Germany Close Up: ADL Chicago Young Leadership Mission to Germany

Reflection from Sachsenhausen- after the dust settled.

2010-03-26T12:48:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, our visit to the concentration camp left me with an overwhelming feeling of dispair. Because most of the camp had been destroyed, we were warned that we would have to "use our imagination" and yet, upon visiting, it was crystal clear just how horrendous life must have been for the victims. The wind was blowing and it was raining on and off...an eery reminder of just how dark our surroundings were. When we went inside one of the living quarters, I was shocked to learn that around 200 victims were forced to live on top of each other in a space that was just a little bit bigger than my apartment. Every day was the same and while the days involved role call, work, punishment, etc. it was thinking about people during the night that really made me so upset. We learned that the Nazi's were known to barge in and wake people up to torture them at all hours of the night. The days were so very miserable for them that it was hard to think that even at night, there was not even a couple of hours where one could escape within their dreams and have some peace (either because of the cold, the amount of people, or the Nazi's constantly coming in and out). I kept thinking how shocked I was that anyone could survive a week in such conditions, let alone months and even years. When we visited the crematorium, I was so very sad to think about how scary the last moments must have been for so many. It was so unfair. I thought about all that happens when someone dies in our lives and how we recognize their life through a funeral, and offer support and love to the family days, weeks and even years after the death so they can mourn. How could so many have spent their final moments in one place? kept going through my mind. At the museum, I learned that when the victims would arrive at the camp, the Nazi's would purposely give them the wrong size uniform (either too big or too small) to make them look and feel ridiculous. As if every other aspect of their life was not miserable enough, I couldn't believe the Nazi's were actually thinking about finding EVERY way possible to punish these people. I kept thinking...enough already! And yet it just kept going on. I was so grateful to have the opportunity to return back to the hotel and have our group discussion. So often, when you get so many smart and educated people together, such discussions can turn into debates and become quite confrontational. I was amazed at how kind and respectful each member was to every person in our group. It was a safe space for us to process such a heavy day and really brought us so much closer

Who is a Jew?

2010-03-25T17:58:00.001-05:00

Who Is A Jew?

A fact that has surprised many of us during the trip is the general German Jewish Community’s choice to only recognize as Jews those people with Jewish mothers. We were told that this is because the Jewish Community is predominantly Orthodox and so the decision is driven by Halacha (Rabbinical Jewish law). What is ironic here is the fact that the Nazis defined “Jewish” – through the Nuremberg Laws – as having at least one Jewish grandparent. Therefore, a significant proportion of the six million people classified and murdered by the Nazis as Jewish would not be considered Jewish by the Orthodox Jewish Community. The State of Israel’s “law of return” is based on the Nuremberg Laws in that any person who would have been targeted as a Jew by the Nazi regime has the right to make Aliyah to Israel and become an Israeli citizen. It is ironic and problematic, therefore, that the German Jewish Community – and certain other Jewish communities around the world for that matter – does not recognize as Jewish those who do not have a Jewish mother but who identify as Jewish. We have more about this subject to discuss and some of us have talked about bringing up this topic when we meet young Jewish Germans on tomorrow evening.

A Taste of Germany

After an “interesting” lunch at Old Western, (an American-style restaurant that served ribs, salads, and burgers pinned together with American flags, and displayed an “Aunt Jemima” statue in the entrance), we were let loose to explore Rostock’s city center. Rostock had an old European town flavor, with narrow cobble-stoned streets lined with boutiques and, most importantly, food vendors. The foods we tried included: fried cauliflower with cheese sauce, licorice, fried dough, Nutella and banana crepes, ice-cream, Bratwursts, cotton candy, steamy fresh bread, and the token “Gummy” store with a German flare. It would be unfair to exclude mentioning our favorite fashion store, T-K Maxx. The overall consensus of the group is that we didn’t want to leave, but time was not on our hands and we made our way to Hamburg (while eating the steamy fresh bread)…

Reflection

2010-03-25T01:16:00.000-05:00

Random thoughts from Germany (thus far)

I never knew the difference between the word Holocaust and Shoah. In fact, I’ve used them interchangeably many times. However, one of the reoccurring themes of this trip has been the definition of the word Holocaust and the controversy behind it. I never knew this word was controversial…and for those that are reading this (there are people reading this, right?!?!), I will give some examples. The Shoah refers only to the Jews being persecuted while Holocaust refers to all groups, including homosexuals, Sinti/Roma (gypsies), the disabled, etc.

