Days of Jewish Music as a sign against anti-Semitism
The International Days of Jewish Music are set to send out a signal against anti-Semitism in Berlin, Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania at the end of November. Events are planned in Heringsdorf on Usedom, in Berlin and Görlitz, for example, as the organizers announced on Tuesday.
"This music festival is more important than ever," emphasized Felix Klein, the Federal Government Commissioner for Anti-Semitism. "With every single event on Jewish life, whether in the field of education or culture, we show a bit of responsibility for our history, but also especially our empathy for the Jews who live with us today."
After a first concert on November 27 in the Old Synagogue in Stavenhagen on the Mecklenburg Lake District, the documentary film "We Want The Light" will be shown in Heringsdorf on November 28, followed by a discussion with the Jewish journalist and music expert Norman Lebrecht. On November 29, songs by Jewish pioneers from the Hachshara sites of Nazi Germany in the 1930s will be performed in Berlin. Jews prepared for life in Palestine in these places. The festival will conclude with a concert on November 30 in the Görlitz Synagogue.
The patron of the music festival is the President of the Central Council of Jews, Josef Schuster. Director Thomas Hummel explained that anti-Semitism should never have a place in our society. "That is why we are dedicating the International Days of Jewish Music 2023 to peace for Israel and Israel as a safe haven for Jews from all over the world."
The International Days of Jewish Music have been following the traces of Jewish life and making Jewish music audible since 2016.
The music festival serves as a powerful testament to the importance of Jewish culture, especially in the face of potential conflicts related to religion and anti-Semitism. As Norman Lebrecht mentioned during a discussion, the documentary film "We Want The Light" highlights these challenges, shedding light on the experiences of Jews through music.
The festival's focus on Jewish pioneers from the Hachshara sites of Nazi Germany in the 1930s represents a tribute to resilience and determination in the face of religious intolerance, reinforcing the message of peace for Israel and a safe haven for Jews worldwide.
Source: www.dpa.com
