jews and jewish education in germany today - The Westbury Group

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I would probably tend toward the conservative movement. Certainly not reform or liberal, but also not orthodox. That basically means conservative. ● Do you still see any problems in the relations between Russian speaking immigrants and German speaking veterans inside the Jewish Communities that still need to be resolved? Yes, and we have to be careful that these problems between the groups don’t spill over to the next generation. In Limmud.de, for example, there are lots of German Jews and there are problems with the children. Not many have attended a youth group as there were too many Russians there and they felt like outsiders. Russian Jewish mothers, on the other hand, say we don’t go to other places, because there are too many Germans there. Our children feel like outsiders there. However, I think that young people have more possibilities to be flexible. Maybe the first step is to bring the children to religious courses and the adults should be role models. The parents should understand this is how children take on their religion. What will be expected of me, how do young people get married and so on. I see a kind of lost generation of those between 30-35 till 40 or 50. The women are working, but they would normally like to belong to a group. I think that yesterday [in the seminar] there were six-seven women around 45-50, who are working as music teachers at the university in Düsseldorf, and at the university in Dortmund. This was a good thing, to go to Bonn together to see this Modigliani exhibit and then to go to a restaurant afterwards. People need this kind of networking. They wanted to see this and communicate with each other, but when do they come to the Community? They’re not so young, but not as old as the retirees. I think that there isn’t enough offered for these “normal” women. They are interested in appropriate, good, prestigious things. It doesn’t matter in which language. For example, yesterday we had a tour in German. There were 33 people, in the museum, everyone understood it. No one asked why does it have to be in German; let’s get a special tour guide. But anyway, you need to understand, that these things should jibe with the identity of the Russian-speakers. Everything having to do with art and literature, travel, that’s acceptable for people. Then people will slowly start coming to the Community. I think programs are needed that show full respect for their intellects, regardless of which language, with an intellectual orientation. That’s why I think also the programs for families should be made modern and interesting. ● When talking about identity, collective identity, or the future identity of the Jewish Community in Germany, do you think that Israel will continue to have the same meaning for the Communities? Yes, this covers different philosophical questions for every local Community. Some Communities say we’re in a Jewish Community in Germany. We’re not an intermediary sending people on to Israel; we should develop as a Jewish Community in Germany. The people themselves, especially those from Russia and the former Soviet Union have a great interest in Israel and I’m trying to organize a project where we study the history of Jerusalem and of Israel for a year, and then take a trip to Israel. ● Have you ever done something like this before? We’re planning it together with Rabbi Michael Kogan [JC Düsseldorf] and others. People want to see Israel through his eyes, or through my eyes. They have faith in us and want to make this program. They trust us that it won’t be bad, but interesting. So we’ll first have the history and then take this same group to Israel. I think that’s very important, also for the middle generation. ● What about travel programs for the whole family? When we were in Israel the last time we found out about a special program for trips for the whole family. This program is mostly used by Americans, but this could also be something for the future here. Each and every time my people come and ask me when are we going to Israel? I can’t ever say, because I can only 121 | P a g e
organize that with the help of others, it’s expensive to pay people. We’re looking for a partnership. I’d like to do an educational trip, not just sightseeing, but study here, and then bring people there. As tourists, but also with an educational program. Then we’re bringing work for people in Israel as well. We’re bringing a group to Israel; they can learn something and have fun. That is very important. Of course there are Russian people who have a special relationship to Israel. Some groups ask me each time some one should provide a short report on what happened in Israel over the last week [at each weekly gathering]. It’s always interesting and important for people. ● When you were doing fundraising and looking for support, did you ever try to get support from non-Jewish institutions? No. ● From the cities or regional governments? Many years ago we tried but it was unsuccessful. 122 | P a g e
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JEWS AND JEWISH EDUCATION IN GERMAN
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Leading figures: The agenda of the
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1. TOBY AXELROD May 13, 2009, Berli
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Yes. Aside from the three-day festi
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2. DMITRI BELKIN Frankfurt, June 8,
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lives, they would say that they are
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● And how much are they percentag
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This has been different from town t
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something that would be different?
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oth are led without contact or with
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don’t go to synagogue every Sabba
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Germany after the 1990’s is a del
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● It’s probably an unusual situ
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18-30 year olds, yes, and within it
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● Well, Chabad could say they’r
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in German politics. This still does
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I think the Jüdische Allgemeine Wo
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I would say so. The Community reall
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think you know them better, I’m t
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centers. The state supports them in
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7. GESA EDERBERG May 4, 2009, Berli
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these spaces. Places where people m
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the respective Community and less o
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synagogue to meet the people and th
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8. DAVID GALL May 28, 2009, Munich,
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if the people in the Ministry don
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presume, the close connection with
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The question is how could they thro
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● Is the percentage of young peop
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Israel is important. I can’t say
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Very poorly. People might be willin
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This would only be possible with st
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Yes, I see it in the bigger Communi
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● What the perspectives for someb
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Now we are also in talks with the U
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Page 73 and 74: I am sure that one of the next issu
Page 75 and 76: ● There was an overall survey in
Page 77 and 78: 12. KÜF KAUFMANN June 17, 2009, Le
Page 79 and 80: keep the kindergarten afloat financ
Page 81 and 82: meeting the board member responsibl
Page 83 and 84: Probably everything together, we wo
Page 85 and 86: 13. CHARLOTTE KNOBLOCH June 19, 200
Page 87 and 88: 10. Many Jews in Germany seem to ke
Page 89 and 90: 14. MICHAEL KOGAN June 12, 2009, D
Page 91 and 92: ● If you come to the Community be
Page 93 and 94: ● You mean there are good things
Page 95 and 96: 15. SERGEY LAGODINSKY June 11, 2009
Page 97 and 98: ● Would you say that most Russian
Page 99 and 100: to make a big fuss out of not being
Page 101 and 102: 16. ARKADY LITVAN May 27, 2009, Han
Page 103 and 104: can’t speak German well up to tod
Page 105 and 106: ● Another youth center? Our youth
Page 107 and 108: 17. JEWGENIJ SINGER June 8, 2009, F
Page 109 and 110: philosophical concept of Liberal Ju
Page 111 and 112: For the Community board election, f
Page 113 and 114: The social circumstances have impro
Page 115 and 116: Well, from the perspective of the F
Page 117 and 118: understand me in stores or doctors
Page 119 and 120: librarians all over Germany. Now we
Page 121: Yes, and in Hebrew. That’s one di
Page 125 and 126: will be some immigrants who are dee
Page 127 and 128: We started with 17 kids, and I thin
Page 129 and 130: ● What do you think about the gen
Page 131 and 132: and the question exactly how volunt
Page 133 and 134: Opening to different movements. Tha
Page 135 and 136: young people are always treated as
Page 137 and 138: I think what is really missing is t
Page 139 and 140: Community]. I don’t see this plur
Page 141 and 142: ● What are the principal Jewish s
Page 143 and 144: � What would you say about the yo
Page 145 and 146: throughout Germany]. They come out
Page 147 and 148: There are some challenges of true a
Page 149 and 150: Unfortunately, the reporting about
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