JVG (2) Benjamin Archiv/JVG Berlin - Walter Der Künste, Ic Domain, Akademie of Jesus of Nazareth, and a Day Persecution, Jews Have Regained of Redemption

MIDDLE EAST MOBILEYE PHILOSOPHY PeaceP Now Self-Driving Walter Benjamin A GOOD OPPORTUNITY SAVING LIVES MODERN THOUGHT

PAGEP 2 PAGE 8 PAGE 19 JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY

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HOLY DAYS Religions and Reality

esach and Easter have their faith. Jesus was betrayed their origins in or near Is- by his disciple Judas and cruci- P rael. Pesach, or Passover, fi ed by the Romans. He cried is a holiday to commemorate out “Eli, Eli, lama asawtani?” and remember the liberation – “My God, my God, why have of the Jews from slavery in you forsaken me?” Only then Egypt. Easter is the Christian did Jesus fi nd redemption. celebration of the resurrection After 2,000 years of exile and ic Domain, Akademie der Künste, Berlin - Walter Benjamin Archiv/JVG (2) Benjamin Archiv/JVG Berlin - Walter der Künste, ic Domain, Akademie of Jesus of Nazareth, and a day persecution, Jews have regained of redemption. their biblical homeland. Today, At Pesach, Jews make matzah Israel lives in relative peace to remember the Exodus from and security. The country has Egypt. The un- achieved a kind leavened bread of “cold peace” commemorates with the great the fact that Jews Arab powers, fleeing the Pha- including Egypt, raoh’s army were Saudi Arabia in a hurry, and did and Jordan. But not have time to let Three million the enormous their bread rise. To “ human and eco- children die symbolize the res- nomic poten- PESACH, EASTER AND THE BLACK SHEEP urrection, Chris- tial of peaceful tians, by contrast, of malnutrition collaboration employ the Lamb remains to be The copyright information for the title image of our previous edition ran very small. The image was of God, or Agnus achieved. taken from the book “Das Hohelied”, edited by Andreas Nachama and Marion Gardei, illustrations by Dei, which is of However, the Astrid Saalmann, published by Hentrich & Hentrich Verlag, Berlin. immaculate purity. relative peace We live today – as was the within and around Israel is no case in biblical times – in the reason for complacency. The HEIKO MAAS real world. The Torah de- Israel-Palestine confl ict is far scribes the suff ering of slav- from resolved. In this part of the Jews must live in safety Matzah with Lamb ery – and the children of Is- world, war and violence remain

p://www.publicdomainpictures.net CC0 1.0 Universal/Pixabay www.pixabay.com public domain/Mobileye 2017/Wikimedia Commons, Publ public domain/Mobileye www.pixabay.com CC0 1.0 Universal/Pixabay p://www.publicdomainpictures.net rael’s lack of faith in God. the norm. In the Syrian civil war Federal Minister Moses broke the tablets and alone, more than half a million of Justice Heiko Dear Readers, destroyed the golden calf be- have been killed in recent years. Maas aims to have fore the Jews fi nally recovered Millions more have been injured, a hand in securing Matzah, the bread of Jew- This is also what the Jew- displaced, or forced to fl ee. Major that Jews live safe- ish liberation, and the white ish Voice regards as one of powers such as Iran and Russia ly in Germany. It is lamb of Easter, the Christian its central missions. On page continue to help sustain the war shameful that Jewish institutions symbol of the innocent Son 2 of this issue, we describe with money, weapons and sol- in this country still require police of God – are they compatible? how a window of opportu- ` ESSAYY diers. The democratic and Chris- protection, Maas tells JVG in an Yes! They are indeed compat- nity for peace has opened tian nations, for the most part, are interview, in which he also com- ible in the Jewish Voice, a pub- between Israel and its mod- simply watching and standing by. mits himself to German-Israeli lication that seeks to advocate erate Arab neighbors. We But even in today’s age of op- friendship. Maas sees the Social for mutual understanding. must take advantage of this timized technology, war is not Democratic Party with Martin This mutual understanding opportunity now – otherwise the only cause for human suf- Schulz at the helm on track for is a necessary precondition the window will close and fering. Hunger is claiming even success at the upcoming Federal for the peace the confl icts Hodan (CC0 1.0) h Ʃ vecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.de/George Ɵ Europe and America more victims. It is diffi cult to parliamentary election. ÌPAGE 3 that we all could once Future Uncertain imagine, but nonetheless true: desire. Peace, again escalate. ps://crea

Ʃ PAGE 5 of the 7.5 billion people alive to- Shalom and But the wars ` ECONOMY day, nearly 800 million are hun- DRIP IRRIGATION Salaam – it is of the future gry. The largest number live in a wish worth Avoiding will above Africa and Asia. Help for Africa striving for. “ all be fought Three million children die of But words future wars over water malnutrition and hunger every To date, traditional foreign aid to alone will – our most Auto Industry year. This is unconscionable – developing countries tends to seep not bring precious re- particularly given the fact that away. As a result, poverty, hunger about peace source. We ps://pixabay.com/en/) CC0 Public Domain h ps://pixabay.com/en/) Ʃ Old US vs. Innovative Europe we possess the technology and and migration increase. Elad Levi, between re- also describe PAGE 14 the means to help. It is this fact Africa Commercial Head of the ligions and between states. how modern technology ` LEO BAECK INSTITUTE that we should remember as Israeli company Netaﬁ m, calls for Peace is an arduous process. from Israel is making it pos- we celebrate Pesach and Eas- an innovative solution: foreign aid It requires a great deal of pa- sible to reduce water use and ter. However, given our human ought to be directly invested in tience as well as the willing- combat hunger eﬀ ectively. realities and international and the promotion of education and ness to seek new solutions – That way, we will be able to political circumstances, it does agriculture. Here, Israeli irrigation and to compromise. And that avoid the black sheep war not seem likely we will ever be technology can be of valuable help. requires being able to engage and famine. tute/Mercedes-Benz-1579305 Pixabay ( h Pixabay tute/Mercedes-Benz-1579305 Ɵ Zionism entirely able to prevent war. A thriving agricultural sector opens with, and understand, the But hunger must and can macro economic opportunities, needs of the other side. Its German Roots PAGE 21 Jewish Voice

Leo Baeck Ins be stopped. ■ Levi believes. ÌPAGE 10 2 | ANALYSIS JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY | APRIL 2017

MIDDLE EAST Peace Now! Window of opportunity should be used

By Rafael Seligmann years, when the Israelites were enslaved cupation of Egypt’s Sinai peninsula – the regime is open about its goals of de- there. In the 20th century, war and vio- only place Israel’s army had any scope stroying Israel and becoming the lead- t is time for an Arab-Israeli peace lence seemed to be the inexorable fate to pull back. ing power in the region. Tehran wants deal. And it has to happen soon, be- binding Israel and Egypt to each other Nonetheless, Begin’s government chose to topple the moderate governments cause the moment is auspicious and – until 1977, when Egyptian President to accept Egypt’s oﬀ er. At that time, the in Egypt and Saudi Arabia and replace it will not last. We currently have Anwar Sadat decided, on the spur of the Israelis understood that peace would them with Islamist ones. Ia “window of opportunity” – an English moment, to accept an invitation from Is- make their country much safer than Cairo, Riyadh and Amman know that, term that has been adopted in many raeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to would strategic depth plus enmity, which unlike Israel, Iran represents a strategic languages includinging those of tthehe come to Jerusalem.Jerusale Sadat held would have meant the continuation of threat. They are ready to make peace Middle East. a revolutionaryrevolutio address the series of wars with Egypt. with the Jewish state. The principle is vecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en/U.S. Federal Government, Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain) Government, Federal vecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en/U.S. An appreciation of the before the Knesset. the same as it was for Sadat and Begin: connection betweenween He welcomedw Isra- Stable treaties land for peace. In 2002, Saudi Arabia ps://crea politics and timee is el amonga the Ar- launched its own peace initiative, ty-

nothing new. IInn abab states, which For this achievement, Menachem ing the normalisation of relations with on 3.0 h

Ecclesiastes, Kingg untilu then had Begin and Anwar Sadat were rightly Israel to the creation of a Palestinian ribu Solomon pointed all been at awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Sadat state. Saudi King Salman, who has been out: “There is war with the paid for this peace with his life. An Is- in power for two years, and his son, Dep- a time for ev- Jewish state, lamist extremist murdered him in 1981. uty Crown Prince Mohammed bin erything, and a but he de- Fourteen years later,er, thethe thenthen Is- Salman,Salman, havehave also stressed season for every manded in raeli Prime Ministerer Yitzhak Yitzhak their rreadinesse for activity under return that Rabin of the Labourur Par- peace.peace. They want the heavens: ... a Israel with- ty was murderedd in to useus their coun- time to tear andd drawd from all Tel Aviv by an Israelieli try’stry economic a time to mend, ...... theth Arab terri- extremist. Rabin’s’s potentialp to a time for war andd a toriestori it had oc- “crime” was con- readyr Saudi time for peace.” cupiedcupie in 1967 and tinuing to pursue Arabia for Solomon was by no that it make peace Begin’s policy of the future, means a naive monarchonarch who with the Palestinians.Pa ‘Land for Peace’ in line with sought peace at any cost; hhe wasas anandd signingsigning a their Agen- an experienced politician who under-under- ppeaceeace deal with da 2030. stood something that many a mmoreore Israel would recent politician has refused to be well ad- recognize on principle, namely visedv to ac- that in the real world the use of ceptce this oﬀ er force by a state can sometimes of ppeace. It would not be avoided if the outbreak notnot mmean the sud- of greater wars and the domin- den endend of the Israe- ion of the most ruthless are to bee li-Palestinianli-Palestini conflict, prevented. Considering the di-- bebecausecau Islamist forces such lemma of good intentions in thee as Hamas, whwwhich rules the Gaza Strip vecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/U.S. Department of State, Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)/Marcello Casal Jr. ABr (CC BY 3.0) A ABr (CC BY Casal Jr. Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)/Marcello of State, Department vecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/U.S. empirical world, the German so-- and is backedbacked by Iran, will continue to

ciologist Max Weber (1864–1920)) attack Israel.Israel. ps://crea developed the concept of an ‘eth-- But Hamas ddoeso not represent a strate- ic of responsibility’, whereby ann ggicic dangdangerer to Israel. What is decisive agent considers the possible isis thatthat peace between Israel and eff ects of his actions, and the thethe major Arab powers Egypt onal (CC BY-SA 4.0) h onal (CC BY-SA contrasting concept of an ‘ethicc andan Saudi Arabia and Jor- of conviction’,, whereby e eby the t e un-un- dan,d whose population is bending commitmentmitment to, 70%70 Palestinian, would de- say, peace canan have velopvev its own dynamic. The catastrophic concon-- atatmospheremom of a general Arab- sequences. OneOne Israeli pepeace would force the Pales- example of thehe titinianiniiniian political leadership to latter might bee address ttheh needs of its the appease- ppeopleeople and redirect ment of Na- iitsts eff orts away zi Germany ffromro a confl ict by Britain wwith Israel that and France iit cannot win in the 1930s. Israelis were Jordan’s King Hus- and towards The time ecstatic about sein in 1994. De- a political has come forr Sadat’sS offer of spite a number of resolution. vecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en/Map_of_Middle_East ShareAlike 4.0 Interna ShareAlike vecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en/Map_of_Middle_East peace in thee peace.p Some minis- crises, both trea- For its part,

