jews and jewish education in germany today - The Westbury Group

lives, they would say that they are pessimistic about the future because the new ones are almost not religious
at all. There are very few, 3-4% who want to have anything to do with the traditions. And the new ones are
saying: “What do you want from us? We’re the voice of Jewish schools, of Jews in this city. Why should we
uphold the traditions? Why should we be praying all the time? Why should we speak Hebrew?” Then that’s
the question. But in this city a balance has been found between these levels and so there’s also a harmony.
It’s not without contradictions, but better than in other places. When I read the Russian language media,
about developments in Berlin or in other smaller Communities, then I realize things can be much more
problematic.
● So, the Frankfurt Community is an example how it can work?
People tend to see the ideal case in Germany in Frankfurt. On the one hand this is true. There is Jewish life,
there is a certain level of willingness to compromise and talk to each other. On the other hand, you shouldn’t
idealize the situation. Many new immigrants distance themselves from the Community, for various reasons.
Or they just leave the Community.
● Indeed, less than half of the FSU immigrants have joined a Jewish Community, and probably on the
veterans’ side it doesn’t look much better. Where do you see the main reasons for this?
I think this relates to societal trends in general, not just among Jews. Christian congregations are losing
members as well. People are arguing that their religion is something private and personal, or they’re atheists
or can’t deal with structures or institutions, cannot identify with them. I think that’s true for many Jews as
well. Secondly, as I experienced in Bad Sobernheim [Educational Center of the Central Council of Jews in
Germany, O.G.], where I taught a seminar and met the young people there, the question was raised if we
should show our Jewishness in public? They answered with no. They’re concerned that there will be anti-
Israeli voices at work, anti-Jewish comments from their co-workers and that’s why they’re saying to
themselves, no, I don’t want that. It’s a typical reaction that they might have adopted from their parents in the
former Soviet Union.
● Is that a significant factor?
I don’t know if that’s representative. I’m only speaking about three or four young people I met there and who
have said that it was like this. These were mostly young people with university degrees, who are searching
for their Jewishness on the one hand, but on the other don’t want to show it publicly.
● Because they fear discrimination?
Because they fear discrimination, and because they don’t want people staring at them at work or wherever.
● Because of their Jewishness, or because of the Middle East conflict?
As you know, both things are merged in most people’s minds. That’s very difficult to separate when the
people don’t take the time to deal with these things, like we are doing. There is a certain tendency to lump
everything together: Israel, Judaism, the Jewish religion and so on. And there are pragmatic reasons. Young
people think to themselves why should they pay the religious tax? Their money is tight anyway. As a young
person you don’t need a senior club to play chess and hear Russian lectures, you don’t need that. You might
also not even need religious services, not necessarily. And if you don’t need any of that, what do you need
from the Community? The answer is: nothing. So people don’t pay the tax for this simple, pragmatic reason
to save money.
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