When we heard from one of the speakers yesterday, who sits on an international Holocaust education task force, we quickly realized that the word Holocaust still does not have a defined meaning, which is in my opinion shameful. Basically, the international community does not educate on all the different groups that were discriminated against and the task force tries not to define the word Holocaust because of the backlash that it may cause. Backlash you ask? Of stating the truth? Of explaining history and how it happened? Why are we now able to define it for the Jews but are finding it difficult to explain what happened to others? In doing so, are we ourselves becoming “denyers?” I will leave these questions unanswered as from reading this you can already understand my opinion. However, I’m finding it hard to grasp and the only thing that continues to permeate with me are the fine words of the wise Rabbi Hillel…”If I am not for others, who will be for me?” (or something like that…dammit it’s getting late here)

Xenophobia and Anti-Semitism in Modern Germany

2010-03-25T01:09:00.002-05:00

Tuesday, March 22^nd: Blog Entry Number 5

Today’s formal theme was Xenophobia and Anti-Semitism in modern-day Germany. It was a long day, but we came out with a better perspective on both of these critical issues, which affect Jews throughout Germany and Europe.

Our day began at the Neue Synagogue, where we enjoyed Shabbat Services Friday. It was nice to return. We were able to view the exhibition, which featured artifacts from the original structure. These included Judaica, photos, and architectural elements. The synagogue was a glorious structure, Berlin’s largest, with 3,200 seats. The controversial architecture was taken from Moorish Spain, specifically the Ali Hambra. While the main sanctuary was badly damaged during the war, the front exterior has been restored, including the iconic dome, a Berlin landmark.

Following this, we began the series of formal presentations at the Centrum Judaicum, which is adjacent to the synagogue. The first speaker, Ralf Oberndorfer, gave an overview of the postwar efforts to bring the perpetrators of the Shoah to justice. We found it shocking that many former Nazis presided over the West German tribunals. And it would not be until the Auschwitz Trials in the 60’s that the Nazis were accused of genocide, as opposed to garden variety criminality. Mr. Oberndorfer also commented that the Catholic Church helped many Nazis, including Adolf Eichmann, escape after Germany’s defeat. But because the Vatican will not open its archives, the world will never know the true extent of the church’s complicity.

After a brief break, we had the pleasure of hearing from Cornelia Schmalz-Jacobsen. She spoke about her personal efforts to combat right-wing extremism in modern-day Germany. Mrs. Jacobsen has faced tremendous resistance, receiving death threats and hate mail. Yet she continues to coordinate efforts to stifle the extremist threat. The most moving part of her presentation came during the question-and-answer session, when a participant asked about her parents’ designation as “Righteous Among the Nation” by Yad Vashem. She told us that they were instrumental in saving the lives of somewhere between 100-300 Jews during the Shoah. Her parents did not view this as a heroic act; rather, they saw it as the right thing to do. This moved us deeply and showed us how ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

After a delicious kosher lunch, the presentations resumed with Matthias Adrian. Participants were apprehensive going in, as Mr. Adrian was a former right-wing extremist. We learned how his beliefs fed off of his ignorance and how his parents (and grandparents) encouraged his extremism through misinformation (such as Jews being responsible for the death of Jesus, justifying their suffering). Since he left the movement, Mr. Adrian has been involved with EXIT Deutschland, which helps reform political extremists. It is admirable that he committed himself to this organization. Related to this is the upcoming ADL Event featuring Frank Meeick, an American Neo-Nazi who has also left the movement. The stories of these two men shows that it is possible to change one’s ways and end hate.

Following a brief coffee break, we heard from Lev Liebeskind, representing the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance, and Research. The task force, started in 1998 in Sweden, includes 27 member countries. Participants were critical of Mr. Liebeskind’s discussion of the “Jewish Holocaust,” which excludes many other victim groups, including gays and the Roma & Sinti. Some also expressed skepticism that countries genuinely wish to be members of the task force, but are solely interested in publicity. For example, Turkey may view its membership as a way to divert attention from the Armenian genocide.