Middle East. Thehe tersters thought there was ties have proved Israel would ps://crea decisive reasonn for roomroom for a deal whereby to be stable; be well ad- onal h onal that is that the JJewishewish Israel ccould keep part of peace has endured vvised to with- state is surroundednded right Sinai, but Sadat would not until today. ddraw from now by neighborsbors willing ttoo budge.budge He insisinsisted on Israel’s full Peace has neverer momost of the Ar- on 4.0 Interna make peace: Egypt, Saudi Arabia and withdrawal from the peninsula. reigned eternal, espe-spe- ab tterritory it has ribu Jordan. The exception is Lebanon, which The nationalist Begin realized that cially in the Middlee East. occuoccupied.p is ruled by the Shi’ite Islamist Hezbollah. Sadat’s off er was genuine: Either Isra- The region is currentlyently be-be- AAss PrPrimei Minister el accepts his terms and there will be ing ravaged by severalral wars.wars TheThe BeBenjaminnjamin NNetanyahu re- 4.0) A ce (CC BY Sadat and Begin peace between the two countries, or the civil war in Syria has killed more than cently put it in Washington, Isra- ffi on O on historic opportunity will be lost. The half a million people, wounded count- el does not want to rule over two million Relations between Israel and Egypt prime minister and his foreign minister, less more and driven millions from their Palestinians. He should draw the con- demonstrate the very real power of Moshe Dayan, chose peace and ordered homes. A civil war is also raging in Ye- sequences and form a stable coalition peace. Those relations were fi rst marked a complete pullout from Sinai. It was a men, where the Shi’ite Houthi militia government with the opposition forces and Informa al Press by war: Since Israel was established in painful decision. Just four years earlier, are attempting to seize control and are that are committed to peace in order to 1948, the two countries fought three in the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, Israel had also threatening Saudi Arabia. focus on the goal of creating rapproche- wars – in 1948, 1967 and 1973. The hos- avoided a military catastrophe thanks to Aggressive Islamist forces are con- ment. Now is the moment. It must not

tility towards Egypt dates back 3,500 the strategic depth provided by its oc- trolled and supported by Iran. Its Shi’ite be missed. ■ Russian Presiden APRIL 2017 | JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY INTERVIEW | 3

FEDERAL MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION It’s Never Too Late for Justice Heiko Maas on ideals, basic rights, Israel, power and triathlon

he Social Democratic Party has a slander are criminal acts, and they must new star. How do you account for be pursued to the fullest extent of the Martin Schulz’s success? law. The internet is not outside the law. Martin Schulz speaks a lan- We also want social network providers Tguage that people understand. And he’s to assume greater responsibility. Twit- focusing on the right issues – many issues ter removes only 1 percent of reported that fall under the rubric of “social jus- criminal content; Facebook removes 39 tice,” which has the SPD breathing a huge percent of such content. Google removes sigh of relief. His form of political engage- 90 percent of such content from YouTube, ment, and the way he speaks, gives people which demonstrates that we are not de- the sense that he’s listening to them, un- manding the impossible. We have now derstands them, and is placing their con- decided to purpose legal measures: if an cerns at the center of his political agenda. online provider fails to enact a functional complaint system, individual staff mem- What does Judaism mean to you? bers could face fi nes up to €5 million, Judaism, and especially Jewish Germa- while the company could face fi nes up ny, has become an extremely important to €50 million. aspect of my life and my work. I fi rst went into politics because I had grappled in a Right-wing populists in Poland and Hun- very intense way with Germany’s past. gary, Brexit ... how can liberal Europe re- During my years as a Federal Minis- gain the upper hand? ter, I’ve visited Israel more often than Only with good arguments. I know this any other country. Despite any politi- is diffi cult, particularly in our post-factual cal diff erences we may have, I collabo- age. But we will not be able to solve any rate closely with my Israeli counterpart, of the major challenges of our present Ayelet Shaked, and we’ve been able to day or the future, whether they be mat- launch many projects together. Judaism ters of environmental or climate policy, or is thus a very important aspect of my po- problems that are economic, social or political work; wherever I can, I work toward litical in nature, purely on the level of the the goal that is my dream, which is that nation-state. This is even more the case Jews in Germany will be able to live com- when it comes to questions of migration. pletely normal and ordinary lives. I think Otherwise we are doomed to fail. Even if it is shameful that their schools and syna- it requires immense eff ort, even if we’re gogues still require police protection. forced to talk until we’re blue in the face,

You recently presented the results of the In a speech before the Knesset in March Rosenburg Files study in Tel Aviv. Why 2008, the German chancellor said Israel’s didn’t this study of the history of the Fed- security is non-negotiable ... Two years eral Ministry of Justice get underway much ago, this security was indirectly the sub- earlier, for example under SPD Ministers ject of negotiations by the permanent “ To the best of our ability, of Justice Heinemann, Vogel, or Jahn... members of the Security Council plus That probably has something to do with Germany. Israel, but also Saudi Arabia we wish to help Israel ensure the fact that until the early 1970s, many and Egypt, feel themselves under threat people in positions of leadership with- from Iran… that its people can live in safety in the ministry were former Nazi Party I understand the skepticism on the part members. But it’s never too late for justice of Israel with respect to this nuclear deal to be served. It’s terrible that it took so with Iran. But this agreement was not fl icts and disagreements will no longer I don’t believe there’s any alternative to long – but that makes it all the more im- made by individual states; rather, it re- be negotiated in parliament, but bat- international collaboration when it comes portant that we fi nally managed to under- fl ects what the majority of the interna- tled out on the streets. All democratic to tackling our current problems, which take a thorough investigation of the topic. tional community regards as a sensible so- forces must seek to counter this threat. are all cross-border in nature. lution. We are convinced Moreover, the actions of extremists can- that Israel’s fears will not not merely be countered in the politi- What lessons have you learned as a triath- be realized – otherwise cal sphere; they are also a matter for the lete when it comes to politics and to life in we would never have courts. Crimes committed in the name general? agreed to such a deal. In- of extremism – against individuals as That it’s worth it to never give up. To creasing Iran’s isolation well as against the state – must be pros- continue on your path, even if it’s some- would not have been a ecuted to the fullest extent of the law. times painful. To keep going. And to viable solution – not for stand up if you fall. The goal lies ahead of Israel, either. What about hate speech online? You are you somewhere – and it’s waiting for you. stepping up pressure on online providers. And when you arrive at your goal, it will How is Germany helping to Unfortunately, hate be extremely satisfying. secure Israel’s existence? ccrimesrimes are not being Germany is an active suffi ciently addressed WhatWhat doesdoes powerpowe mean to you?

JVG (3) JVG partner when it comes and removed online. Power isn’t sosomethingm to be exercised to matters of Israel’s de- ThisThis is fi rst of all a forfor its own saksake.e Power is what makes Is the Israeli government willing to listen fense. We also want to help represent legal matter. Hate itit possiblepossible to iimplement some of the to criticism regarding the construction of Israel’s interests in international associa- speech,speech, threats, and thingsthings you belibelieve in. Without power, settlements? tions and organizations. To the best of that’sthat’s impossibimpossible.l That’s why you need That’s often viewed as interfering in our ability, we wish to help Israel ensure toto have an enlienlightenedg attitude toward their domestic aff airs. Ultimately, we that its people can live in safety. ppower.ower. IIn the political sphere, shouldn’t be meddling in issues that cclaiminglaimin that you want nothing are purely a matter of Israel’s domes- What is the biggest danger to German de- to do with power is nothing tic policy. But if we don’t want to lose mocracy today? but a lie. ■ sight of the ultimate goal, which is a Extremists and populists; they have no two-state solution – a solution that affi nity for the truth. They try to pit dif- Heiko Maas spoke with might be made more diffi cult as a result ferent groups of people against one an- JVG editors Elisabeth of certain measures undertaken dur- other for political advantage. Citizens Neu and Rafael ing settlement construction – I don’t against non-citizens, citizens against Seligmann at the regard this as meddling in Israel’s do- citizens. That is paving the way to in- Federal Ministry of mestic policies. If we express objections, creasing divisions within our society. Justice and Consumer it’s important to strike the right note. Ultimately, it could mean that con- Protection in Berlin 4 | POLITICS JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY | APRIL 2017

encompasses existing ﬁ nancial commit- ments, including pension obligations and pledges to the bloc’s projects and budget. vecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ Ɵ This gives the EU a strong basis for negotiations, but it would be wise not to take ps://crea Ʃ too great an advantage of this position of strength. €60 billion is the upper limit for the European Central Bank’s quantitative- on 2.0 Generic h

