jews and jewish education in germany today - The Westbury Group

● Looking at the educational programs offered in the Jewish Communities today, what programs are still
missing?
Conversion courses. They may be in Russian, for Russian-speaking people. I think what is also missing is a
targeted effort of communicating religious values and religious content in a way that Russians understand,
which is on an intellectually higher level. Also I think what is lacking is an intergenerational approach, so, for
example, grandparents and grandchildren, something like that which brings two generations together, which
acknowledges the biographies of the older, but frames it within the new narratives of the younger. Something
like that. I think this would be an interesting approach. Also because due to the immigration and the
integration process, these generations live in different worlds. You have in one family two different worlds;
the younger world and the older world. And the Community could be the bridge between these two worlds,
bringing them together and saying your Jewish identity is something which links you together.
● Do you think that the synagogues in Germany will remain the core of organized Jewish life in the long run?
Or can other educational or cultural institutions play an almost equal role, and be able to attract the
thousands of secular Jews who don’t attend a synagogue?
I do think that the core is religion and it should be so, because it ensures the continuity. I think what we need
is having the nucleus being religion and having a whole Community center around it with opportunities for
people who do not identify with religion that much to feel part of the Community, of the broader Community.
I wouldn’t know how to convey to people their identity without referring to religion. What I think we should
stop doing is expecting that people actively see themselves as religious people. We should offer them an
opportunity to participate in religious life without a profession of faith.
● Do you think the Communities could offer more to the elderly?
Again, I think a great thing would be bring them together with younger people, bringing younger people to
talk to them about religion, for example. I think that they’re living in a bubble and it’s sad. I don’t blame
them, it’s not their fault. I think we should be trying very softly and kindly to find ways for them to
communicate with the world based on things other than their past. Acknowledging their past, but bringing
them back to the real world. I think this would be nice. Maybe it’s too abstract. But something in that
direction.
● Should there be some kind of political support from the Community in order to improve the social situation
of the elderly immigrants in Germany?
Well, I’m lobbying for this.
● What is your experience in working with non-Jewish German officials and politicians?
The irritations are always there on both sides, but it’s always like that, not only with Jews, with anyone. I
think that the political capital is scarce, but my impression is that the official Jewish structures are very
generous with wasting it. And at some point the political structures just aren’t perceptive any more to
arguments that come from Jewish Communities.
● Is there a lack of political sensitivity?
This is exactly what I mean, and this also happens on the Jewish side. You have to be selective about when
you do PR. You have to be selective about wasting attention, public attention, political attention. If you want
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