The final panel of the day included Toby Axelrod and Malte Holler, who discussed anti-semitic crime in Germany. While hate speech is illegal in Germany, there it still exists in many regions. There is, however, much less physical violence than rhetoric. Mr. Holler develops programs to combat this anti-semitism and xenophobia. Ms. Axelrod affirmed that hate crimes are limited, at least in Berlin, and that Jewish life is doing well in the city. We applaud the educational efforts of both the panelists, which dovetail with those of the ADL.

Following this presentation, we left the Centrum Judaicum and returned to the hotel for a break. Dinner, at Café Organge, featured Wolker Beck, a member of Germany’s Green Party. Beyond conversing with us throughout, Mr. Beck offered formal remarks about three issues: (1) reparations for Shoah survivors; (2) LGBT issues; and (3) human rights. On the second point, Mr. Beck noted that Germany does not have hate crime laws, although courts can impose more severe punishments for targeted acts. We appreciated Mr. Beck’s time and candor.

After dinner, we returned to the hotel, well fed, but fatigued. Many packed and went to sleep early, in anticipation of an early rise. Rostock and Hamburg await. In reflecting on what we learned throughout the course of our day, a number of questions arose:

1) With respect to Mr. Adrian, the former extremist: did he have a violent past?

2) How should governments define the Holocaust? Does the current definition exclude many of the victims?

3) With respect to Mr. Beck, are victim reparations appropriate? Can a price be put on human suffering?

4) How will Germany address the marginalization of Turkish immigrants in German society?

5) What kind of threat do the extremist parties of Hungary and Austria pose to European Jewry? Should Germany do more to combat this growing anti-semitism and xenophobia?

6) Should Germany create separate Holocaust memorials for different victims groups (such as women)? Should events be memorialized or their victims?

7) How can German-Israeli relations be strengthened, in the wake of the East Jerusalem settlement controversy, formally denounced by the government?

We hope that in the coming days these and many more will get answered. The picture becomes clearer, with each new experience.

Amy Berger

Barry Le Vine

Perry Meyers

2010-03-23T14:13:00.005-05:00

Es ist dem drei Tage im Deutschland (It is the third day in Germany)

2010-03-23T14:13:00.004-05:00

We began our third day in Germany with a guided bus tour throughout Berlin. Itay Lotem, our Israeli born, British raised, & Berlin resident, was our tour guide. Itay speaks 9 languages – English, Hebrew, German, French, Polish, Russian, Czech, Swedish, and Norwegian (although he claims his Norwegian isn’t that good). This was our first opportunity to learn about and see Berlin outside of our Mitte neighborhood. Highlights of our tour include:

· Berlin Wall (now a canvas for various artists called the East Side Gallery)

· Museum Island

· The first ever traffic light (It has four lights, the fourth of which is blue so that the operator could indicate when he was away using the restroom)

· Hotel Adlon (site of Michael Jackson hanging his son “Blanket” over his balcony)

· Brandenburg Gate

· Tiergarten (Berlin’s large central park)

We ended our tour at the Federal Foreign Office where we had a 5-star lunch at the International Club where many diplomats dined. The highlight of the meal included a dessert and palette cleanser of basil lemon sorbet. We then met with Dr. Ralf Mathias Reusch who discussed the three pillars of German foreign policy: Diplomatic relations, Economic relations, and Cultural relations – the focus of the session. Dr. Reusch talked about how cultural relations build international relationships, prevent conflict, and create positive economic effects for Germany.

Our next stop was Parliament, where we met with Dietmar Nietan, a member of the Socialist Democratic Party (Historically this was the only party to vote against Hitler and the Nazi policies (excluding the Communists)). He deals with external issues with the European Union as well the United States and Israel. Mr. Nietan is active with the Slave Labor Compensation Fund which pays reparations to Holocaust survivors and ensures the future of Holocaust education. He also discussed a range of other subjects including Hamas, Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the Armenian genocide.

After this discussion, we went up to the glass dome of the Reichstag which provided a captivating 360 degree view of Berlin.

