Katrina and Moritz-Moshe Baer lived in Rheinbrohl, Germany. They owned a winery and a tavern. The family observed a religious lifestyle, and would attend synagogue every Sabbath. In 1909, their son Albert-Avraham was born, and Bernhard-Yitzhak was born in 1913. A third son died in early childhood.
In 1937, Albert married Thea-Devorah Faber. Their daughter, Ruth, was born in the Jewish hospital in Köln, because Thea was not permitted to give birth in the Christian hospital in Rheinbrohl.
During Kristallnacht, the family home was looted, and Albert and Bernhard were arrested and sent to Dachau. They were released a few months later, and on returning home decided to leave Germany at once. The grandparents were angry with Albert and Thea for deciding to take their only granddaughter Ruth to Eretz Israel (Mandatory Palestine). "Nothing will happen to us", they said, "We are Germans first and foremost, and Jews second."
In February 1939, Bernhard, Albert, Thea and Ruth immigrated to Eretz Israel on the "Esperia" ship. They chose to settle in Zichron Yaacov because of their wine business experience. Their daughter Adina was born in 1947. Bernhard married Trude Odenheimer, a Holocaust survivor from Germany, and they lived in the same neighborhood as Albert.
When they left Germany, Bernhard, Albert and his family took books and other belongings with them, including the embroidered cloth matzah dish.
All Albert and Thea's family members who remained in Germany were murdered in the Holocaust.