Rabbi W. Jack Romberg

Rabbi W. Jack Romberg

Rabbi W. Jack Romberg retired as the rabbi of Temple Israel in Tallahassee, FL in 2019. As a congregational rabbi, he was deeply involved in the general community, interfaith programs, and non-partisan community issues. This article was adapted from his highly-praised first book, A Doorway to Heroism: A decorated German-Jewish soldier who became an American hero (Amsterdam Press, 2021).

A Doorway to Heroism

Rabbi W. Jack Romberg
Imagine a German Jew who was a decorated German soldier in World War I, a resister in Cologne at the start of Hitler’s reign of terror, and a Silver Star decorated U.S. Army soldier. Three heroic actions, at three different times, in three different places. This is the story of Richard Stern, whose photograph of his protest hangs in multiple German museums, showing a rare Jewish protest in Nazi Germany. He was my Great Uncle.