The final session of our day was led by our very own program participant Danny Cohen, who is pursuing his PhD at Northwestern in Learning Sciences, and specifically focuses on Holocaust education. Danny’s workshop took a look at the ways various groups were discriminated against during WWII and how they are remembered and recognized today as Holocaust victims. Although the majority of Holocaust victims were Jewish, we discussed how the other targeted groups (homosexuals, Scinti, Roma, Catholics, Jehovas Witnesses, political dissidents, and several others) and survivors from this group, should be represented as well in Holocaust education efforts.

The day ended at Restaurant Oranium where we had the chance to dine, drink, and talk with German peers.

Day Three- The More I Know, The Less I Understand

2010-03-21T17:42:00.001-05:00

Visiting Sachsenhausen is like walking in the footsteps of death.

The evil was in the details.
The doctors were more sadistic than the guards.

16 tons of ashes.

Did you know they brought prostitutes to the camp?
These women were victimized- twice.
Some were raped 30 times a day.
They werent Jewish- no one wanted to spread the "Jewish disease".

I feel a tremendous amount of shame visiting the camp.

I dont know if visiting the camp brings be closer to or further away from understanding.

We Germans don't trust each other anymore.

We are always concerned of what we were capable of then, and what we are capable of now.

How could they build a police station on the camp grounds?

Should there be a memorial for the perpetrators?

Where would I have been?

Maybe it isn't black and white.
Maybe there are shades of grade.

What am I supposed to do with this burning feeling inside me?
How can I remember this the way I am supposed to?

How can I teach this?

How does this impact my Jewish narrative?

Who am I because of this?

If Sachsenhausen was underwelming, I don't want to be overwhelmed.

Day One-Two

2010-03-21T17:31:00.003-05:00

First Evening:

Our group met our fearless mission leaders on Friday afternoon. We started by having everyone introduce themselves to the group. The highlight of the meeting was the birthday cake that the mission leaders presented to our fellow participant, Larry, who turned 21 once again. The whole group got in the spirit and sang “Happy Birthday.” The tour guides handed out very nice, moleskin journals that included maps of the area. Dagmar, the founder of Germany Close-Up and a practicing protestant, shared the story of how the program began as well as its goals and objectives. Funded as an extension of the Marshall Plan, the program was initiated to bring Jewish young professionals and graduate students (aged 25 to 35) together in Germany to learn about how the country is dealing with the holocaust and the tragic memories that remain.

After that, we attended Shabbat services at the Neue Synagogue – the first reform shul in Germany as well as the first female rabbi ordained in this country. The service was spoken in Hebrew while the sermon was in German – no English for us to follow. At the conclusion, there was a Shabbat dinner hosted by the synagogue.

In the evening, most of us visited a local wine bar to start the night. Our next stop was supposed to be Rodeo, a popular local night club. However, we were denied access. It is apparently not appropriate to be drunk and loud with twenty of your closest friends at Rodeo. Oy vey! Since that did not work out, we moved on to Lola’s for more drinks. As the evening progressed, people split up into small groups – many of us ended up at Rodeo later in the night anyways. A smaller group of us went to a different bar and met Willy Wonka and his Oompa Lumpas. Who knew they were from Scotland?

First Full Day:

Breakfast is offered every morning by the hotel from 6:30AM to 10AM, which many of us slept through. At noon we ate a buffet lunch at Alexander Plaza Hotel. Dagmar led us on the “Don’t Trust the Green Grass” empty spaces walking tour. The most interesting facts from the tour were the following:

· Only a third of Jews in Berlin and in Germany overall were murdered in the Holocaust compared to the 90% in neighboring Poland.

· The first reference to Jews in Berlin was in a 1295 edict prohibiting local weavers to purchase cotton from Jews.

· In the 1600’s, after the Jews had been expelled, a new ruler allowed French hugenots and 50 Jewish families to settle in Berlin.

· The Jews had to pay for the right to live in Berlin and were limited to having only 1 child per family.

· There are 30,000 Jews that currently belong to the Jewish community.

· Dagmar pointed out “stumbling stones” – small square brass like tiles in the ground – each one has an individual’s name on it – memorializing someone who was killed in the holocaust.

