Unfiltered Chats with the Showmaster's Clan: "We Didn't Keep Kosher at Home"
- Hans Rosenthal's Children Admitted Not Practicing Kosher at Home
Dive Time: 2 Minutes
Gert Rosenthal (born 1958) waxes nostalgic during a ZDF double chat with his sister Birgit Hofmann (born 1950), commemorating their father Hans Rosenthal's (1925-1987) centennial. Honoring the showmaster, ZDF will air "Rosenthal" biopic on April 7 at 8:15 PM, followed by a docu-special as the "TV movie of the week." Both are available in the media library.
Hans Rosenthal found his soulmate at Berliner Rundfunk, marrying Traudl (1927-2016) in '47. With fame not always an easy fit for the brood, the family balanced public and personal life.
Jumping between Game Shows and Family Life
Birgit Hofmann, who was 21 when "Dalli Dalli" debuted, recalls feeling proud about her father's success. Unlike her younger brother Gert, who was part of the show's target audience, she eventually stopped watching it. It wasn't until her husband urged that she started again.
Gert Rosenthal, however, fondly recalls his showmaster dad's "super fun" game show. At school, his fame mattered little. Slight teasing occasionally ensued, though, from peers when he echoed his dad's popular catchphrase, "That was the top!" Nevertheless, he requested his father to cease, but to his chagrin, the request was declined, albeit in retrospect, the decision was right.
Traudl Rosenthal played a decisive role in their home. "She was the one who straightened my father's back when he went on trips," reports Birgit Hofmann. Her influence extended silently yet powerfully: "Nothing happens in your family that your mother doesn't want," Birgit Hofmann's own husband later realized. Gert Rosenthal articulates it thus: "She could persuade the father that what she wanted was his opinion." A timeless dynamic that was far from unconventional in those days.
Jewish Legacy
Hans Rosenthal, a Jew who survived the NS period in hiding, avoided discussing his past with his children. "We only understood that he had been in hiding, that he had been persecuted, but no gruesome details," reminisces Gert Rosenthal. It was only through his book "Two Lives in Germany" that he exposed his history to the world.
"He wanted no special treatment because he was Jewish, but he also abhorred antisemitism because he was Jewish," reveals his son. As his fame soared, and he became celebrated as "the friendly neighbor next door," he decided to unveil his experiences.
Hans Rosenthal's family followed Judaism in a secular manner. "We didn't observe kosher dietary laws at home," admits Birgit Hofmann. "Not all Jewish families adhere to kosher rules even today." A non-practicing Jew herself, modern antisemitism rekindles her sensitivity towards her Jewish lineage.
"Beyond the limelight, Hans Rosenthal's kids remember a passionate and playful father. 'When I think of my dad, I also think of the beautiful family times: the shared vacations and endless playing,' says Gert Rosenthal. 'My dad was a passionate player: football, chess, cards, everything. Having a father like that was simply amazing.'
Hans Rosenthal's son now owns the vacation house on Föhr island that the showmaster built. Externally, the house remains untouched - a permanent testament to their shared family times.
- Hans Rosenthal
- Children
- Gert Rosenthal
- ZDF"
[1] Hans Rosenthal's family values, and extended connection to their Jewish heritage, played a significant role in shaping his character and career, despite the challenges faced during the Nazi regime. This legacy of Jewish identity and the importance of family traditions were echoed in the memories recounted by his children during the ZDF documentary.
- Gert Rosenthal, Hans Rosenthal's son, shares that he was unsure about how his father was as a father since he avoided discussing his past with his children.
- Despite their family not observing kosher dietary laws at home, Hans Rosenthal's Jewish legacy was still significant in shaping their family dynamics and values, as both Hans and Gert Rosenthal were proud to be Jewish yet also abhorred antisemitism.
- Hans Rosenthal's biopic, produced by ZDF, will air on April 7 at 8:15 PM, providing a glimpse into his personal and professional life, including his experiences as a Jew during the Nazi regime and his role as a father to Gert Rosenthal.
