In November 2024, a delegation of leaders from the youth movements in Israel traveled to Germany. Organized by ConAct, the visit took the group to Frankfurt am Main, Leipzig, Lutherstadt Wittenberg, and Berlin. Among other activities, they had the opportunity to engage deeply with the growing issue of antisemitism and the challenges faced by the Jewish community in Germany. The delegation was accompanied by Christine Mähler, Director of ConAct, along with other instructors of the ConAct team.

From History to Present: Key Stops on the Journey

The program began in Frankfurt with an overview of the history and current manifestations of antisemitism, followed by presentations on Germany’s migration society, its opportunities, and challenges. Visits to the Anne Frank Educational Center and the Jewish Museum Frankfurt provided deeper insights into Jewish life and the handling of antisemitic hostilities, especially in light of the events since October 7, 2023. Educational projects addressing both antisemitism and racism were also discussed.

In Leipzig, discussions focused on anti-democratic tendencies and the support for Jewish communities in Saxony, which is home to three of them. The group also gained insights into antisemitic and authoritarian attitudes in Germany through the presentation of a study by the Else Frenkel Brunswik Institute at Leipzig University. The study highlighted differences between eastern and western, as well as northern and southern Germany, which increasingly converge, according to the study’s title, in shared resentments.

In Wittenberg, the focus shifted to German-Israeli youth exchange programs, which sparked particular interest among youth organizations not yet involved in such exchanges. Another focus was the history of Christian antisemitism. A city tour and discussions on how the Protestant Church currently addresses antisemitic sculptures on churches in Saxony-Anhalt rounded off the visit.

Building Networks and Partnerships

The program concluded with a networking seminar in Berlin as part of “WE ARE CONNECTED: Education and Encounter After October 7.” In addition to celebrating inspiring partnerships, the Israeli youth organizations presented their work under the altered conditions since October 2023.

For the Israeli guests, the impressions and the overview of the situation in Germany during the trip with ConAct highlighted „how important it was for us, as leaders of the Israeli youth organizations and movements, to learn together about such an important topic, exchange ideas, and reflect on the responsibility we have as educators in Israel to engage with this issue and develop appropriate initiatives.”

Through this program, ConAct continues to deepen bilateral collaboration. The delegation returned to Israel with new perspectives and strategies concerning antisemitism and the important relationship between Germany and Israel in the fields of youth and education.