Ɵ easing purchases of public and private ribu

Ʃ debt – per month. These facts will also shape the course of events. Britain will suf- fer more at fi rst, but no one knows what will happen ten or fi fteen years from now. But it is already possible to say what we will lose – what Europe, the idea of Eu- rope, and Germany will lose. Europe is more than just the common market, and it should mean more than just balance sheets and wealth. 2.0) A 27933018756_6161235693_o Flickr (CC BY Ʃ Stronger together Ed Evere For one, there is the issue of security. Se- BREXIT curity was once the driving force behind European unifi cation. Until the Ukraine crisis, this security was virtually taken for granted. Brexit will mean that the EU will Nothing to Celebrate for Anybody lose an important security partner at the European level. The UK will, of course, also bring issues of security to the negoti- Ideals, security and economic interests in danger ating table. It remains to be seen what impact the economic situation within the UK will have on the NATO defense budget. By Claudia Schlembach ciple are not permitted to share in the ain in the form of tariff s or other trade bar- What else will we lose? A tough nego- economic benefi ts of the single market. riers, which would ultimately come at the tiator, certainly. A country that always rticle 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Leaving the single market is the biggest expense of consumers. brimmed with self-confi dence, or at Treaty has been triggered. bomb that has been detonated by Brexit. For a country in which large segments least presented itself as such, even when Britain will leave the European Because all of foreign trade was regulat- of the real economy are in decline, and this posture was not always founded in Union. Two years now remain ed by the EU, Britain must now negoti- which is highly dependent on the fi nan- reality. A country that, together with toA negotiate an exit deal that will satisfy ate new agreements with all of its trading cial sector, this situation is unwelcome at Germany, advocated for liberal econom- all parties. This is not a lot of time, given partners. This explains why Theresa May best. Brexit now also raises the prospect ic policies, that objected to the “transfer the many issues that require clarifi cation. made haste to pay her respects to Donald that London will quickly become less ap- union,” and that had repeatedly exerted But it is plenty of time to do harm to the Trump, who is known as a proponent of pealing as a fi nancial center, which makes pressure on the EU regarding its terms ideals of an open and enlightened inter- bilateral trade agreements, and to dem- it likely that Britain will pursue an aggres- and conditions. Brexit will thus result in national order. onstrate the importance of Britain’s “spe- sive strategy to maintain its dominance. a shift that will pose new challenges to The outcome of the Brexit vote was in cial relationship” to the United States – a Rumors of banking deregulation and a the European project. part the result of a highly emotional de- relationship that Britain itself had placed sharp reduction in the corporate taxation What we will also lose is our unques- bate, but it also refl ected more objective under strain. rate are already rife. tioning faith in the idea that we can and reasons that have to do with the Euro- Perhaps Britain will be able to benefi t should be stronger together. Of course, pean Union itself. The perception among from the Commonwealth. But when it Financial market signals Britain always preferred to regard itself European citizens that the “Eurocrats” comes to the single market, Britain faces as a special case, engaging in tough ne- have created a bureaucratic monster that a dearth of options. One is the Norwegian Indeed, fi nancial markets responded gotiations when it came to eff orts to ad- is doing an end-run around basic issues model: Norway makes a fi nancial contri- immediately to the Brexit vote. Moody’s vance European integration. Brexit thus such as security and migration refl ects bution in order to have access to the single downgrading of the UK’s sovereign rat- represents an opportunity for Europe to what is, at the very least, a failure of com- market, but must also accept its rules and ing allowed France to overtake Britain reorient itself in important and necessary munication on the part of the EU. standards, among them the free move- as the world’s fi fth-largest economy. The ways within the global confi guration of Fear of uncontrolled migration, espe- ment of workers, which Brexit’s support- British pound went into free-fall. Such power. PwC predicts that by 2050, China, cially from Eastern Europe, which was ers have already roundly vetoed. Britain currency volatility will naturally have an India, the US, Indonesia and Brazil will impact on the population. Certain kinds be the world’s most powerful economies. of bread will no longer be available in Germany will decline from fi fth place to Britain, while Europe will be able to en- ninth. France and the UK will no longer joy Scotch whisky at dumping prices. rank among the top ten, while Russia will “ Only a slim majority voted for Brexit, But Europe would be wise to imbibe overtake Germany on the top-ten list. All with haste, since Scotland has its own of this will have a direct impact on security and even today many Britons are taking opinion on Brexit and is searching for and defense decisions and policies. its own solution. And if Brexit means Above all, however, Brexit poses the to the streets to demonstrate in favor the restoration of what has become a question of the role which European po- of remaining in the EU nearly open border between Ireland and litical culture will play on the interna- Northern Ireland, the political climate tional stage. It is a political culture that will also suff er as a result. appears to no longer be robust enough So is this all cause for celebration? We to appeal to its nearest neighbors. Every stoked by the conviction that these new could also opt for the Swiss model, which are often told that it is Britain who will force that weakens the union also weak- arrivals were taking British jobs, ranked is based on bilateral agreements. This, “suff er more” than the EU. But how can ens the structures of democracy and the among the top reasons given for leaving however, would be extremely time-con- we welcome this? After all, it was only a rule of law. This is something that Eu- the EU. This is one of the perennial ar- suming and also create its own bureau- slim majority who voted for Brexit, and rope should have been able to predict, guments in the protectionist repertoire. cratic monster, since each individual state even today many in Britain are taking to and Europe should have done more to However, EU regulations do not permit imposes diff erent non-tariff conditions. the streets to demonstrate in favor of re- strengthen the union as such, rather restrictions on free movement of work- Britain could also fall back on the “WTO maining in the EU. than its bureaucracy and its economic ers. Until now, this principle has been a option,” trading only under the rules set For its part, the European Commission rationale. Brexit off ers an opportunity sine qua non for membership in the EU. by the World Trade Organization. This, has already said that the UK will need for Europe to do exactly that. But it is Countries that do not abide by this prin- however, would entail extra costs for Brit- to pay a €60 billion exit bill, a sum that no reason to celebrate. ■ APRIL 2017 | JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY ESSAY | 5

EUROPE AND AMERICA Discontinuity and Uncertainty Whither transatlantic relations?

By Michael S. Cullen Trump is on TV, keep the kids occupied in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just with something else. what I choose it to mean – neither more n 1933, the Marx Brothers fi lmed Facts are the result of agreements, nor less.’ ‘The question is,’ said Alice, Duck Soup. There are two scenes in spoken or tacit, learned or inherited, ‘whether you can make words mean so which Chicolino (Chico) disputes by which we regulate social and politi- many diff erent things.’ ‘The question is,’ what another person has just ascer- cal life; many, if not most of them, have said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be Itained. Chico is nothing but logical, tak- come down to us from the Decalogue master – that’s all’.” ing a page from Lewis Carroll: “Who you and the Sermon on the Mount: ‘don’t As the L. A. Times wrote in early April, gonna believe, me or your own eyes?” lie’, ‘don’t murder’ are basic. Daniel Pat- Trump has a “preternaturally deft grasp The best interpretation of Marxism. rick Moynihan put it bluntly: “Ev- of his audience ... He has a remarkable I have never read Trump’s The Art of the erybody has the right to his own instinct for discerning which conspira- Deal, and I don’t intend to. Aside from the opinions, nobody has the right to cy theories in which quasi-news source, fact that it was ghost-written by a man his own facts.” or which of his own inner musings, will who just jotted down Trump’s exaggera- turn into ratings gold. He targets the tions, at the end of the day, there has to be Agreeing on basics darkness, anger and insecurity that hide a handshake, a mazel and a broche to seal in each of us and harnesses them for his a deal. How can anyone shake this man’s If, as we must have own purposes. If one of his lies doesn’t hand? I am not meshugge. learned from Orwell and work – well, then he lies about that.” We know much more about Trump Huxley, there is no way to Medically speaking, we have several di- than we need to know. He has no hu- know the truth or to agree agnoses and partial amnesia. The prob- mility, no sense of history, and, until on the days of the week, lem remains, and not only for the 62+ the gas attack, no empathy, and craves that left is left and right millions who voted for him and the others adulation; perhaps the worst thing for is right, that up is up and who didn’t, in the US and abroad: what other sentient beings: he has no anten- down is down, we cannot engage in can be done about it? Is there a cure? And na for distinguishing nutty conspiracy rational discourse. A king cannot is the cure worse than the disease? theories by crackpot talk-radio slobs rule, a minister cannot preach, How far apart are Europe and the Unit- p://www.publicdomainpictures.net CC0 1.0 Universal CC0 1.0 Universal p://www.publicdomainpictures.net Ʃ from verifi able information. He tweets a chancellor cannot enforce ed States? In many cases – see NATO – against ‘fake news’, but he is both pur- laws, a parliament cannot decide they are joined at the hip. In the question veyor and victim, and he is ignorant of on taxes. If we don’t agree on basics, we of human rights, they are further apart that. He is no role model – kids imitate can’t agree on anything derived from than New Zealand from Hammerfest. him in school, teachers tear their hair them. But back to Carroll: “‘When I There is, for instance, the 1st Amend-

George Hodan (CC0 1.0) h George out. Mothers are also warned: when use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said, ment, which says that Ì PAGE 6 6 | ESSAY & POLITICS JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY | APRIL 2017 Discontinuity and Uncertainty