After the walking tour, we went to the Holocaust memorial. First, we walked around the art monument that surrounds the outside of the memorial. We received a thorough explanation on how this monument was chosen. The opinion of the art was very different. Some people appreciated it, while others found it less than impactful. In addition, there were kids that were jumping on top of the art from one section to the next, which was deemed very disrespectful to some participants. Inside the memorial, the story of the holocaust was told. While it is a story that many of us already know very well, it is always emotional and thought-provoking to hear about.

Saturday evening, we went to the symphony. It was an interesting experience for all. Some people really appreciated it, especially the extremely skilled pianist. Other people were less enthusiastic about the performance due to either jetlag or just a general lack of interest.

A Photo Journey

2010-03-19T11:06:00.004-05:00

If you want to follow our photo journey over the next ten days please go to

http://gallery.me.com/bojo419/100301

Preparations Begin

2010-03-19T08:36:00.000-05:00

This afternoon the ADL group will come together for the first time in Berlin. Most have already arrived and are sleeping off the jetlag. Other have been traveling Europe for a few days and have started to explore this mystifying city. Shoshanna and I arrived yesterday morning and did our best to get acclimated. We had a leisurely lunch down the street from the hotel, made friends with Jucito our energetic waiter and we met our fabulous German guides! Lisa and Kathleen are the perfect counterparts to Shoshanna and I. Quickly we moved from discussing our educational and employment backgrounds to discussing family dysfunction and religion. I think it is safe to say that we are going to have an interesting and enriching journey. Here is just a taste of our experiences thus far....

Reflecting on tonight's first meeting

2010-02-24T21:45:00.000-06:00

And so it begins.....

Tonight ADL's young leaders participating on the upcoming mission to Germany came together to discuss our fears, our biases, our hopes and our dreams for what will truly be a transformative trip.

We explored issues of responsibility and the need to still place blame, the resentment that we still feel, and what it means to forgive.

We thought critically about how this trip may positively or perhaps negatively impact our Jewish identities.

We thought about safety, our needs, our wants, and our desires.

We started the process of reflection hoping to be prepared when we arrive.

But can we be fully prepared?

Tonight we start the excavation process of digging, opening, and reflecting upon our personal histories, our shared histories, and the future we will build together.

May tonight only be the beginning.

Congratulations ADL Young Leadership Participants to Germany

2010-01-28T13:24:00.000-06:00

Shoshanna Weinberg and I would like to extend a sincere congratulations to the following selected participants for the upcoming ADL Young Leadership Mission to Germany"

Lindsay Avner
Amy Berger
Minda Block
Bernard Cherkasov
Glenn Chernyak
Daniel Cohen
Rachel Drescher
Melissa Gudell
Taryn Hyman
Michelle Kallick
Jeffrey Keene
Mindy Kurlansky
Barry Le Vine
Candace Meyers
Perry Meyers
Scott Polisky
Dana Resnik
Erin Salins
Barry Schneiderman
Amy Sider
Jason Silver
Courtney Smolen
Erica Tarantur
Roslyn Turner
Larry Zeidman

Teri Herbstman, ADL Layleader reflects on her recent experience on Germany Close Up

2010-01-14T10:25:00.001-06:00

The experiences I had in Berlin with Germany Close Up were incredible. The people that came on the program and the staff that ran it were all amazing and I am confident that our group will remain close long after the trip. We saw so many sites and learned so much in such a short amount of time. Growing up, Germany was never a place that came up on my top 10 places I'd like to go in life (it probably didnt even make the top 100 list). We never bought German products and 'Germany', the name, always came with negative conotations. While I still STRONGLY believe that we as a people, a nation, the world should NEVER forgive and NEVER forget the Shoah or which countries played a huge role in it, Germany Close Up has left me with a different take on Germany today.

