Education against hate: Jewish Academy opens

The Jewish Academy opened today in Frankfurt am Main. According to the Central Council of Jews, it is the first supra-regional non-university Jewish educational institution since the Shoah.

The idea of ​​a Jewish Academy came about more than 15 years ago. Now the academy wants to promote scientific, philosophical and cultural exchange. According to the Central Council of Jews, important public discourses should be taken up there and enriched with the Jewish perspective. In doing so, the Jewish Academy wants to contribute to increasing acceptance of religious and cultural plurality in Germany.

The focus of the Jewish Academy ranges from living together in a modern, democratic society to debates on religion and tradition, anti-Semitism, art and ethics, and questions of history and memory. With further training, conferences, meetings and seminars, the Jewish Academy aims to address the Jewish community as well as those involved in science, politics and culture as well as the general public.

Anyone who claims that hatred of Jews has no place in society is denying reality, said the President of the Central Council of Jews, Josef Schuster, at the opening on Monday. “Hate has long since taken this place.” Therefore, hatred of Jews is the enemy of the Enlightenment. Only through education can something be done about it. It is also the house's job to stand up to hatred of Jews, said Schuster. According to the Central Council, another focus should be Jewish tradition, culture and history.

“Hesse is the most Jewish state in Germany and Frankfurt is the most Jewish city,” said Hesse’s Prime Minister Boris Rhein at the opening on Monday. The Jewish Academy creates a place where Jewish thinking and Jewish perspectives help shape our common future. In doing so, it builds on the tradition of the Free Jewish Teaching House and the legacy of Jewish thinkers such as Franz Rosenzweig and Theodor W. Adorno.

The speeches at the opening also revolved around the current debates surrounding the Left Party in Berlin. Anti-Semitism has been discussed in parts of the party since the elections in Berlin. Rhein also said in his speech: In Berlin, the Left was elected not despite, but because of its anti-Semitism. You don't form a coalition with people like that.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also expressed criticism. He was also present at the opening ceremony of the Jewish Academy on Monday. “Hate of Jews remains hatred of Jews, no matter which side it comes from, no matter what motives it follows,” said Steinmeier. You can see that enemies of democracy are gaining political power. "Wherever coalitions are negotiated and governments are formed, this must be a condition. Anti-Semitism must not have any influence on government work anywhere in Germany," said Steinmeier at the opening of the Jewish Academy and called for clear solidarity with Jews in Germany. Hatred of Jews must be put in its place without any back door or reservation. “Anyone who chants ‘Death to the Jews’ in the streets and calls for the extinction of the Jewish state must not find understanding or applause in any party.” All parties are obliged to counter anti-Semitism throughout their entire sphere of influence. The direct, credible, unambiguous defense of anti-Semitism should never be in question.

Frankfurt's mayor Mike Josef also warned at the ceremony that Jewish life should only be noticed when it was threatened. The Jewish Academy is an expression of the strong Jewish community in the city. It will act “like a breakwater against the tide of anti-Semitism,” he said.

The new building of the Jewish Academy on Frankfurt's Senckenberganlage between the trade fair district, the university campus and Westend cost around 40 million euros. The federal government, the state of Hesse and the city of Frankfurt also supported the construction according to the plans of the Frankfurt architect Zvonko Turkali.