Ë PAGE 5 Congress has no right to considered a right. Good education is free. the back burner will be brought up and ences, space exploration, research, the en- abridge the freedom of the press or free And Europeans have a higher standard of cause headaches: Spain and Britain over vironment or consumer protection. It is an speech. That right exists in Germany too, living. The infant mortality rate is lower Gibraltar; Scotland and England over illusion to think that he will take up much but there is an exception: it is against the and life expectancy higher. Most Europeans Brexit; Cyprus divided between Greece time with Europe, especially when there is law to deny the Holocaust. enjoy the same rights Americans have, and and Turkey – to name a few. no political or other price to pay for neglect. In some areas, Europe is more progres- then some: freedom of speech and religion, As for the US and Europe: Both see To be more concrete: Even after Septem- sive than America. For instance, capital freedom to marry, vote and have property. things very diff erently – education and ber 24th, when Germany holds national punishment is outlawed. And Europe is Moreover, Europe has stricter laws to keep health care are the most salient, while elections, little will change in US-German anything but prude. When it comes to water and air clean. the possibilities for pacifying confl icts are relations. There is simply no vital or cru- sex, Europe is far and away much less Then there is this anecdote that says it all: not on the same rung of the ladder cial problem that needs a well-considered hypocritical than the US. in the middle of thee nnight,ight, a man enentersters an either.either. With thethe ppossibleossible excexceptione and quick solution. Even Martin Schulz’s When the discussion turns to Trump, American general store,tore, his face contorted of North Korea, nobody is tryingtryi to election would not turn much around. friends and acquaintances here in Berlin in pain: “I have an eexcruciatingxcruciating toothache, makemake the UUSS less secure. WWhileh in But then how will Europe, how will Ger- shake their heads – some won’t even talk can you give me someome strong painkiller?” Europe, RussiaRussia iiss sittingsitting prettypret on many, fare in Trump’s calculations? about him, some pity me, some challenge “Got a prescription?”?” ““MyMy toothache is kill- the Crimean peninsulapeninsula and breath-br There are not too many topics which ing mme.e. I can’t get a prescripprescrip-- inging heavy in east Ukraine anaandd defi - overlap. The most obvious is on the bor- tion aatt this time of night!”night!” nitelynitely working to destabilizedestabiliz the ders to Russia: the Baltics, Poland, and the “Sorry,y, without a prescriprescrip-p- Baltic glacis or to bring it backbac into Ukraine. The strongest suit here is Article tion I can’t give you anything itsits military and economic orbit.orb 5 of the NATO treaty, which was invoked strongerger than Tylenol.” The For the foreseeable futurfuture,e Eu- after 9/11. As candidate and as newly baked Europe may feel neglected: man eexplodes:xplodes: ““YouYou bastard. rropeope may feel neglected: TrumpT president, Trump blasted Germany and “ If I hadad a ggun,un, I’d shoot you.” has bigger fi sh to fry, in nnoo par- other NATO states for not keeping their Trump has bigger fi sh to fry The storetore clerk rereplies:plies: ““II can ticular order: Syria, NortNorthh Ko- defenses up – for a while, it sounded like sell youou a gun!” Nothing like rrea,ea, China, Iran, IraIraqq anandd ISIS. “my way or the highway.” In the mean- that inn Europe, not by a milemile.. NNotot to mention the full plate while, things are back to Trump ante quo. vecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en me. Trump will ruin us all. He has his Still: for the mostt ppart,art, EuroEuropeanspeans love at home, including the bbudget,u Angela Merkel remains the best Europe Ɵ fi nger on the nuclear button, i.e. he can and admire Americaerica andand Americans energy, climate, health carcare, im- has to call Trump’s bluff s. And her eyes ps://crea cause the world to blow up. Can he be and wish to at leastast visit. This is cer- mmigration,igration, infrastructure,infrastructure, jobs, are on the Ukraine and the Minsk Agree- Ʃ impeached? Removed? I hear even more tainly as good as it gets. Yes, it is, or justice and prisons, police,p ment – to countenance the Russian ‘land- drastic questions, like Henry II’s rhetori- perhaps “was”. guns,guns, taxes and more. grab’ is anathema for her and many Euro- cal question about Beckett. (Better to What changed this outlook was And TrumpTrump is inconsistent:inconsi peans who survived the Cold War. She is look it up than to print it). 2016: fi rst, on Junee 23, the Brits voted gettinggetting rid of TPP, althoalthoughu it Trump’s opposite: While he over-promis- Europe is very worried. For good reason: to leave the Europeanopean Union. The wouldwould be his best card ttoo chal- es and under-delivers, she under-promis- on-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported/h on-ShareAlike With few exceptions, 500 million Europe- double-whammy followedfollowed on No-No- lenge China; stoking trade es and over-delivers. Trump is now being Ɵ ribu ans have been at peace with each other vember 8th and muchmuch of EuropeEurope wars,wars, etc. Also he has no in- called the opposite of Teddy Roosevelt, Ʃ for over 70 years now – one of the longest became desperate.. Can’t every-every- terest inin issuesissues importantimp whose mantra “speak softly but carry a big periods of peace in the history of the “old thing stay the wayy it is? WhyWhy to Europe,Europe, such aass edu- stick” is widely quoted as a maxim for ac- world”. They credit this peace to several change a winning team? WhyWhy cation,cation, history, theth sci- tion. Trump acts according to the maxim: factors: to the generosity and good will of change horses in mmidstream?idstream? ‘speak loudly and carry a small stick’. Americans who helped them get back on Brexit means More than a half-century ago, my parents their feet after 1945; to Europeans like Jean that there will would have read this entire article and then Monnet and Robert Schuman, who forged be discontinuity asked: “But is it good for the Jews?” For the precursor of the EU. Most Europeans in Europe, and some Jews, yes. For others, no. ■ have everything Americans have and more. certain prob- Europe is as big and wide as America, has lems that have Michael S. Cullen is an American author

better and cheaper healthcare, which is been cooking on living in Berlin since the 1960s 3.0) A Benh LIEU SONG/Wikimedia Commons/(CC BY-SA

SOCIAL MEDIA Enlightenment 2.0 Sapere Aude initiative combats anti-Semitismanti-Semitism

By Simon Vaut main unchallenged. WWithith support from willwill presentpresent short ing content for a variety the German Ministry forfor Family Aff airs, videovideo clipsclips of of social media formats. or more and more people, so- the newly founded associationssociation Sapere youngyoung German Because successful You- cial media is the most important Aude in Berlin is now takingtaking aim at this Jews,Jews, ranging from Tubers can also become F source of information and the problem. The phrase ““saperesapere aude” was a Jewish event orga-orga- targets of hate speech and place where their opinions are formed. proclaimed by the philosopherlosopher ImmanImman-- inincitement by radicals, the Young people in particular have largely uel Kant as the mot- iinitiativenit will also provide abandoned daily newspapers and tele- to for the Enlight- legal ssupport as well as train- vision as sources for news and infor- enment: “Have the iingng in addresaddressings such issues. The pro- mation. They obtain political and so- courage to use your ffessionalessional assassistancei off ered by Sapere cial information largely via Facebook, own understan d- AAudeude will hhelpe enable young authors WhatsApp and YouTube. Nine of ten ing.” This is precise- working in ssimilari formats to provide teens, for example, are regular viewers ly what the initiative nnizerizer to a Jewish their younyoungg ttargeta audience with an ac- of YouTube. For popular YouTubers, the aims to encourage in ccookook who serves uupp ccessibleessible and aappealing introduction to secret behind their success is their au- our age of digital com-m- kosher burgers in a what Jewish cculture has been for many thenticity: unlike television or pop stars, munication, calling to hip local eatery. The ccenturies:enturies: an integral and unwavering YouTubers establish direct contact with life an “Enlightenmentnt underlying message ppartart of GerGermanm society, marginalized their fans, speak with them, and engage 2.0” by lending the ttakesakes aim against antianti-- though it wawass time and again. Today’s with them. This sense of proximity is Jewish commu- Semitism in a deliberately burgeoning aand diverse Jewish com- what has led many young people to re- nity a voice and a understated way,way, rather than mmunityunity life hhas to be protected in the gard their YouTube idols as role models presence online. With conveying it through classroom-style context of Germany’s liberal and dem- and “true friends.” young people as its main audience, the “frontal instruction.” ocratic fundamental order. Using the But there is a problem: Jewish life in initiative will off er a lively introduction Sapere Aude also seeks to provide edi- tools of enlightenment, the initiative Germany remains largely invisible on to Jewish life in Germany. Young Mus- torial content as well as training and will thus help counter hostility and ag- social media. At the same time, these lims, in particular, will be encouraged coaching to the authors of similar You- gression, while joining forces with oth- channels are being utilized very eff ec- to seek open and respectful dialogue Tube formats. The initiative will provide ers who seek to courageously oppose tively by anti-Semites for propaganda with Jews. One of Sapere Aude’s key technical video-production training to those who would undermine the very

purposes. Even obvious falsehoods re- ideas is the “Jew and me” format, which authors, as well as training in generat- spirit of the Enlightenment. ■ JVG APRIL 2017 | JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY POLITICS | 7

NAFFO The Explainers Middle East Peace Forum helps Germans understand the Israeli position

By Jardena Lande NAFFO sees the German-Israeli discussions with par- relationship as more than a his- liamentarians, brieﬁ ngs n all areas of politics it is a toric responsibility. The organi- and panel discussions common challenge to turn the zation views Israel as a natural with top experts and pol- I avalanches of information in- partner for Germany, one who iticians from the region. to something that is comprehen- shares its democratic and liberal At the heart of NAFFO’s sible, understandable and practi- values and principles, and who work lie regular par- cal for parliamentarians. This is ﬁ ghts on the same side in the liamentary delegations precisely where an NGO like the struggle against terrorism. to Israel and the Pales- Nahost Friedensforum e.V. (NAF- tinian Territories. The FO) can provide valuable input Practical input opportunity to see the and assistance to politicians. situation on the ground NAFFO acts as a facilitator Through its diverse network and to speak with the infor information and experts. It and independent structure, volved parties is second aims to advise German policy- NAFFO is in a position to assist to none in providing an vecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Ɵ makers on developments in the German policymakers in ways understanding for the Middle East and provides them that other institutions cannot. complexity of the prob-

ps://crea with relevant background in- It delivers practical input and lems. NAFFO has also organized for serious research and analysis, to assist and inform politicians Ʃ formation and expertise to un- information on current topics its own panel at the prestigious balanced positions and access to for the beneﬁ t of all parties in- derstand this complex region tailored to politicians. NAFFO Munich Security Conference for top experts. Adding to its credible volved. NAFFO’s role is becom- and its problems. NAFFO aims knows the relevant voices and four years in a row. standing is NAFFO’s structure ing even more crucial consider- to do this in a balanced manner enables a dialogue between the NAFFO’s currency is trust. It as a membership association, ing the recent shift in dynamics and bases its work on a set of various parties. The approach is fully understands the value of composed of German citizens in the international arena. 2.0)/h on 2.0 Generic (CC BY

