jews and jewish education in germany today - The Westbury Group

young people are always treated as if they were almost outsiders. In general, and also in Jewish institutions. I
think that’s extremely sad. Almost everything is missing for children and young people.
● And when you think about Cologne? What would you organize first?
Regarding materials, I think there’s a lot missing in many areas. Books that are also interesting for children
and young people, computer games. Dealing with Judaism age-appropriately, there aren’t nearly enough
materials for that. Places where children and young people can get together.
● Do you have Hebrew courses for children and young people?
Often, but it depends on how much money we have. Parents always ask about it, and then it just depends if
we find someone. It’s a catastrophe.
● But that would be something where you could say if you had more material support, then you could hire a
good freelance Hebrew teacher for children and teens?
I always dream about something like a Sunday youth club, where they can go, meet up and do many different
activities together, all within a Jewish framework. Just a meeting place, where it’s not predetermined what
they’ll do, just an open group. That’s missing for both children and young people.
● How has your contact been with government officials in Cologne? I know you had difficulties at the
beginning being recognized as equals, and won some legal battles, but how would you now describe the
relationship to local politicians and authorities?
The thing is, they say we need to sort that out amongst ourselves. Then you’re left by yourself. When there
are conflicts, they want to keep out of them because they’re scared of making a mistake.
● I mean unbureaucratic help. Something like we’re planning on opening a kindergarten, or we’re planning
on opening a youth center, is there room for this, could you help support this?
No, that would be very difficult. I’m thinking about what’s really important for a Jewish Community, a
Jewish cemetery. That’s now something completely different, but there are huge problems with the city. We
have our own cemetery, but there are problems securing it permanently. This is very difficult.
● You had one?
The city won’t say you can have it for x years, they won’t say you can have it forever, in principle they just
are full of hot air and not doing anything.
● What do you think of the non-Jewish mainstream media’s coverage of developments within Jewish life in
Germany?
There is nearly nothing about Jewish life in TV or on the radio. Did I not understand the question here?
● In Cologne, or in general?
In general.
● And what do you think about the coverage of Israel?
134 | P a g e