We will fight all forms of anti-Semitism not only because it is undesirable for us in foreign and domestic policy, but also because we emphatically reject it on humanitarian grounds.
At a glance
- Anti-Semitism is not just a problem of the past. For years, there has been a tangible increase in attacks on Jews, as well as hate speech, abuse and threats on social media.
- Anti-Semitism is not only deeply rooted in the DNA of the political right; while also finding more and more support among left-wing extremists, conspiracy thinkers, Islamists and even mainstream society.
- As the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung we take a clear stance: We see it as a mission and incentive to continue the fight against Anti-Semitism and to advocate Jewish life in Germany.
- We keep the memory of the Holocaust alive through various educational programmes. Our programmes aim to inform, raise awareness, educate, encourage reflection and show solidarity.
Content
1. Vilification, incitement and violence against Jews on the rise
2. News forms of anti-Semitism
4. Against hostility towards Jews and for Jewish life in Germany
5. Our offers and projects on the topic
6. Publications, events and media contributions on the topic
Vilification, incitement and violence against Jews on the rise
Anti-Semitism is not a ghost of the past. For some years now, attacks on Jews, assaults on synagogues and Jewish cemeteries, the burning of Israeli flags as well as anti-Semitic abuse, incitement and threats on social networks have been noticeably on the rise again. But it's not just the numbers that are rising. The attacks of Halle in 2019, the antisemitic incidents at demonstrations against Israel in 2021 and, above all, the shocking antisemitic reactions in Germany to the terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel on the 7th of October 2023 make it clear that the backgrounds and contexts of anti-Jewish attitudes and antisemitic violence are also increasing and becoming more complex.
News forms of anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism was never just a phenomenon of the radical right. The rejection of Jewishness is also finding increasing support among left-wing extremists, conspiracy thinkers, Islamists, parts of the migrant milieu and also sadly in the centre of society. This rejection manifests itself in hatred, agitation and violence. But it also manifests itself in subtle and indirect forms of rejection and hostility. And it manifests itself particularly in times of crisis, such as during pandemics or wars, as it did in previous centuries, in the search for a “scapegoat”.
Solidarity with Jews
Jewish life has existed on the territory of present-day Germany for more than 1700 years. Jewish life enriches German society beyond synagogues and Jewish institutions. It is a disgrace that Jews in Germany today, almost 80 years after the Holocaust, still cannot lead a safe and free life. The fight against anti-Semitism and clear solidarity with Jews is therefore a mission for society as a whole, and applies to each and everyone of us. Anti-Semitism is not an opinion, but – echoing the words of Konrad Adenauer – an attack on humanity.
Against hostility towards Jews and for Jewish life in Germany
For Konrad Adenauer, who already promoted Jewish life in his city as Lord Mayor of Cologne, reconciliation with Israel and solidarity with Jews was an affair of the heart. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung sees this as a reminder, a mission and an incentive to continue the fight against anti-Semitism and stand up for Jewish life in Germany. Through educational measures, background analyses, encounters and debates, we want to inform, raise awareness, enlighten, wake up, show solidarity and encourage reflection. This topic page will present you with a selection of current texts, reports and other media formats about our work on the theme of anti-Semitism and Jewish life in Germany.
Aftertaste – Jewish Everyday Life in Germany
„Aftertaste – Jewish Everyday Life in Germany“, Trailer
(only in German)
YouTube, Onlinekas
What does everyday life for Jews in Germany really look like today? On the occasion of the anniversary “1700 years of Jewish life in Germany”, we have issued the video series “Aftertaste – Jewish everyday life in Germany”. Britta Herres, who is on her voluntary social year, embarks on a journey through the republic to talk to different people of Jewish origin.
Britta’s Hanukkah Week
Britta’s Hanukkah Week
(only in German)
YouTube, Onlinekas
We sent Britta Herres, who is on a voluntary social year with us, on a little journey. Together with Leni, a young woman who has decided to become a rabbi, she explores Berlin. What motivated Leni to take up rabbinical studies? What is it like to celebrate holidays in Berlin? And where does the origin of the Hanukkah festival actually lie? More on this can be found in our video series “Britta’s Hanukkah Week”.
Event series
All about the official day of remembrance for victims of National Socialism, 27 January, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s Political Education Forums offer a variety of different events on the topic within the framework of the DenkTag event series.
DenkTag and denkt@g Competition
For many years, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has used the official day of remembrance as an occasion for nationwide projects and events. As part of the DenkTag event series, talks with contemporary witnesses, lecture events, readings and exhibitions will be held on all matters relating to 27 January in numerous federal states.
Every two years, the nationwide internet youth competition “denkt@g” also takes place under the patronage of the former President of the Germany Bundestag Dr Norbert Lammert.
Selected projects
In the menu below we present you with selected projects that deal with the fight against anti-Semitism or Jewish life in Germany.
Virtual Walk to Places of Jewish Life in Berlin
Today, Jewish life has once again become an integral part of Berlin. Experience the eventful history of Jewish life in Berlin on our virtual city tour. We take you on a journey that will show you impressive 360-degree images of important places, historic pictures and illustrations of Jewish places of activity in Berlin, as well as information on important personalities, such as Moses Mendelsohn. You can listen to audio explanations during the virtual city tour that put what you see into context.
