jews and jewish education in germany today - The Westbury Group

the respective Community and less on the people. If they are not asked to do something in the right way, why
should they?
● What are the main reasons the fact that some Jews do not become involved in the Communities?
I think one reason is that the Communities have very often been too self-sufficient, too established and not
welcoming enough. Newcomers, and I have a lot to do with them, often lamented that they went to this
synagogue and nobody even said “Shabbat Shalom” or just said “Shabbat Shalom” and nothing beyond that,
so they never went back. Which is a legitimate reaction. I also know a really sad case, in which a family with
special-needs-children have been alienated and are now living somewhere else and are not part of a Jewish
Community at all.
●But why?
Because of prejudice, gossip, people saying how can you bring such a child into the synagogue? Really,
really bad attitudes.
On the other hand, you simply won’t get everybody into the Community. People might just not be interested;
they may happen to be Jewish, but not be interested. There is a real demand to make Jewish Community life
more welcoming, and to make it intellectually more challenging.
● What is your experience with non-Jewish German officials and politicians? Are you satisfied with it?
In terms of officials, say political, administrative and so on, my experience is very, very positive. It’s good
and it’s easy to work with them. There might be some irritations, with some anti-religious feelings within the
former East Germany but that’s really the only thing.
● Anti-religious attitudes among East German politicians?
Once or twice, yes. But this is really negligible. On the official level, the willingness of cooperation is
amazing. And in the non-Jewish population there’s sometimes an even effusive interest.
● Too much non-Jewish interest?
Yes, sometimes I find myself having to explain to non-Jews why I can’t find more time to talk to them. I
can’t spend all my time talking and working with non-Jews, that’s just not possible. People take it very hard,
sometimes, because they think they have a right to like if they are showing an interest in Jewish issues, then I
should be more than willing to accommodate them. But, actually I have to do some other things, as well. So
that’s a complicated issue. And it’s especially complicated in a situation where there are so few educators. If
we would have enough Jewish, knowledgeable educators, then we could hire somebody for this task. But if I
have to decide do I talk to a group of Jewish children or do I talk to a group of non-Jewish children then of
course I choose the Jewish children.
● What is your general impression of the non-Jewish German media coverage on Jewish developments in
Germany?
Jewish life in Germany is covered very comprehensively. It even tends to receive too much attention. It’s
covered well and usually also covered very positively. Problematic is the over-attention to internal conflicts.
If a Protestant or Catholic congregation of the same size throws out their president or banned somebody from
being a member, this would not even make the headlines. Maybe it makes the headlines in the local
newspaper. But if such things happen in a Jewish Community of the same size, it’s on the first page. It really
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