Dr. Max Goldberg

Max was born in Basel, Switzerland.
Although anti-Semitism existed, there were no official acts taken against Jews. Max studied medicine and became a doctor.

He looked for a way to help those who were not in his fortunate position. He joined the British Army and was sent by UNRA to the British occupied zone.
His mission was to inspect the health institutions in Bergen Belsen.

Max realized that the British were not treating the DP camps in a humane fashion and that the sanitary conditions and food rations were inadequate. He resolved to do whatever he could to support the Jewish community. He sometimes used the four ambulances available to him for unusual purposes to bring relief to the people. It was a close call one night when an ambulance was stopped and Max was questioned about where he was going. In the ambulance was a cow, being transported for shechting.

While inspecting the children’s day care centers he realized how inadequate the milk rations were. He found a creative way to increase these rations and work with the Jewish Committee. After he met Hilde Jacobsthal (who was working in the child care centers) it was noted, by others, that Dr. Goldberg deemed these centers in need of frequent inspection.

In 1947, Max returned to Basel and he and Hilde were married.
Shortly thereafter, they began working with the Haganah.
They were part of Aliyah Bet and on the last ship to leave.
The British tried to keep the ship away from the shore, but finally allowed them into Akko.

Max was involved in the defending and occupying of the upper and eastern Galilee.
In the big battle on Mount Tabor his unit was encircled and they lost a lot of people.
Max was seriously wounded in this fighting and sustained a head injury. Eventually, they succeeded in securing the Galil and Lake Kineret.
Their brigade also occupied Eilat.

After a long period of recovery Max and Hilde returned to Switzerland. They came to the U.S. in March of 1950 and Max began psychiatric work in
Brooklyn. A psychiatric residency in Rhode Island followed. As this was the time period of the Korean War and doctors were needed, Max was drafted and stationed in Frankfurt, Germany for two years. His family and his car were also sent over.

Upon completion of service, Max returned to Rhode Island and became the Clinical Director of the Rhode Island Mental Health Center. He decided to go for additional training at the Columbia Psychoanalytic Center and the family moved to Teaneck, New Jersey. For many years, Dr. Goldberg shared his professional time between his private practice and lecturing at the Columbia University Psychoanalytic Center. He has recently retired from private practice (2008).

Jews in Switzerland during the Holocaust

Immigration to Israel, pre and post WWII

1.	August 25: Ha'avara Agreement

2.	This Month in Holocaust History-(August- Bericha) Read this one for background information.

3.	This Month in Holocaust History-(February- Struma) Read this one for background information.