Heinz Bernard(1923-1994)

Heinz Bernard grew up as a Jewish child in Nuremburg in Nazi Germany. He attended a school in Furth which was the only Jewish school allowed to operate in the region. Henry Kissinger's father taught Biology at the school and Henry was in the year above Heinz at school. Following a parliamentary question directed at the Home secretary by the MP Josiah Wedgewood, Heinz and his mother were granted transit visas to pass through England and join his uncles who had migrated to the USA. At the age of 15, Heinz Bernard was sent to England by his mother who meant to join him a few days later. On the day she planned to leave Germany, war broke out trapping her on the continent. She caught the last Orient Express to Vladivostok a few days later and eventually reached the USA. Heinz remained trapped in England and learned English by sitting in cinemas watching movies. He eventually joined a home for Jewish orphans run by exiles from the German communist party where he organized weekly plays. Heinz worked a variety of low paid jobs, including as a rabbit skinner and a waiter saving enough money to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London. After the war Heinz's mother informed him that he was adopted. A real brother and sister had reached Palestine before the war and now made contact with him. Heinz went on the run a legendary Communist Party affiliated theater in London (Unity Theater) and staged the first productions of Brecht in the English language. Heinz left the Communist Party in the fifties after anti-Semitic plotting by Stalin and the invasion of Hungary. Following the death of his Israeli brother in the sixties, Heinz decided to emigrate to Israel. He acted the part of the Rabbi in the West End production of Fiddler on the Roof to raise money for the move. In Israel he became a legend on account of his performances in English teaching television programs, "Neighbours" (written by his wife Nettie) and "Here We Are", broadcast four times a week on the single national TV channel for over fifteen years. After ten years in Israel Heinz returned to England where he had to restart his career. He continued to work until his death of a rare blood disease in 1995.

Heinz's name at birth was Heinz Messinger. His adopted family were called Lowenstein. After leaving RADA he worked under the professional name Harry Bernard, eventually dropping the Harry and becoming simply Heinz Bernard.