Ɵ core-values, including the rule simple: through the provision of conﬁ dential conversations. In- with diverse backgrounds. It is Due to the unpredictability of ribu

Ʃ of law, secular democracy and information and relevant con- stead of aiming at publicity, it an independent registered char- a Trump administration in the universal human rights. The versational partners, NAFFO can builds on a number of carefully ity, ﬁ nanced by donations from US, the UK’s decision to leave organization is open to all reli- help shed light onto complicated nurtured reliable relationships. its members, many of whom are the EU, and uncertainty regard- gious and political movements issues and assist politicians in With this foundation, the or- enthusiastically involved in NAF- ing the French presidential elec- in the Middle East whose aim it drawing their own conclusions. ganization has successfully built FO’s activities. Parliamentarians tion this year, Germany is taking is to work towards a fair peace This is achieved through various a solid reputation among key value this interaction with en- on an increasingly prominent in the region and subscribe to means, including the provision stakeholders that regularly ask gaged German citizens. role. Both within the European the principles of democracy of position papers and analy- for input or expert-referrals. Pol- Thanks to these unique charac- Union and globally – including

Wayne McLean Wikimedia Commons/A Wayne and tolerance. ses of “hot topics,” one-on-one iticians know that NAFFO stands teristics, NAFFO is in a position the Middle East. ■

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Germany has already made a great deal of progress, and every day is generating even more affordable, clean energy, secure jobs, expert knowledge for the future, sustainable growth and a better quality of life for everyone. Our energy transition is tur ning Germany into one of the most energy-conscious and environmentally friendly countries in the world. Find out what we have already achieved and where we still need to go in the newsletter “Energiewende direkt”. Subscribe now at www.bmwi-energiewende.de/EWD/subscribe © ABB 8 | ECONOMY JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY | APRIL 2017

cyclists – and react intelligently to them; drivers relaxing in rush hour, in a traffi c jam or in stop- go traffi c – or reclining, read- ing a book, working, or making a phone call. When you arrive at the offi ce, you simply send the car home so the family can continue to use it. What sounds like science fi ction is in part already possible today. Many things that motorists encounter in everyday life come from Mobileye – tracking assistants, distance monitors, or adaptive headlights. Even older cars can be retrofi tted with Mobileye technology without much ef- fort. More and more fl eet managers are using it to improve driver and vehicle safety, and to save costs by, for example, START-UP SCENE boosting car effi ciency. Even the fantasy of a fully automated car could soon become real. BMW and Intel are Magic Eyes from Israel co-operating to put robot cars on the road by 2021. “We‘re just waiting for the technological Self-driving cars can save lives and resources revolution we can already see. We know the algorithms. We’re now only missing validation By Lukas Hecht The US chip maker Intel recent- hair, Shashua has little in com- ua and his team are not just in- and testing,” says Shashua. ly announced it would buy this mon with the stereotype of the terested in making sure the ro- In an e-mail to their employees, erusalem, 13 Hartom small company bursting with hip, baby-faced tech-company bot car’s artifi cial intelligence Shashua and Aviram once wrote: Street. Here stands an in- great ideas for US$ 15.3 bn – the founder. He is a professor of knows what the driver wants to “We always wanted to change conspicuous offi ce build- largest deal in Israeli history. computer sciences at the Hebrew do. The car must also recognize the world.” Suddenly, they seem J ing of light brick with dark That makes Mobileye worth University of Jerusalem and a some wishes – such as reckless to be on the cusp of doing so – or blue windows, one like many in ten times more than Opel was leading expert in the fi eld of arti- overtaking – come at the risk they’re doing it already. ■ the city. And yet this building is when General Motors sold the fi cial intelligence. Together with of accidents and cannot be ful- something special: It’s home to unit to Peugeot. experienced businessman Ziv fi lled. And this system must the renowned Israeli company What is Mobileye’s secret? Aviram, he founded Mobileye in work always perfectly – whether Mobileye; it’s the place where Who are the brains behind the 1999 and quickly made the tech at night, in snow, fog or rain. ISSN 2193-4800 ZKZ 24792 PvSt tomorrow’s technology is Three functions are vital being developed today – for this. Mobileye uses sen- JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY Mobileye is creating a brave sors that interpret the fi eld In cooperation with DIE WELT new world of cars that drive of view and fi lter out extra- without drivers. neous data – magic eyes P, ..... In only a few years, the that can locate other road Dr. Rafael Seligmann company has grown from Artifi cial intelligence is the future, and users, pedestrians, for ex- D start-up to global market- “ ample, or cyclists and mo- Lukas Kircher leader in the fi eld of driv- the car is the ideal platform for that torists. Then, there is the E--C ing assistance systems. processing of the data to Hartmut Bomhoff , Dr. Elisabeth Neu Almost all modern cars ensure the system’s maps M E use technology from Mo- are as up to date as pos- Paul Siebel bileye, with the company it- company? “We’ve been in this fi rm from Jerusalem an interna- sible. And lastly, there’s the abil- L self claiming a market share of business for 17 years. All this ex- tionally successful multi-billion ity quickly to transmit data and Michal Blum 90 percent. Giants like BMW, perience means we understand dollar player. calculate a car’s handling. E S Volkswagen, Audi and Ford the problems, the hurdles, and Years ago, companies like There are some 35,000 road- Jonathan Berkmann, Sabine Dultz, are among the Israeli com- the pitfalls developing the tech- Google and Apple announced traffi c deaths each year in the Siegfried Guterman, Dr. Tong-Jin Smith, pany’s customers. In 2016, the nology,” says Professor Amnon their ambitions to build self- US. Shashua is convinced wide- Dr. Susanne Mauss (†2014) company recorded sales of Shashua, the ingenious soft- driving cars. Today, much of spread use of self-driving cars A US$ 358.2 million. ware engineer behind Mobil- the hype surrounding these could reduce this total by two Michael S. Cullen, Dr. Roland Tichy Mobileye is one of the few eye. “And we know how to op- plans has subsided. How can thirds. “Autonomous driving T players on Israel’s colorful timize the technology.” Mobileye fare any better? “Ar- saves lives,” he says. “The prob- Simon Srebrny, Patricia Szobar start-up scene to have made the 56 years of age, with clean- tifi cial intelligence is the future, lem is that society accepts that leap to the international stage. shaven face and dense black and the car is the ideal platform people kill other people in road- P Frankfurter Societäts-Druckerei for that,” says Shashua. “Mobil- traffi c accidents, but won’t ac- Bartash Printing eye is the ultimate link between cept people getting killed by A S car and artifi cial intelligence.” robots. We need to learn to bet- [email protected] Mobileye understands as much ter deal with the existence of ro- about artifi cial intelligence as botic cars. Because, put simply, C SVoice from Germany GmbH tech behemoths Google and the opportunities off ered by the Postfach 311310 Apple. But when it comes to technology are limitless.” D-10643 Berlin cars, the start-up knows more Amnon Shashua can hardly Phone: 0049 (0) 30-857 26 888 than them. After all, Mobileye contain himself when he talks [email protected] works for 27 carmakers around about the possibilities of Mobil- www.jewish-voice-from-germany.de the globe. eye’s technology: Cars that can The company prizes safety recognize not only other vehi- Publication Date: 19 April 2017

Mobileye 2017 (2) Mobileye above all else. As a result, Shash- cles, but also pedestrians and APRIL 2017 | JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY ECONOMY | 9

US POLICY Trump Means Business A new agenda for the world’s largest economic power?

By Christian Beuger

ow sustainable is the United States’ new economic policy, to the extent that it has yet been revealed? The agenda His “America First”. What does Donald Trump say he wants to do in order to secure and enhance the US’s status as the world’s largest economic power? Imme- diately after the elections in November vecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ 2016, the US stock markets responded Ɵ with euphoria. During his campaign ps://crea Trump had promised extensive tax cuts. Ʃ Though he did not present a coherent or comprehensive economic-policy program, he had a catchy slogan: “Make America Great Again!” Trump boasted he would be “the great- 2.0) h on 2.0 Generic (CC BY est jobs producer that God ever created” Ɵ ribu and indicated he supported wage growth. Ʃ He promised big tax cuts for businesses and the rich as well as for families and ordinary working people. He announced the biggest “tax revolution” since the tax reforms of President Ronald Reagan more than thirty years ago. Trump said he wants to raise tariﬀ s on imports and do more to shield the US

