Salman Schocken

Salman Schocken (1877-1959) was a pioneering Jewish entrepreneur and cultural figure who revolutionized the department store industry in Germany. Born in Margonin, he built a successful chain of department stores known for their quality goods and architectural elegance, designed by Erich Mendelsohn. Emigrating to Palestine in 1933 due to the rise of the Nazis, he later established Schocken Books in New York, preserving Jewish culture through literature. His legacy is celebrated in the exhibition 'Inventuren. Salman Schockens Vermächtnis' at the Jewish Museum Berlin, showcasing the intersection of commerce and culture in his work.