jews and jewish education in germany today - The Westbury Group

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No, I would not say there was a specific motivation. Actually, all my life I’ve enjoyed learning something new, and there was also a great interest in history and then, increasingly, in Jewish history. I really enjoy reading and discovering stories and topics, to consider them a bit more profoundly, and then to forward them to other people. That is how I write my books. And this is also how I started with the Zametki. ● The web portal Zametki is completely non-profit? Yes. It’s completely non-profit. The authors do not get paid, and I have only invested my own money. ● Do you think Jews in Germany feel good about being an integral part of German society? Yes. Exactly, I have this feeling. I can’t speak for everyone, but in my opinion probably what helped me was that I worked from the very beginning. After several months in Germany I found a good job and since then, after language courses and further vocational courses I was very quickly able to find a good job which fit my skills and experience. I enjoy it very much, also from the technical, professional, material side. We are the largest company of our kind in Germany. Financial information technology was an exact fit for my qualifications. From the very beginning I was very proud of my company, my life and now of my Germany. I can say that, too. When Germany plays soccer … [My son played soccer for many years and I liked it.] ● What happens with when Germany plays against Russia? They don’t meet very often. Against Ukraine – that was a problem… ● And when Germany plays against Israel? The question isn’t quite fair, because it’s like who do you like more, Mom or Dad? I can’t say, or just say both. ● That’s also an answer. I don’t separate both sides and that’s important. However, I can really understand if someone has had different experiences and has a different opinion. If, for example, someone didn’t find a job and has to live on welfare, then there’s stress on your morale and so on. That’s something else. I was lucky, that’s what I can say. The first few months in Germany, at least the first six months were very difficult, you’ve got to be heroic. It’s not easy to become integrated so fast. ● It’s estimated that almost half of all Jews living in Germany eligible to be members are not connected with the Jewish Communities. What do you think are the main reasons for this? Individualism? Or is it something to do with the Communities themselves? The local Jewish Community plays an important role, of course. When the Community is attractive, then people come. The secularization trend is general, not just in Germany and not just among Jews. It’s not a coincidence that the new Liberal Community of Hanover has gotten a building that just had belonged to a church community. In America, for example, in my experience, not all Jews are members of the Jewish Community. That’s life, that’s modern life. That’s the trend. ● Would you say secularization is a normal trend? Yes. It would be funny to feel Jewish anyway. The religion says clearly that you’re Jewish when you go to the synagogue, read the Talmud and so on. There’s no other alternative. But you can still be Jewish when you 19 | P a g e
don’t go to synagogue every Sabbath. That’s life. Alexander Voronel 2 also said that he is a Jew, but that it would be too crude to say, for example to uphold the 613 Mizvot. Almost no one can live this way, not all 613. It’s impossible. ● What are the principal Jewish structures in Germany today? Is there something besides the synagogue that’s equally appealing for Jews in Germany? The last question is a little bit outdated. ● Outdated? Why? Because some Communities are well organized and are looking for possibilities to connect more people and to create networks. I can just look around. In Hanover there’s an old Community, a so-called Orthodox or United Community [Einheitsgemeinde] that has a nice building and there’s an old people’s home next door. At first this Community had every possibility. They were alone, there were no other Communities and of course when you wanted to go to synagogue, then you would have gone there. But now there are others. There’s ours, the Liberal Community, and there’s the Chabad Lubavitch. Chabad Lubavitch is very active and very attractive to lots of people. They are working just like in the Jewish centers in America. ● You would say Chabad in Hanover is working like a JCC in America? Yes. And now if you’re looking for Jewish life in Hanover, then you would probably first discover Chabad Lubavitch. For example, last year at Hanukkah the mayor lit the menorah at the main square in Hanover. This event was organized by Chabad Lubavitch, not from the United Community or from the Liberal Community. However, the Liberal Community is also trying to participate in public life. On May 1st, there was a meeting about anti-fascism and there the Liberal Community leaders were represented. But you don’t see the people from the United Community. They’re sitting in their old building and aren’t on the street. That’s why the not extremely religious people prefer to go to Chabad Lubavitch or the Liberal Community, and the cultural programs of both Communities are also attractive. Just today I got something from Chabad Hanover, an invitation for Shavuot Ice Cream party, it’s fun for the kids and everyone. The Chabad Community is very active. The share of religious visitors [of the Chabad programs, O.G.] might be around 25%, but the other people come as well because the events are attractive. And the Liberal Community is trying to do the same thing. Not as professionally and it needs, I’d estimate, great financial possibilities. That’s why I think that 25%, it’s low, but that’s life. You’ve also got to work with the other percent. ● Would you describe the four Jewish Communities in Hanover as proof of a new Jewish pluralism in Germany? Pluralism depends on who’s providing the money. ● How do you mean that? I think Jewish pluralism is an important thing. But the Community can only function when it has a good building, and a budget for events and to pay for a Rabbi. The Liberal Community didn’t have any particular financial backing for many years. Just now a support association has been established. When the money is there, then pluralism can flourish, that’s not a problem. When there’s only one source, then it complicated. 2 Alexander Voronel, a friend of Evgueni Berkovitch and former Soviet Jewish dissident, left Moscow/USSR in the mid- 1970’s and later became one of the most well-known Russian Jewish intellectuals and publicists in Israel. He is, among others, editor of the Russian speaking literary journal “22”. 20 | 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: oth are led without contact or with
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
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● At least probably for those who
Page 73 and 74:
I am sure that one of the next issu
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● 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
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10. Many Jews in Germany seem to ke
Page 89 and 90:
14. MICHAEL KOGAN June 12, 2009, D
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● 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
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● Would you say that most Russian
Page 99 and 100:
to make a big fuss out of not being
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16. ARKADY LITVAN May 27, 2009, Han
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can’t speak German well up to tod
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● Another youth center? Our youth
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17. JEWGENIJ SINGER June 8, 2009, F
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philosophical concept of Liberal Ju
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For the Community board election, f
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The social circumstances have impro
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Well, from the perspective of the F
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understand me in stores or doctors
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librarians all over Germany. Now we
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Yes, and in Hebrew. That’s one di
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organize that with the help of othe
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will be some immigrants who are dee
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We started with 17 kids, and I thin
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● What do you think about the gen
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and the question exactly how volunt
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Opening to different movements. Tha
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young people are always treated as
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I think what is really missing is t
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Community]. I don’t see this plur
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● What are the principal Jewish s
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� What would you say about the yo
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throughout Germany]. They come out
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There are some challenges of true a
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Unfortunately, the reporting about
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