Photo exhibition “Sei a Mensch” – photographs from Israel after October 7, 2023
An elderly woman, an internally displaced person, sits lost in thought at a functional table in a nameless hotel by the Dead Sea, her face sunken, her gaze fixed resignedly into space - this image expresses deep resignation and numbing powerlessness. Do we need more words to describe the situation in Israel after October 7, 2023? After the brutal Hamas massacre of mainly young people at a music festival in Israel's Negev desert, the whole country is in a state of shock. The victims were deliberately humiliated, sexually abused and their bodies desecrated. How can people do this to each other?
The photographs in the exhibition “Sei a Mensch”, which were exhibited at the Academy of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, show the emptiness and hopelessness, but also the indictment of our humanity, which nevertheless makes them hopeful. Instead of showing shock images, they sensitively reveal how burned out Israel is and how necessary our solidarity and emotional support is.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Campaign #StandUpToJewishHate
Antisemitism does not only exist on the fringes of society. Hatred of Jews is also expressed in many everyday contexts and modern movements - often unnoticed or unreflected upon. The fight against climate change, social injustice and discrimination, but also the commitment to freedom of belief and opinion are important political and social concerns. Hatred of Jews and antisemitism have no place here. With its #StandUpToJewishHate campaign, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation wants to make it clear that commitment and dedication to better politics and society always require commitment and dedication against anti-Semitism. What should be self-evident is more important than ever: Anyone who is in favour of sustainability, justice and democracy is also #StandUpToJewishHate .
Publications to the topic
Das Massaker der Hamas und das dekoloniale Denken
Ein Lehrstück zur Zerstörung der Sprache durch Polarisierung
picture-alliance/ dpa / Shershel_Frank
Der Weg zum Staat Israel
Über die wechselvolle Geschichte der Region, die Ursprünge des Nahostkonflikts und die Hintergründe zur Staatsgründung 1948
Adobe Stock / TensorSpark / Generated with AI
Forced exmatriculation against anti-Semitism
Between academic freedom and security concerns: anti-Semitism and the response of German universities
Leonine Studios
Auschwitz: Zum Nebeneinander von Verbrechen und "Normalität"
Wie Auschwitz zum Zentrum des Holocaust wurde und warum das vermeintlich idyllische Familienleben der Täter das Morden beförderte
Interview: „Es herrschen Unsicherheit und Unverständnis“
Anna Staroselski über jüdisches Leben in Deutschland nach dem Terrorangriff der Hamas auf Israel
Holocaust und Erinnerungskultur in der Ukraine
Entwicklungen und Initiativen seit der Unabhängigkeit
Adobe Stock / Patrick Daxenbichler
Anti-Semitic alliances
Postmodern criticism of Israel and hatred of Jews in new contexts as a challenge for political education work
Fritz Cohen creator QS:P170,Q45269077, David Ben-Gurion (D597-087), als gemeinfrei gekennzeichnet
„Ein Strahl der Hoffnung“
Zum 50. Todestag des israelischen Staatsgründers David Ben-Gurion
akg-images / WHA / World History ArchWHAi
Eine neue Dimension der Judenverfolgung
Die Novemberpogrome 1938 im Deutschen Reich
Stefan Boness/IPON/Süddeutsche Zeitung Photo
Sie verstehen einander nicht
Die „Bewältigung“ der Vergangenheit trennt Opfer und Täter.
Israel-Woche in Brandenburg
75 Jahre Israel: wieder ein Terrorangriff und Krieg gegen Israel, Antisemitismus in Deutschland, Deutschland und Israel
picture alliance/dpa | Fabian Sommer
Attack on Israel
Hamas attack shakes the Jewish state and raises questions about the country's security and future.
IMAGO / UPI Photo
Israel's Judicial Reform
Despite massive opposition, the Knesset passes a core element of the controversial judicial reform
Event Reports on the topic
75 Jahre Grundgesetz – eine Würdigung in Wort und Klang
Feierstunde zum Tag der Deutschen Einheit in Kooperation mit dem Beethovenfest
KAS - Luis Brückner
Angesichts der Katastrophe
Mit Gernot Blume am Jüdischen Gymnasium Moses Mendelssohn
"Der ungewöhnlichste Film über den Holocaust"
Zeithistorische Filmreihe: „The Zone of Interest“ in Kooperation mit Leonine Studios
KAS Bremen
"Antisemitismus ist wie ein Geruch"
Schulveranstaltungen zum Thema Judentum und Antisemitismus
"Kein anderes Land": Wo sind Juden wirklich sicher?
Eine Bilanz des 44. #HessenKAS Facebook-Live vom 31.01.2024
Eröffnung des Jugendwettbewerbs "denkt@g" 2024
Ein JugendpolitikTag gegen Antisemitismus, Rechtsextremismus und Fremdenfeindlichkeit
Ulf Dahl/Kieler Nachrichten
"For mind and heart to recognise, understand and learn"
The winners of the German Local Journalism Award 2022 were honoured in Kiel
KAS Bremen
Die Besonderheiten des ehemaligen Konzentrationslagers Bergen-Belsen
Schulexkursionen in die Gedenkstätte Bergen-Belsen
Media library
Philipp Stricharz
3 Fragen an Philipp Stricharz, 1. Vorsitzender der Jüdischen Gemeinde Hamburg
Die beruflichen und familiären Verbindungen zu Israel und was Hamburg nicht tun sollte
read now
Peter Lintl_Presse
3 Fragen an Dr. Peter Lintl
Der Konflikt zwischen liberalen und illiberalen Kräften und das Anstreben eines Friedensprozesses
read now
Dennis Thering