jews and jewish education in germany today - The Westbury Group

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10. JOHANNES HEIL June 8, 2009, Heidelberg ● Prof. Heil, what do you consider the current major challenges/difficulties facing the Jewish Communities and organizations in Germany? As you know the majority of Jewish Communities consist of a Russian speaking majority now, most of them immigrants from the former Soviet Union who came here during the 1990’s. A part of them has a very strong religious consciousness, but a huge number of them have lost all contact to the Jewish religion and tradition during Soviet times. The basics have to be imparted to create a European Jewish identity in the Community. It is important to have qualified personnel on the local level in order to form stable Jewish Communities, and first of all to find a way how to involve more young Jewish people. ● Do you see generation specific problems or difficulties? At my visits to the local Jewish Community of Heidelberg, I see that a lot of elderly people are frequenting the synagogue and the events on offer. I also note that the middle age group, let’s say those in their 40’s and 50’s, are almost not present. There are a lot of reasons for this. Some of them seem really unable to join Community events, because they are too busy with finding jobs, or further vocational training. So the crucial question is what about third group, the youth? No doubt, there is a high potential, and it is one of the biggest challenges to create programs that attract the young people and motivate them for commitment. ● How would you describe the current relations between German Jewish veterans and Russian speaking immigrants? Well, history normally does not repeat itself. But what the Jewish Communities are undergoing is just a kind of repetition. Immediately after World War II a few German Jews came back to their former places of residence; some had survived there, having been hidden. However, a majority in the newly founded Communities were Jewish displaced persons from Eastern Europe. So, what you call the “German veterans” are these who are trying now to integrate the recent influx from Eastern Europe, especially from the former USSR. These veterans had their own immigrant experiences a few decades ago. So there might be misunderstandings, some language or other barriers, but the immigration experience is something that many on both sides have in common. I am optimistic in this regard, I think that can also connect. ● 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? It’s not that easy to answer this question. Yes, I would say, there is Jewish pluralism now in Germany at some places within the Einheitsgemeinde [United Community], and at some places by detached, distinct communities and institutions. I think this is a quite normal process. But it’s hard to predict where it will lead. There is much variety in the about 100 Jewish Communities in Germany, cultural differentiations, religious differentiation, different Minyanim, and why shouldn’t that be? All congregations have their impacts, it’s a normal process. ● The United Communities have understood themselves as being more or less Orthodox. Now there are strong impacts by the Liberals and also by the Conservatives/Masorti. Do you see chances for a vibrant development for all of these congregations? 63 | P a g e
Yes, I see it in the bigger Communities, but not in small Communities with 300-400 members. The small ones have to find out for themselves how to deal with these different opportunities, and it will depend on the willingness of the respective majorities there, regardless whether Orthodox, or Masorti, or Reform. Concerning the bigger cities, not all of them will have different synagogues and Communities, and I think this is also not necessary. If there is a huge synagogue like the Westend Synagogue in Frankfurt which has different places for prayer, then of course, this is the right place to create plurality and to try it. ● Israel has been a central element of collective identity in the Jewish Communities of Germany during the last decades. Do you think that will continue in the future, more or less on the same level? It’s hard to say on what level this will continue. Of course, Jewish solidarity with Israel, and lots of individual experiences with the country, kinship bonds, all these are very important elements in Community life. Also from the outside world, Jewish Communities are very often identified by their connections with Israel. However, I do not think, that the connection with Israel has been the only central element in Jewish identity in recent decades. There has been a much broader spectrum of elements that all together have formed Jewish identity in Germany. During the last two decades the membership of the Jewish Communities has grown enormously and this gives space for more and different constitutions of identities. Israel will always remain an important part of identity and Community life, just due to history. Because this is the place where Jews have been living all the time, and where the Shoah survivors found a haven. I’m sure this will also be a major factor of determining the experiences of Jewish Communities in 100 years. There will be several other elements besides this with growing importance. ● You have been the prorector of the University of Jewish Studies in Heidelberg for two years. What is your general experience with German officials, and how do you see this on the general German level? Well, we have full support by the federal government, the local government and the University of Heidelberg. Some have the impression that the official policy is simply to provide financial support in an attempt to try and repair what happened to the Jews in Germany in recent history, at least to repair symbolically, and that they would actually not intend to do that much. On the other hand, there seems to be a kind of conviction that our university can give something back, not only to the narrow issues of Jewish Communities and towards Jewish and non-Jewish religious forums, but also to play an important role in social, political and cultural life. I would say they even expect us to give something back with all the credits of this institution. Not only to Jewish places, but also to museums, the media, conferences, making an impact on the non-Jewish environment as well. The concept of the university fits the bill and there’s still a majority of non-Jewish students here. ● What are the current proportions? The share of Jewish students has grown during the last few years but it has still not yet reached 50 percent. And not all of the non-Jewish students are Christians. We have a lot of students here who are without any religious affiliation, especially among those from East Germany, and there are also students with a Muslim background. So you see, our university is definitely not fixed on a Jewish microcosm. ● What are the proportions between Jewish students originally from Germany and Jewish students with migration background? It’s rather a question how you want to define it. For example, we have many Jewish students here who came with their families from another country but who have been living here for a long time. We can even say they’re already a new generation of Jewish students. All in all, we have 14 different nationalities here among our students. There are also a few Israelis; we have students from China and Egypt. I have doctorate students 64 | P a g e
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JEWS AND JEWISH EDUCATION IN GERMAN
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Leading figures: The agenda of the
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1. TOBY AXELROD May 13, 2009, Berli
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Yes. Aside from the three-day festi
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2. DMITRI BELKIN Frankfurt, June 8,
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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: This would only be possible with st
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
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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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