A Journey Back:
The Heilbrunn / Rothschild Family Reunion
For centuries, members of the Heilbrunn family lived in Sontra, Germany, and surrounding towns. Generation after generation built their lives there, not for decades, but for hundreds of years, until history took a dark and devastating turn. With the rise of Hitler and the Nazi regime, the lives of our ancestors were shattered. Those who could fled Germany, scattering across the world; those who could not were murdered. Sontra, once home, became a place marked by memories – both happy and sad
On 31 August 2025 nineteen descendants of the Heilbrunn family returned to Sontra. Four of those persons whom were descendants of the Rothschild family as well as Heilbrunns. They came from across the globe, the United States, Australia, Israel, Singapore, and England, drawn by three shared purposes: to reunite as family, to walk the streets where their ancestors once lived, and to lay Stolpersteine in memory and honour of those whose lives were taken or disrupted too soon.
The Reunion
For many of the nineteen participants, this was their first time meeting one another. Whilst for others who might have previously met, they may not have seen one another face to face for many years.
Left to right:
Back row: Hans Isenberg (researcher); Lea Schellhase (co-organiser); Evan Weiss; Mark Weiss: Eric Hicks; Paul Paroff; Milton Lasnitzki; Lorna Luber; Daniel Heilbrunn; Brian Alterowitz; Colin Luber; Ludger Arnold (co-organiser); Daniel Lasnitzki
Front row: Helene Paroff; Lisa Gerstein; Linda Weiss; Barbara Guralnick; Brian Luber; Brenda Lasnitzki; Hannah Kahlberg; Liora Heilbrunn; Shira Heilbrunn
The formal reunion began on the afternoon of 31 August at the Link Hotel in Sontra, where a meeting room had been organised for the family gathering. The atmosphere was both warm and emotional: part reunion, part remembrance, part discovery.
Milton opened the afternoon with a welcome message. As part of the opening, gifts symbolising a Tree of Life were presented to Ludger Arnold, Gunter Demnig, Lea Schellhase, and Hans Isenberg, in recognition of their contributions and support. Milton Lasnitzki and Brian Luber were presented with JNF certificates for organising the event.
Understanding the Family Branches
The afternoon continued with PowerPoint presentations that brought the Heilbrunn family story to life through its many branches, specifically the nine children of Meier and Caecilia Heilbrunn. Brian Luber presented on the lives of Hugo, Meta, and Grete and their descendants, sharing stories that wove together personal detail and historical context. Milton Lasnitzki followed with a presentation on Leopold, Gustav, Minna, Jettchen, and Victor, highlighting both the individuality of each life and the lives of them and their descendants. Mark Weiss then presented on his grandfather Emil, offering a deeply personal connection across generations.
Tracing the Family Back in Time
A highlight of the afternoon was the presentation by genealogical researcher Hans Isenberg. Over approximately forty-five minutes, he guided the family through the Heilbrunn lineage, tracing it back to the eighteenth century. His work connected centuries of history, showing how the family grew, settled, and thrived in Sontra long before it was torn apart.
Walking Through History
As the afternoon drew to a close, the family left the Link Hotel and walked together to a nearby restaurant for dinner. The walk itself became a quiet act of remembrance. Along the way, they passed the Heilbrunn House at Bahnhofstraße 7 and the Rothschild House at Niederstadt 22, poignant reminders that their ancestors had once lived, worked, and belonged in this town.
This journey back to Sontra was more than a reunion. It was an act of remembrance, a reclaiming of history, and a promise that the lives of those who were lost will not be forgotten.