economy from foreign competition in or- Flickr/A Luck 7005503325_d9bb448bfd_o_ Roy der to protect American jobs. He vowed Full steam ahead to make America great again – but not cleaner to scrap two free-trade deals, the Trans- atlantic Trade and Investment Partner- burden” on future generations. He also economic advisor Peter Navarro recently impossible to fi nance more debt. The ship (TTIP), and the Transpacifi c Part- said he would cut red tape for businesses. described Germany’s trade surplus with Fed raising US interest rates would also nership (TPP), and to renegotiate the Trump vowed a massive rise in defense the US as a “serious issue”. He said it cause problems for the rest of the world North American Free Trade Agreement. spending and called on other members would be “useful to have candid discus- because other central banks would have He said he would focus on bilateral trade of NATO to spend more on their own sions with Germany about ways that we to follow suit and raise their rates. Eu- deals with other countries. defense. He said he would spend less on could possibly get that defi cit reduced ropean states and companies with high Trump also said he wanted to radically military operations overseas. outside the boundaries and restrictions levels of debt could be plunged back reshape trade relations between the US that they claim that they are under.” That into crisis. and China. He accuses China of artifi - Delicious moments is a not so veiled accusation of currency In an interview with the German mag- cially depressing its currency in order manipulation and protectionism. In Janu- azine Börse Online, the chief economist to attain unfair trade advantages. As to All these promises and proposals are ary Trump shocked German auto manu- of Commerzbank, Jörg Krämer, said he energy and climate policies, Trump an- what triggered the euphoria on US mar- facturers with plants in Mexico when he considers the US president to be a com- nounced radical changes. He wants to kets in the aftermath of Trump’s elec- said he intended to impose a 35 percent mitted protectionist and foresees more ease or reverse current regulations on tion victory. The Dow (DJIA) reached border tax on cars made in Mexico im- barriers rising rather than new impuls- the environment and emissions, cham- a new high of 19,945 at the end of De- ported to the US. es resulting from free-trade agreement pion fossil fuels and revive the coal in- cember. Even in the absence of legisla- As to tax, Trump has promised nothing such as the now aborted TPP and TTIP. dustry. He has no problem with fracking, tion to implement these promises, the less than a revolution. His advisors have All this could prove to be a “catastrophe” despite the controversy over the risk it euphoria has not subsided. The Dow has proposed replacing the current 35 percent for Germany because of its export-driven poses to the environment. remained above the 20,000 mark since tax on corporate profi ts with a 20 percent economy. Krämer considers the eupho- Trump vowed to invest in infrastructure February. Analysts predict Trump’s tax on cash fl ow. Exports should be tax- ria on US markets since Trump’s victory and spend many billions on upgrading policies would trigger a boom in cer- free and imports should no longer be tax- to be “short-sighted” and unsustainable. airports, harbors, highways and bridg- tain industries – construction, defense, deductible as business expenses. That While endorsing tax cuts and infrastruc- es or building new ones. He also vowed IT, banking, energy, raw materials, gold would in eff ect mean that imports would ture investment, he says the “Damocles to slash public debt, which amounts to mines and more. become 20 percent more expensive and sword of protectionism” is hanging over about US$ 20 trillion. He calls it an “unfair One of the fi rst things Trump did after exports roughly 12 percent cheaper. the global economy. taking offi ce in January was to pull out In an interview with the Frank- vecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ Ɵ of TPPTPP,, which had alrealreadya y been signed Powerful opponent furter Allgemeine newspaper, Marcel iinn early 2016 but not yyetet ratifi ed, and Fratzscher, president of the German ps://crea Ʃ ttoo halt talks on TTIP, wwhichhi were quite Even experts fi nd all these ideas confus- Institute for Economic Research (DIW) ccloselose to comcompletion.pletion. FoForr mmonths he has ing. They have never been implemented warned of a possible downward spiral in been criticizing ChinChinaa anda Germany before. The aim is to tax only what goes Germany should car exports to the US fforor their large trade susurplusesrpl with the on within the US, tuning out everything decline. He reckons 200,000 jobs depend UUS.S. That has led to sosomeme delicious mo- beyond its borders. There would then no on those exports. mements:nts: AAtt ththee WorlWorldd EEconomiccon Forum longer be an incentive for major US cor- But will all this come to pass? Trump on-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic h on-ShareAlike Ɵ iinn January it was ChinChineseese President Xi porations to pile up profi ts in tax oases is sure to encounter resistance to many ribu Ʃ JJinpinginping of all people wwhoho spoke out in overseas. Some experts say that if other of his initiatives – also from within his ffavoravor of free trade, exhexhortingort the glob- countries adopted the same approach it own Republican party in both houses al elites gathegatheredred in Davos to would mean the end of destructive tax of Congress. Europe and the rest of the ccommitommit ttoo oopen markets competition between jurisdictions. world would, however, be well advised and ininternationalter co- Trump may have big ambitions, but not to bank on the strength of that resis- operatioperationon and to reject the US central bank, the Federal Re- tance. The G20 fi nance ministers meet- pprotectionismrotectio and iso- serve, could well prove to be a powerful ing in Baden-Baden, Germany, in March llationism.ationisms opponent. In March the Fed hiked US ended with something of a shock when GermanGermam politicians interest rates and indicated there would US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin anandd bubusiness lead- be more rises. Clemens Fuest, the presi- prevented the closing statement from ersers arear also worried dent of the IFO Institute for Economic including an explicit endorsement of aboutab trade rela- Research in Munich, says higher interest global free trade as had been standard tionst with the rates are likely to cause problems in the in earlier statements. It would seem that

Gage Skidmore 30089618676_ecf199ab9d_o Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) A 30089618676_ecf199ab9d_o Flickr (CC BY-SA Skidmore Gage US. Trump’s US because it will eventually be almost Trump indeed means business. ■ 10 | ECONOMY JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY | APRIL 2017

the West is also called upon to transform its aid model from charity to impact investment, whereby investments can be monitored, evaluated and measured according to fi nancial indicators such as internal rate of return (IRR) and payback period. Rather than giving food and input, the West should be providing agriculture infrastructure and training. Instead of building refugee camps and multi-billion immigration integration programs in Eu- rope, the West should help Africans create strong, sustainable economies. In the 1950s, Israel developed the Na- tional Water Carrier and promoted Ne- tafi m’s drip irrigation technology. By making water easily accessible to farms throughout the country, the Israeli government enabled growers to increase productivity and reduce water usage signifi cantly. As a result, the country trans- m 2017 (www.MoshikBrin.com) fi formed itself from an importer of food to a world-renowned exporter of high-quality produce. India is following suit today

Moshik Brin Neta with the introduction of micro-irrigation and community irrigation schemes that DRIP IRRIGATION bring millions of people out of poverty, improve individual and community livelihoods, and empower women and family units. And Ethiopia has committed itself Hunger Is Not A Destiny to self-suffi cient sugar production by investing in the Welkite project. I believe that a holistic solution that ad- Israeli technology can help feed the world dresses a country’s entire water and infrastructure ecosystem is required. In order to reach this solution, training/capacity By Elad Levi Most of the aid that reaches the conti- ple, the government has channeled large building, education, as well as regional nent serves, in the best-case scenario, as a sums of aid into infrastructure to make consultation centers for growers ought t does not make for sensational temporary, Band-Aid solution that rarely pressurized water accessible across tens to be implemented. Also, farmers’ com- headlines but one global problem ever focuses on the root cause of the prob- of thousands of hectares of arable land. mercial viability has to be increased by has been with us for ages and it im- lem. The African water and agriculture Rather than relying on charity and mir- helping them sell produce at fair prices, pacts millions. Now, its solution is sectors, meanwhile, continue to struggle, acles, African countries need to create monitoring prices, storing food in central Iwithin our reach. We’re talking about and growers are barely surviving as sub- a foundation to ensure success during locations, and ensuring that food does poverty and hunger in Africa. sistence farmers, let alone thriving as com- good and bad times. One way to achieve not rot when being transported from the A look at the facts: Some 75 percent mercial farmers. this is by investing in technological so- fi eld to the store. To make the most of of the world’s poorest countries are lo- This, in turn, leads many potentially lutions. Netafi m’s drip technology is government subsidies they have to be in- cated in Africa, with nearly 415 million productive Africans to emigrate to the one such example. It is a proven, cost- telligently reallocated to areas with long- people living in extreme poverty across West, especially to European countries. eff ective irrigation method that has term impact such as education. sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly 50 percent of Here, they fi nd work and send most of the sub-Saharan African population live their earnings back home to support their on $1.90 a day or less, and about one in families. Rather than contributing to their three people is malnourished. Poverty is home economies, these emigrants are on- the principal cause for hunger in Africa ly making the wealthy countries wealth- and elsewhere. ier. At the same time, the West is con- “ Farmers will improve their livelihoods, Moreover, some 70 percent of the world’s fronting mass immigration challenges by poorest people live in rural areas, and de- spending tremendous resources on refu- women will be better empowered, pend on agriculture and related activities gees by building camps and helping to ab- for their livelihood. Half of the world’s hun- sorb them into society. To make matters young people will stay in agriculture gry population are from farming families. worse, those who elect to stay at home Every ten seconds, a child dies from a hun- can become potential threats both within ger-related disease, and it’s estimated that and beyond their borders, since hunger helped agricultural sectors in Israel, In- These changes will not only give every- about half of these children are African. and poverty are a recipe for radicalization. dia, Brazil and elsewhere to fl ourish by one access to aff ordable, healthy food – a The typical approach to addressing this The macro trends emanating from pover- enabling growers to overcome climatic basic component of any successful soci- problem is for Western governments ty and hunger are not localized, but have and other basic constraints. ety – but will also lead to macro chang- and aid organizations to off er African a domino eff ect worldwide, particularly When it comes to fi nancing, simple fi - es. The economy will improve, emigra- governments charities, grain, fertilizer, in light of ever-increasing globalization. nancial programs and schemes need to tion will drop, and governments will farming machinery, and other forms of Clearly, a lose-lose situation for both the be developed that will enable African shift their focus on education and other input. Unfortunately, this formula has West, and more importantly, for Africa. farmers and corporations to move from growth-related issues. On an individual not been a success. subsistence farming to commercially level, farmers will improve their liveli- As the Africa Commercial Head for Neta- Building infrastructure sustainable and growing businesses. In- hoods, women will be better empowered, fi m – the pioneer of drip irrigation –, I off er ternational fi nancing institutions, aid young people will stay in agriculture due a diff erent perspective to combat the food We have to transform the model of agencies, local banks and governments to easier farming techniques, and moth- scarcity issue. My company and I know traditional aid, and focus on three areas have to make fi nancing for water and agers will have more time to educate their what we’re talking about. After working in at the root of Africa’s hunger problem: riculture easily available, without draco- children, leading to better standard of the West during its fi rst 30 years of exis- lack of infrastructure, lack of fi nancing nian collateral demands. By implement- education and quality of life. Hunger and tence, Netafi m is now focusing on emerg- and, last but not least, misguided deci- ing such a responsible approach, growers poverty need not be a destiny – they can ing markets such as India and Africa. I sion maker mindsets. African govern- will be able to leverage technological so- be resolved once and for all. ■ have had the chance to personally see how ments need to invest the fi nancial aid lutions that have so far been out of reach. smallholders, medium-scale growers, and they receive in infrastructure that will As for the changing of mindsets, African Elad Levi is Netafi m‘s Head of Commercial large corporations operate in Africa. facilitate agriculture. In Peru, for exam- countries need to stop relying on aid. But Activities & Business Development in Africa READY FOR NEW MARKETS Discover opportunities and grow your business in Germany

