jews and jewish education in germany today - The Westbury Group

More documents

Recommendations

Info

● What will be… I think as people settle down, both of these things which you mentioned will definitely continue. But unfortunately, you know, remembrance will become weaker when many of the survivors become older and pass away, and then the challenge will be much greater to keep this remembrance strong. And the same thing goes with Israel. People get involved in and integrated into society, many times people can become so involved in what they’re doing, that they forget things that are around them that may be very important. However, one of the things we try to do here is remembrance in an active way. We say to remember and never to forget is one of the cardinal, most important things for people here in Germany - and generally in the world; Jewish people are required to, must do and always will do this. However, just remembering the past is not enough. It is not sufficient. We also have to remember the past by living an active Judaism. Not in spite of the fact that six million Jews were murdered here, but because of the fact. You have to remember, we are here in the land where the darkness and the evil of Hitler was planned and established and was the basis for the entire destruction, planned destruction, G’d forbid, of the Jewish people in Europe. Now today, here, every good deed which is done has a much, much stronger effect. Of course we’re going to answer the Nazis, but not the way they had done, we will answer them with light. I believe that in Germany, and especially in Berlin, every good deed that is done, every child which receives a Jewish education, every person that becomes more involved in our heritage, every family that becomes more involved in our tradition, that is another answer to the evil of the past. We are here, we are rebuilding with light and Judaism has a strong, active role to play here. ● Do you think that in the long run Jews in Germany will identify more with their country again? I don’t mean being proud to be German, but just saying ‘Yes, this is my country.’ I don’t know whether people would feel proud. Many people will feel as Europeans. I don’t know about identifying with Germany. Maybe, I don’t know, maybe some people will and some people won’t. I would hope that the first identity which they feel is that they’re Jewish. ● You have to work a lot with German officials here in Berlin, and with German politicians. Have your experiences been mainly positive or negative? Here in Berlin we have a very positive relationship on a local, borough level, on a city level, on a national level. We have very good cooperation on all levels. Of course, it’s individual, some German people will do it more as a moral responsibility, and others will do because they truly care. Sometimes you can see it on the people. It doesn’t mean to say that there’s always cooperation that works well. There are times when there are challenges and there are times when it’s not simple. And there are times when we’re not always satisfied. But generally speaking I can say, on the political level there’s a general interest, a general preparation to work together and that’s the way in Berlin. In many cities it’s that way, but not in all cities. I think the way it is here, that all political parties and camps are committed to a functioning cooperation, is unique to Berlin. ● You said cooperation is not that forthcoming in all cities? Not in all cities. In many cities it’s this way, but not in all cities. ● Have you ever experienced outright rejection or a lack of cooperation? Official rejection you will not have in Germany. ● What is your impression of the non-Jewish mainstream media? How do they cover Jewish developments in Germany today? And how do they cover Israel and the Middle East? 147 | P a g e
Unfortunately, the reporting about Israel is not objective at all. It is against Israel. Clearly. ● You mean in German mainstream media? Well, there are exceptions. There are some media that are more positive, generally speaking, like Axel Springer [one of the leading publishing houses and located in Berlin]. But many times you read things in the media and you’re surprised that it’s presented. You know, we just recently had the war in Gaza and you can have the Kassam rocket that falls on Sderot and the reaction. But the report will be first the reaction and then – at the end - it will be, ‘A Kassam rocket has been shot…’ As I said, there are exceptions, but on a general level I think there’s a need for improvement. That’s as far as Israel is concerned. As far as Judaism in Germany is concerned, it’s a lot mellower. In other words, sometimes I get the feeling when I’m speaking to journalists, even sometimes to politicians, that they are very officially, they’re very like pro-Jewish, but they’re anti-Israel. But when they speak about their anti-Israel opinions, they speak with such a fire in their eyes that I truly wonder to myself, are they also truly pro-Jewish? Or is it just more politically correct to present themselves