtesten Schriftstellerinnen Israels. Im Gespräch mit Constantin Schreiber richtet sie einen Appell an die Demo...
www.welt.de
September 26, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Ich fand dieses Interview sehr lehrreich, um eine Stimme (oder eine Gruppe von Stimmen) zu verstehen, die im aktuellen politischen Medienklima übersehen wird.
www.welt.de/kultur/artic...
www.welt.de/kultur/artic...