jews and jewish education in germany today - The Westbury Group

● Do you think that Israel will retain the same importance in the Jewish Communities and networks,
decrease or will it even increase? What is your hypothesis?
My hypothesis is that for this generation over 40, let’s say, the significance will remain. In the future, though,
this is my feeling, it will decrease, like it will decrease everywhere, in America as well. I think the tendency,
also with Obama’s politics, partially reflects the developments. People will remain connected to Israel on a
somewhat pragmatic level, I’d say. I can’t imagine that this flaming Zionism that the veterans had 20-30
years ago will now emerge amongst the new members, or among the Jewish youth in Germany in general.
But I do think that the feeling of solidarity will remain and in politics it makes sense to show a bit of
solidarity with Israel. In the Jewish school for every holiday the children have to wear blue and white, the
colors of Israel. That’s interesting, but more romantic. I’m for a pragmatic, still very patriotic and friendly,
but basically pragmatic approach to Israel. Valuing the culture and traveling there will remain priorities in
any case. But just to say that we’re a branch office of Israel, that will also decrease a bit, just as it has in
America. It’s not as important there anymore as it once was.
● Ok, that’s the political level. But what would you say, in principle, for the cultural, religious and spiritual
levels?
It’s not a dependency and it’s not about a political survey, but that we’re now in a post-Zionist era, where
Jewish people across the world are saying that Zionism is one option among others. We’re free to choose this,
and it’s fantastic that this choice exists. There are connections. I’m dreaming of spending a year in Israel, a
half year in an ulpan and a half year doing something at the university. Many intellectuals are certainly doing
that. That you now say, ok, that’s our attitude, and maybe that’s the future. That the curve is leaning towards
this direction, no, I don’t think so.
● Returning to the immigrants, do you see close bonds remaining with their former countries of residence,
even among the young generation?
That’s a very complex question. It has something to do with both German reality and the attitudes of the
people themselves. Concerning the reality in Germany, I’ve often heard that the young people who have been
living here since they were 6 or 7 years old, are basically German, speak German almost without an accent,
but then they do have a small accent and sometimes they have second thoughts about turning off this country
so completely in contrast to me. I was in Ukraine until I was 21, 22, there is no question that’s a part of me
that will always be carried around within me, the language and so on. For these people, though, there’s a
division. I think in general, Germany is still, like many European countries including France, not multiculturally-friendly.
In Germany having two-three cultures or two-three backgrounds is not exactly an
advantage. You shouldn’t demonstrate this, you shouldn’t talk about it if you want to start a successful career,
and you need to be here, concerned with matters here. That’s what we switch off. There are the political
beginnings for the recognition that having two-three cultures is an advantage, a huge advantage and not the
other way around. That’s why there’s often a schism within young people, I think. On the other hand, there is
a small distancing, or a large distancing from one’s parents and their generation, whose roots are mainly in
Russian TV. They say: “I can see this picture maybe once a week at dinner, but otherwise, I’m not living
there, I can’t really relate to that.” On the other hand, the Russian youth are practicing, they do want their
children to know Russian, at least that they can speak it. They say, ok, I can speak this language in the future,
because it’s practical, a niche in the market, so that I can work with Eastern Europe in the future and so on.
That’s what remains. I have hardly ever encountered a big patriotic pro-Russian attitude.
● Do you know families or individuals who have returned?
I do know some, I have also interviewed some for our project.
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