this way. In other words, sometimes anti-Israelism could really be anti-Semitism. ● I understand. It’s not always like this. I think Israel is subject, like every other country in the world, to constructive criticism. There’s no problem with that. I don’t think Israel should be shielded, or anyone should be shielded to criticism. But I think on the other hand, one cannot constantly take a one-sided approach to a conflict. ● What do you think about Jewish media in Germany? Do you think its development is sufficient, or do you think there could there be more? There’s always a need, nobody’s perfect, there’s always need for improvement. I would have wished for more reporting of actual, positive things that go on. Without being specific about this newspaper or another one or this media, that media. Without going too much into detail, on a general level, I think people need to be able to share with others positive things that are going on. I think people are interested to experience positive growth. And media should always be very open and transparent, not from the top down. There should really be more people involved; more actual things that are happening should be taken actually in and should become part of the news. That is what’s actually making the news today interesting and dominating: the news, the eye reports and the people that are filming with their cell phones and writing their own blogs. This is what makes it so authentic and this can probably be a positive development. Again, it’s not a criticism; it’s just a general comment. ● Looking at all of the Jewish educational programs in Germany, do you think that there are still needs that are not being met in the long run? If so, what? Yes. Absolutely. There are two answers to this question. One is quality and one is quantity. Quantity speaking we have to; there’s a great need to reach many, many more young people. You have to realize that although there are programs going on for youth and children, it’s a drop in the ocean. There are so many more people that we are not being successful in reaching. We are trying to, but we have limited resources. I will give you three examples. We have hundreds of youth that we are in contact with in small towns. Just this past weekend we had about a hundred youths from all around Germany which were our guests for the weekend [in the Chabad Center celebrating Shabbat and getting to know the Center] We do it once a month. But we don’t have the resources to reach all of them on a constant basis. Each one of these places [JCs in small towns] we could make youth centers, we could make Sunday schools, we could give an ability to grow. Second example, here in Berlin and in many other large cities across Germany, there’s a great need to help these people, children and youth, to get a proper Jewish education. This is probably the greatest challenge. A 148 | P a g e
Page 1 and 2:
JEWS AND JEWISH EDUCATION IN GERMAN
Page 3 and 4:
Leading figures: The agenda of the
Page 5 and 6:
1. TOBY AXELROD May 13, 2009, Berli
Page 7 and 8:
Yes. Aside from the three-day festi
Page 9 and 10:
2. DMITRI BELKIN Frankfurt, June 8,
Page 11 and 12:
lives, they would say that they are
Page 13 and 14:
● And how much are they percentag
Page 15 and 16:
This has been different from town t
Page 17 and 18:
something that would be different?
Page 19 and 20:
oth are led without contact or with
Page 21 and 22:
don’t go to synagogue every Sabba
Page 23 and 24:
Germany after the 1990’s is a del
Page 25 and 26:
● It’s probably an unusual situ
Page 27 and 28:
18-30 year olds, yes, and within it
Page 29 and 30:
● Well, Chabad could say they’r
Page 31 and 32:
in German politics. This still does
Page 33 and 34:
I think the Jüdische Allgemeine Wo
Page 35 and 36:
I would say so. The Community reall
Page 37 and 38:
think you know them better, I’m t
Page 39 and 40:
centers. The state supports them in
Page 41 and 42:
7. GESA EDERBERG May 4, 2009, Berli
Page 43 and 44:
these spaces. Places where people m
Page 45 and 46:
the respective Community and less o
Page 47 and 48:
synagogue to meet the people and th
Page 49 and 50:
8. DAVID GALL May 28, 2009, Munich,
Page 51 and 52:
if the people in the Ministry don
Page 53 and 54:
presume, the close connection with
Page 55 and 56:
The question is how could they thro
Page 57 and 58:
● Is the percentage of young peop
Page 59 and 60:
Israel is important. I can’t say
Page 61 and 62:
Very poorly. People might be willin
Page 63 and 64:
This would only be possible with st
Page 65 and 66:
Yes, I see it in the bigger Communi
Page 67 and 68:
● What the perspectives for someb
Page 69 and 70:
Now we are also in talks with the U
Page 71 and 72:
● At least probably for those who
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 and 122: Yes, and in Hebrew. That’s one di
Page 123 and 124: organize that with the help of othe
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: There are some challenges of true a
show all

jews and jewish education in germany today - The Westbury Group

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?