jews and jewish education in germany today - The Westbury Group

● How would you describe the current relations between Russian-speaking and German-speaking Jews in
Germany?
That’s too general. It’s different in every Community. I know the Community in Hagen, for example, where
the relations are very good. When I first came to Hagen in 1994, there was a lot of help from Germanspeakers.
They helped in everything from registering with the authorities to looking for an apartment. There
are also Communities where it’s different, but doesn’t just have to do with the Community, but also with the
people.
● How would you describe the current relations between the secular and observant Jews in Germany?
Sometimes there are confrontations, but these don’t have anything to do with religiousness, but a lack of
tolerance on both sides.
● Both sides?
Both sides, although I personally feel that the religious people are more intolerant than the non-religious. But
that’s my personal opinion.
● Do you think that this will have an effect on the long-term development in the Community?
Yes, a bad one.
● Can anything be done?
You can do a lot, but this involves a wide range of questions. It starts with who or what is a Jew, because for
Russian-speaking Jews, it’s not just about religion, but it’s also an ethnic question. For German-speaking
Jews it’s just about religion. So there’s no common basis.
● Some voices are talking about a new pluralism of Jewish life in Germany. Do you share this view? And if
so, what are the most essential components of this new German-Jewish pluralism?
I partially share this view. First, what do you mean with new? Relating to pre-war conditions? Then the
answer is yes. In post-war Germany, as far as I understand, there was no pluralism. It’s starting to develop
now in parts, but these beginnings are very weak, and of course progressive Judaism is a part of this
pluralism, although they’re also now under the aegis of the Zentralrat (Central Council of Jews in Germany).
● But not all of them are involved with the Central Council, are they?
Well, that will happen sometime. As long as there is a standardized method of financing which is tied to
being a member of the Zentralrat, and as long as the German state remains uninvolved in this and does not
start looking at this in a new way, then nothing will change. There were articles in the Jüdische Zeitung that
said we know and we feel that there needs to be other opinions expressed.
● You mean the German language monthly Jüdische Zeitung?
Yes, I’m speaking about the German language Jüdische Zeitung. But there is no real competition on the
market due to the state subsidies; and that means that there won’t be pluralism.
● How significant is Israel for Jewish life in Germany today? Do you think that the connection to Israel
getting weaker or stronger?
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