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AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY Baby, You Can’t Drive My Car Global diversity is a key advantage

By Klaus Dieter Oehler motive industry worldwide. “All technological innovations come from thee luxuluxuryry ngela Merkel took it all in stride. class; carmakers who don’t have a presenceresence When the new US President in the luxury class must rely on massass Donald Trump failed to extend production,” says Peter Fuss, part- her the usual handshake for the ner at the Stuttgart oﬃ ce of EY camerasA during her state visit, the Ger- corporate consultants (formerly man chancellor only momentarily looked Ernst & Young). “In the coming surprised. Her reaction was more evident years, the focus will be less on ex- when Trump criticized Germany’s export panding production capacities in vecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.de surplus and demanded that the chancel- traditional areas such as engine Ɵ lor do more for Germany’s domestic mar- and transmission manufacturing, ps://crea ket – and buy more American cars. One of and more on the development of Ʃ the captains of industry who accompanied new technologies and business mod- Angela Merkel to Washington made an els,” Fuss believes. The switch to e- even more pointed comment: BMW CEO mobility will also transform the value Made in Germany Harald Krüger said the company was the chain and will further shape investment largest exporter of vehicles from the US, planning, his colleague Oliver Schweizer exciting three-way battle in the luxury cat- with the BMW plant in the US exporting agrees. One example for this strategic dif- egory, while American manufacturers are more cars abroad than General Motors ference is the US automaker General Mo- competing in the mid-range.

(GM) and Ford combined. Trump was as- tors, which is offl oading its German sub- This global diversity is one of the major CC0 Public Domain h ps://pixabay.com/en/) tonished, and refrainedned from strengthsstrengths of the German automotive in- “ European fuel and Ʃ noting that the Bavarianarian dustry, ssaysa EY partner Peter Fuss. Even automaker is planninging during theth fi nancial crisis, German auto- emissions standards to open another plantnt mmakersakers mmaintained their existing invest- are still more stringent in Mexico. But when itt mmentent in research and development, as came to US automak- well aass in modernization and the con- than in the US – but ers, Trump made it ststructionr of new plants. clear he would brook not always observed no such investments. Challenges of e-mobility GM and Ford obedi- ently backed down. Currently, however, the au- But a few facts tomotive sector is in a holding manufacturers, including BMW and about today’s glob- pattern. This is not because Daimler. At €23.4 billion, Germany occu- al automotive in- the forecast is grim – rather, pied third place on this list, behind China dustry still appear to it is unclear. There has been (at €25.1 billion), whereby a signifi cantly have escaped Trump’ss political fallout from the diesel larger share of German investment also notice. For one, Trumpmp has still failed to sscandal,c and some cities are con- went to modernization and expansion vecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en, Mercedes-Benz-1579305 Pixabay ( h Pixabay Mercedes-Benz-1579305 vecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en, recognize that many Americanmerican ccarsars araree nonott MaMadede iinn ththee US siderisideringng a ban on diesel engines. It’s still measures rather than new plant construc- Ɵ built exclusively in the US – and in some unclear where all this will lead. According tion. However, Fuss notes, among Ger- ps://crea cases, are hardly built there at all. Dur- sidiary Opel and is instead focusing on to the EY consultants, the outcome could be man manufacturers, plant construction Ʃ ing the election campaign, the current US selling budget models in the fast-growing a renewed push in the area of electro mo- tends to be an ongoing process. By con- president had already criticized the fact markets outside of Europe. While Ameri- bility. Should this come to fruition it would trast, nearly €20 of the €25 billion invest- that German executives seem to prefer can automakers may be turning a profi t raise two further, and important, questions: ment in China’s automotive industry was Mercedes, BMW and Audi, while shun- again, the EY experts note, they have not how quickly will this transformation be ac- devoted to the construction of new plants, ning Cadillac and Chevrolet. But focusing fully recovered from the impact of the fi - complished? And who will manufacture with a signifi cant share of that going to the electric motors and battery packs? Fuss German manufacturers. believes that this development may have a According to Peter Fuss, the automotive noticeable impact on the value chain. industry is likely to remain cautious about

This hesitation is also apparent in the major investments given the current po- 3.0 DE) Commons h 3.0/(CC BY-SA on-ShareAlike Ɵ

fi gures compiled by the EY consultants. litical upheavals, which include not only ribu Even during the fi nancial crisis, German Ʃ “ From 2010 to 2015, the 16 largest automak- the new US president but also the impact automakers maintained their existing ers made substantial investments in ei- of Brexit. “For the time being, carmak- ther modernization or the construction of ers will be proceeding with due caution, investment in research and development new plants, achieving a record investment maintaining fl exibility along their own of €52.5 billion in 2015. This plummeted supply chain, improving their organiza- in the following year, with investment to- tion, and avoiding unnecessary rigidity taling only €16.3 billion in 2016. Between when it comes to location and technol- on German executives is beside the point: nance crisis, during which two of the De- 2010 and 2016, the US was responsible ogy,” concludes Peter Fuss. ■ hardly anyone in Germany drives Ameri- troit Big Three were forced to fi le for Chap- for the largest share of investment, with can. Some have a simple explanation for ter 11. In the wake of the crisis, Chrysler a totalotal valuevalue of €29.5€29 5 billion. However, Klaus Dieter Oehler is fi nancial editor at vecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/, M 93 Wikimedia A this – American cars just aren’t all that was acquired by Fiat. GM was only able to €26.66.6 billion of that totatotall wewentnt iintonto long- the daily Stuttgarter Zeitung Ɵ good. recover with a bailout worth billions, cour- overdueerdue modernization of manufacturingmanufacturing ps://crea Indeed, many German drivers demand tesy of the American taxpayers. Only Ford plants.ants. New plants were main- Ʃ higher quality standards than their US succeeded in righting itself largely under lyy launched by non-US counterparts. This in part has to do with its own steam – although not without the BY CC diff erences in geography. US highways, help of a generous bailout. In Ford’s case, c( eri

which extend for many kilometers with according to some industry insiders, the Gen 0 nary a curve or bend, don’t require the automaker’s stronger presence in Europe 2 2.0) h on 2.0 Generic (CC BY same level of automotive agility and may also have played a role. Ɵ ribu stability as the historic districts of Eu- Ʃ ropean cities, with their narrow streets Technological innovations and sharp corners. The diesel emissions scandal by the Wolfsburg-based Volk- German automakers, by contrast, have swagen company has done massive dam- long since gone global. As a result, they age to the reputation of German carmak- were less aﬀ ected by the ﬁ nancial and eco- ers in this respect. But European fuel and nomic crisis. Daimler did overextend itself emissions standards are still more strin- in its merger with Chrysler – a supposedd gent than in the US. “marriage made in heaven” – but is now backk According to experts, this fact will con- on a solid footing. On the Chinese market, Success story Tesla – mmadeade in the US

tinue to determine the future of the auto- Daimler, BMW and Audi are involved in an Flickr A 9119012135_c8c8760afa_o Gjerdingen Greg APRIL 2017 | JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY ECONOMY | 15

ISRAELI HI-TECH Desert City, Cyber Dust Beer Sheva is set to become the nation’s IT R&D capital

By Franziska Knupper in January 2014. The vision is to create an international companies keen to pick up regards the knowledge in this fi eld as criti- ecosystem that combines academic re- the tech-savvy soldiers upon discharge. Al- cal: “Israel is being attacked quite heavily. t’s a special morning in Beer Sheva. search, private industry and military, all so the well-known Unit 8200, the army’s And the more we digitize our surrounding Here, in southern Israel, the sunlight while being in close proximity to each intelligence corps unit, will be relocated – for example with the Internet of Things or is usually swallowed by thick desert other. “There clearly is also the Zionist from the heart of Tel Aviv to the Tech Park, self-driving cars – the more cyber security dust. It fl oats in the air, seeps into vision of making the desert bloom,” adds freeing valuable real estate in the densely becomes an integral part of our research and Ieverything. A layer of yellow on the win- Roy Zwebner. Already Israel’s fi rst prime populated metropolitan area in the cen- national intelligence. The world is changing dows, in your mouth, on every windshield. minister, David Ben-Gurion, coined sev- ter. “Once these bright people fi nish their and it also changes the way we fi ght.” Yet, today, the sky is clear and blue; noth- eral famous phrases addressing the coun- service down here, they can proceed to the ing constricts the view from Roy Zweb- try’s dry south such as “The Negev off ers private industry or research, with both of New ecosystem ner’s offi ce on the fourth fl oor in Building the greatest opportunity to accomplish them right next door”, explains Zweb- Number One of the Gav Yam Advanced everything from the very beginning.” Is- ner. And indeed, the BGU campus is on- The Israel Export and International Co- Technology Park. The gaze wanders over rael’s desert includes sixty percent of the ly a short walk away from Roy Zwebner’s operation Institute recently announced cranes, red sand dunes, a full parking lot. country’s landmass but less than ten per- brightly-lit offi ce. The academy is highly that Israel sold three billion dollars of cyber It is caught by the new pedestrian bridge, cent of its population. reputed for its advancement in cyber re- technology in exports in 2014. The institute shaped like a pair of half-open eyes and It comes as no surprise that the govern- search, rated 39th among the world’s top foresees a ten percent increase in revenue stretching over the central railway station ment seeks to develop this region and cre- technological universities. of nearly 250 Israeli fi rms in the sector for from the tech park to the campus of the ates incentives for companies to move their The sandstone brick buildings, based on this year. “In my opinion Israel is one of Ben Gurion University of the Negev. businesses to the Capital of the Negev. “The Brutalist Architecture, and an artifi cial river the best when it comes to cyber security,” “It connects hi-tech industry and Shapira, mother of fi ve children and academia”, explains Roy Zwebner, Beer Sheva Bridge: ConnecƟ ng hi-tech and academia wife of an Israeli offi cer, adds. “We CEO of the Technology Park. Seven rely on our knowledge, on our intel- years ago, Zwebner left his start-up ligence. We also gather information in Tel Aviv in order to work on the through cyber security, sometimes it vision of turning the city of the Ne- is also pro-active security. And some- gev into a modern innovation hub. times, nobody says it, but I guess it In only three years, seventy com- also comes to attacks,” Shapira care- panies have moved into the freshly fully selects her words. She seeks to built Tech Park, including IT-giants remain neutral yet she admits that such as Pay-Pal, WeWork, IBM, working in cyber defense means to Deutsche Telekom or Wix. The be familiar with the off ense just as buildings are supposed to be entire- much. “At our labs we collect and ly fi lled by 2020, with the majority create malware to simulate attacks. of companies coming from the cy- Lately, we have been focusing on sys- bers ecurity or telecommunications tems that are actually not connected sector. “We will be creating 10,000 to the internet,” she explains.