The German government is taking steps forward to take responsibility for its past and make a better future for Jews today. That cannot be said about neighboring countries (ie. Poland and Austria) who played a role in the Shoah and still have large amounts of Anti-Semitism coursing through their countries. You cannot walk down a busy street in Berlin without remembering the Shoah. All throughout the city, the government has issued a new project of tripping, or stepping stones. They are gold stones throughout the city on the sidewalk in front of any house or apartment where a Jew used to live. On the stone, it has the person's name, date of birth, date of deportation, the name of the camp they were sent to, and it says "murdered" with the year. Not born on this date, died on this date....murdered. And they are all written in German; so, every where a German walks today, he is reminded of his country's past. The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is massive branching several city blocks and is next to the Brandenburg Gate. They said the reason for this placement is that the Brandenburg Gate is a symbol of peace and freedom after the wall came down and so no German should be able to see this sign of freedom without seeing the Shoah memorial so they always remember.

We had the opportunity to meet with many high ranking officials in the German Parliament. We were able to ask them tough, personal questions about Germany's current relationship with the Jews in their country and with Israel. We got to ask questions about what they are doing about the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe and what programs they have set up for holocaust education in their school districts. We went to many museums and galleries and had great tours of Berlin, learning about its history including the Shoah, Check Point Charlie, and the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, as well as many other facts about the city. The Jewish Museum in Berlin is massive and teaches young German non-Jewish students about the Holocaust but more so about what Judaism is and its origins which is so important. We also visited neighboring cities of Berlin like Wittenberg and Potsdam. We went to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. We had dinner with German young people our age one night and dinner with young German Jews another night. We even watched Maccabi Haifa play against Bayern Munchen in a soccer match at a local pub!

Berlin is an amazing place to see and a city that I have grown to love - it should be in everyone's Top 10 lists of places to visit because it is so important that we all go and see what the country is doing to take responsibility for its past and to ensure it will never happen again in the future. Germany Close Up did an outstanding job of making sure we as participants received a fair portrait of Berlin and its relations to the Jewish community and Israel today. The schedule was well organized and I felt that all of my time there while on the program was extremely well spent. I would highly recommend this trip to others and I wish that I will go back to Berlin one day soon! Please let me know if anyone has any questions about the trip as I would be happy to answer them (teri.herbstman@gmail.com). Have fun, safe travels, and make sure to enjoy a pint of beer while you are there and clink glasses with a friend and after saying 'L'chaim!', add in 'Hoch die Tassen! and Prost!' as well!

2010-01-12T10:06:00.001-06:00

Check out Further Details on Germany Close Up: ADL Chicago Young Leadership Mission to Germany

2009-12-16T16:58:00.005-06:00

http://www.germanycloseup.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=15&Itemid=101

Application Deadline

2009-12-04T10:10:00.000-06:00

The Deadline for the ADL Mission to Germany has been extended to January 20th, 2010. Please submit all complete applications to office@germanycloseup.de

If you have any questions please contact Jenna Benn at jbenn@adl.org

The Anti-Defamation League In Collaboration with Germany Close Up is Proud to Present the First Ever Chicago Young Leadership Mission to Germany

2009-11-24T09:38:00.005-06:00

The Anti-Defamation League in Collaboration with Germany Close Up is proud to Present the First Ever Chicago Young Leadership Mission to Germany.

This mission will provide ADL's Young Leaders between the age of 18-35 with an opportunity to experience modern Germany up close. ADL Leaders will have the unique opportunity to visit actual sites of historical events, partake in various aspects of contemporary Jewish life in Germany and meet with Germans of all backgrounds. The purpose of the program is to allow participants to gain their won perspective on Germany through individual experience.

Academic lectures and distinguished guest speakers will engage participants in discussion about the Shoah and Germany's Nazi terror, in issues of memory and Germany's continuing effort to come to terms with this democratic country in the heart of the European Union which is home to the third-fastest growing Jewish community worldwide.

The ADL Young Leadership Mission will focus on the following topics
Berlin and United Germany
The Holocaust and the Nazi Era
Jewish Berlin, Present and Past
The Former East Germany
Integration of New members of the Jewish Community
German-Israeli Relations
Transatlantic German-American Relations

The ten day program costs a total of 650.00 which covers flight, accommodation, food, transportation, and programming.

To learn more about the mission please contact Jenna Benn, ADL Assistant Director at jbenn@adl.org

Preparations

2009-11-24T07:29:00.005-06:00

ADL's Germany Close Up Applications are Now Available Online