Written: May 5, 2026
I was so sad that one of the most remarkable people (and kind!) people that I have ever known is no longer with us.
Karola first contacted me in 2009, telling me about her work for the Frankfurt Jewish museum. In the Nachlass of Hans Julius Woff, my mother's first cousin, a history-of-law professor, donated to the museum by his daughter Sister Dr. Katherine Wolff, there was a real treasure. Letters written by my great-great-uncle, the abolitionist Moritz Pinner, who emigrated to the US after 1848, to his brother, my great-grandfather, Professor Adolf Pinner. They were written in German, of course, and spanned many years.
Karola did a great job in transcribing this extensive correspondence. Together with Katherine Wolff, who translated these letters to English, they published a fascinating book. It also has insightful commentary.
After that, Karola, did a great job in putting together the Nachlass Ruth Alexander Zeilberger, and transcribing many letters that my mother received from her parents, and also earlier letters.
Thanks to Karola, my family knows so much more about our roots.
I was fortunate to have met Karola and Klaus Nick in May 2017, when we visited Berlin to lay stumbling stones for our grandparents, and she gave a moving speech.
We will miss you, Karola and Klaus!