Irene Grumach Shirun smiling while holding her beloved bear Bärchen
Irene Grumach Shirun with her beloved Bärchen.

Memoir. Archive. Remembrance

Irene Grumach Shirun

Remembering Irene

In this archive, you will find Irene’s full memoir, along with articles documenting her life published in the Steiff Club Magazine and Aktuell, a publication of the Office of the Governing Mayor of Berlin. You’ll also find interviews, blog posts, PowerPoint presentations, photographs, and even a trailer from the premiere at Schaubude.

Irene and Jill smiling together over coffee Irene smiling on her birthday with Bärchen nearby Irene and Jill smiling together with a flower Irene smiling while looking through a photograph album

Bärchen’s Story

A Century of Perspective; Bearing Witness

More than one hundred years old, Bärchen inspired the Schaubude Berlin production Bär. Ein Zeitzeuge erzählt. As storyteller, he narrates Irene’s story from his own perspective—the beloved companion who comforted her through life’s traumas until her last breath.

Author Jill Levenfeld smiling while holding Irene’s bear Bärchen on Schlüterstraße in Berlin
Jill Levenfeld with Bärchen at 53 Schlüterstraße, Berlin.

June 28, 2024

Presenting Bärchen at 53 Schlüterstraße

Jill Levenfeld brought Irene’s beloved bear, Bärchen, back to Irene’s childhood home in Berlin for the first time since the war. Together with the Schaubude team, she lit a memorial candle on the steps of the house as a wide community gathered to hear Irene’s story.

June 15, 2024

Time to remember

Tim Sandweg in conversation with Jill Levenfeld sharing excerpts from Irene’s Memoir, the blog article and the Schaubude production.

Read the article ↗

Schaubude Berlin

The premiere

Bär. Ein Zeitzeuge erzählt, based on the memoir of Irene Grumach-Shirun written by Jill Levenfeld, premiered at Schaubude Berlin on June 29, 2024.

The team of Bär. Ein Zeitzeuge erzählt taking a curtain call at Schaubude Berlin
The Schaubude team at the premiere, June 29, 2024.
A scene with the Bärchen puppet during the Schaubude Berlin performance
A scene from Bär. Ein Zeitzeuge erzählt.

The trailer

Watch on Vimeo ↗

The story continues

Remembering Irene in 2026

The photographs, talks, and presentations from this past year showcase Irene’s life and scholarship, continuing to tell her story.

Dear Zirpine Zirpevich: Letters from a Five-Year-Old in Wartime Berlin

On January 30, 2026, the Märkisches Museum in Berlin received a remarkable donation from Jill: a collection of correspondence dating from 1942, comprising letters exchanged in wartime Berlin between five-year-old Irene and her imaginary mouse, Zirpine Zirpevich.

These 37 letters will become part of an exhibition at the Märkisches Museum, telling a beautiful story of parenting during wartime, teaching five-year-old Irene to read and write, and helping her develop an emotional language of her own. They grew out of the creative idea of Irene’s parents to use letter writing as a way to nurture her education and emotional development while helping her navigate life in Berlin under bombardment.

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A handwritten letter from the Zirpine Zirpevich correspondence An illustrated letter from the Zirpine Zirpevich correspondence Jill at the Märkisches Museum correspondence donation The Zirpine Zirpevich letters being presented at the museum Letters from the Zirpine Zirpevich collection displayed on a table A letter from the Zirpine Zirpevich collection at the museum A document accompanying the Zirpine Zirpevich correspondence

Presentation with Jill and Tim Sandweg on Stage at Schaubude
January 30, 2026

On the stage at Schaubude, Jill Levenfeld and Tim Sandweg discuss the writing of Irene’s memoir, the lasting effects of war, and Bärchen’s lifelong role as a witness to her story.

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Jill Levenfeld and Tim Sandweg in conversation on stage at Schaubude The January 30 presentation on stage at Schaubude Jill Levenfeld speaking on stage with Bärchen Jill Levenfeld presenting with Bärchen at Schaubude

Distinguished Egyptologist

At Humboldt University, where Irene’s academic journey began at seventeen, Jill presents Irene as the distinguished Egyptologist she became, honoring the scholar she is remembered as today.

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Jill presenting Irene’s scholarship at Humboldt University The Distinguished Egyptologist presentation at Humboldt University The Humboldt University venue for the presentation Jill presenting Irene as a distinguished Egyptologist Archival materials from Irene’s academic life A Humboldt University lectern at the presentation Jill speaking during the Humboldt University presentation Jill at the Distinguished Egyptologist presentation The entrance to Humboldt University in Berlin

Denkmal am Ort at Irene’s childhood home

Denkmal am Ort organized this special event inside the building where Irene and Bärchen once lived. Jill shared stories from those war years during the bombardment of Berlin, especially Irene’s memories of running down to the shelter. As a complete surprise, we were invited to walk through the courtyard and down the narrow stairs leading to the shelter, where Jill shared poignant excerpts from Irene’s memories as a traumatized five-year-old.

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Jill speaking at the Denkmal am Ort gathering Jill sharing Irene’s story at her childhood home A Schlüterstraße sign near Irene’s childhood home Denkmal am Ort materials about Irene’s childhood home A Berlin history poster displayed at the event A detail inside the building where Irene once lived The courtyard door at Irene’s childhood home Walking through the shelter beneath Irene’s childhood home The hallway leading through Irene’s childhood home A display about the history of Irene’s childhood home The entrance to the Denkmal am Ort event Jill with a participant outside Irene’s childhood home Jill and a participant on Schlüterstraße Jill on the narrow stairs leading to the shelter A historical display from the Denkmal am Ort event

The archive

Read and remember

Irene’s memoir and related publications are preserved here as PDF documents.

To Bear Witness — The Memoir of Irene Grumach Shirun

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Telling of Untold Truths — aktuell 116

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Steiff Club Magazine — 01/23

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