to 20,000 new jobs in the south of Miriam Knupper As a researcher, she emphasizes, the country”, Zwebner says with a she is interested only in the func- trace of pride. “Three years ago there was government subsidizes entrepreneurs will- simulating a desert oasis, create a futurist tionality of the systems. She does not see nothing here except sand dunes and cam- ing to relocate by paying thirty percent of yet rugged atmosphere. Deutsche Telekom a confl ict working for the end user, the els. Once construction is fi nished we will the salaries for six years.” Zwebner himself is right next door, having established one of academia, as well as for any government be looking at twelve multilevel buildings.” is still commuting every day from Tel Aviv; its major international research centers at request. She regards close collaboration but once the region’s potential will unfold, the university. “There are about a hundred between military, academy and private Incentives for companies the 37-year old predicts, Beer Sheva will people from the faculty working in diff erent industry as benefi cial – for everyone in- also be a more attractive place for people labs on various research projects in the fi eld volved. Originally from Tel Aviv, she A national initiative, comprised of the to live. Until recently, Israel’s eighth most of cyber defense,” explains Professor Bracha arrived in Beer Sheva in order to fi nish Israel National Cyber Bureau (INCB), populous city has been neglected and dis- Shapira from the Software and Information her doctoral thesis. “There was nothing Beer-Sheva Municipality and Ben Gurion carded as one of the under-developed and Systems Department. The religious woman here!,” her voice pitches in excitement. University (BGU), promotes the city as the poorer regions. “But especially with the IDF and computer engineer has been the head “But now, let’s take my son for example. new national cyber center, only a hundred relocating several units down here, it will of the program right from the beginning, He graduated in computer engineering, kilometers away from the start-up hub change the whole dynamic,” he stresses. since it was inaugurated twelve years ago found a job here and is paid the same sal- and Silicon Wadi of Tel Aviv. “Beersheva The Israel Defense Forces are build- with a starting budget of three million eu- ary as he would be in Tel Aviv, yet the liv- will not only be the cyber capital of Israel, ing a two-million-square-foot high-tech ros. On top of that, her department has re- ing costs are much lower.” She pauses as but one of the most important places in telecommunications center, comprised cently opened a unique Master’s program to give her words the appropriate weight: the cyber security fi eld in the world,” de- of twelve buildings adjacent to the Tech of Information Systems Engineering with a “Once the technological units of the IDF clared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanya- Park and BGU. The army plans to move focus in Cyber Space Security with around move to Beer Sheva, it will create a whole hu at the Israeli Cyber Innovation Arena some 20,000 soldiers south by 2021, with thirty students per grade. Professor Shapira new ecosystem here in the Negev.” ■

THE SPUDY COLUMN Controlling and Reporting

Be it Brexit, Trump, Erdogan economic situation more volatile, These tasks should in no way be under- This allows for a quick overview and or Le Pen: It still remains to eff ective strategies for managing estimated, and there are many indicators enables holders to reach as informed a be seen what infl uences the and monitoring assets become in- that the price of doing so on one’s own decision as possible. Asset holders are current political develop- creasingly more important. would be too high. The holder should al- thus well placed not only to best protect ments and, in particular, the The current lack of trust sur- so always have someone at their side who their assets but potentially even to ben- waves of nationalism and rounding economic stability there- keeps a regular eye on the assets, using efi t from confusing conditions. populism will have in the fore poses particular challenges for both a neutral and critical perspective. At the very latest, during uncertain coming years on the econo- asset holders. They are hardly in a This largely rules out asset managers who times, asset holders are well advised to mies of developed countries position themselves to be continu- directly infl uence how assets perform. hand over these challenging tasks to ex- and global trade. Spudy Invest ously monitoring their assets with Experienced controlling and report- perts, who are characterized not only by Yet one thing is already for sure: market the depth necessary while simultaneously ing specialists, in contrast, can establish their experience and neutrality, but also uncertainty and volatility are becoming ev- observing the social, political, fi scal, eco- a highly eff ective early warning system by their accuracy and loyalty. ■ er more prevalent, and this is only going to logical and economic situation in such a that identifi es potential disruptions in continue. Certain, too, is that as assets be- way as to be able to appropriately react to a timely manner while also recognizing Jens Spudy is executive partner of come more complex and the political and changes and reach decisions. newly emerging opportunities early on. Spudy Invest: www.spudy-invest.com 16 | ARTS & CULTURE JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY | APRIL 2017

AUGSBURG SYNAGOGUE Against All Odds The Bavarian city celebrates the centenary of its Jewish hub

the badly damaged synagogue by a handful of survivors and Jewish soldiers of the U.S. Ar- my, among them Henry (Heinz) Landman, a native of Augsburg, who entered his home city on April 28th, 1945, with the ﬁ rst American troops.”When I saw the burnt out synagogue in the nearly totally destroyed city for the ﬁ rst time again, I realized that there was a certain connection between the two. The destroyed ‘House of God’ was the beginning of the madness, and the ruined city was the end result of the folly.“ The community was eventually reestablished, made up mainly by displaced persons, primarily from Poland. They established a small synagogue on the complex while the sanctuary of the Great Synagogue remained in desolate

Franz Kimmel Franz condition until the mid-1970s, when public funds were fi nal- By Hartmut Bomhoff by the architects Fritz Landauer like a Byzantine cross, with bar- from 1929 until 1938. After Crys- ly allocated for its restoration. and Heinrich Lömpel. After the rel vaults over each of the four tal Night in November 1938, he These eff orts culminated in its ithin the frame- expulsion in 1438, there had been cross arms, and is enclosed by was arrested and imprisoned in rededication on September 1, work of Jew- no Jewish life in Augsburg un- a domed 95-foot high ceiling. the Dachau concentration camp. 1985. At the same time, in the ish history, one til in 1803 Jews were once again Green-gold mosaic covers the On his release the family fl ed building’s west wing, the Jew- hundred years allowed to settle in the town. reinforced concrete dome, a to England and later settled in ish Culture Museum Augsburg- areW not a long time, and yet this Within the next hundred years, highly advanced construction for Springfi eld MO where he served Swabia was established as the hundred-year history of our the Jewish population expanded its time. Elaborate tracery win- as rabbi for both the traditional fi rst independent Jewish mu- synagogue is a reason to cele- to 1,156 in 1900, and the exist- dows, two rings of skylights in and the Reform congregations. seum in the Federal Republic brate, although it is with mixed ing synagogue became too small the dome, and four brass lamp- of Germany. Since 1991, the Jew- feelings,“ says Rabbi Henry G. for the growing community. In globes bathe the sanctuary in a Adventure playground ish community of Augsburg has Brandt, who has been serving the 1912, a representative location hushed, mystical light. The atyp- grown rapidly with the arrival Jewish Community of Augsburg was found and in preparation for ical, richly iconographic decora- The 18 newsletters “To My Scat- of Jews from the former Soviet since 2004. “Designed in peace the construction of the new syn- tion includes a colored mosaic tered Community” he wrote from Union, reaching a peak in 2003. and dedicated, so to speak, in agogue an architectural compe- above the Torah ark. Pictorial the United States between 1941 Today, there are about 1,400 shell hail, our forefathers and tition was announced. The com- depictions of the High Holidays and 1949 were typed up twice a synagogue members. mothers could not have known munity, which then numbered in fi ve round panels on the east which terrible events these walls around 1,200 members, sought arch and of the Twelve Tribes must bear witness in its future.” to architecturally express their on the gallery railings, as well The Augsburg Temple is one sense of belonging as German as four stucco reliefs surround- of the few synagogue buildings citizens of Jewish faith. When ing the dome together portray in Germany that survived the the synagogue was completed, it the Torah as the tree of life. The Nazi period and that are still in was celebrated far beyond Augs- connection between the reliefs “ One of the most beautiful use today. Although set on fi re burg as the epitome of a modern is conveyed by biblical quotes and vandalized, the synagogue Jewish house of worship. in decorative Hebrew script.” in Europe and an impressive was not completely destroyed in Today, the synagogue, with its testament to Liberal Judaism the November pogroms of 1938 Architectural gem grand dome, is considered one because it was located across of the most beautiful in Europe the street from a gas station; the The presence of an organ gal- and an impressive testament to risk of torching the synagogue lery still indicates that the syna- Liberal Judaism. year by one of his two sons, Wal- “In recent years, we have re- would have been too great for the gogue served a proud Liberal The building saw the heyday ter. Rabbi Walter Jacob, who has ally tried to put the Jewish com- neighboring buildings, and a fi re Jewish community. The sanctu- and the destruction of the lo- become one of the leading Reform munity in the centre of the city brigade extinguished the blaze. ary, which seated 700 congre- cal Jewish community. Its story rabbis in the United States, serves and invite the local population, vecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ This spring, the Jewish Cultureture gants,gants, incorporates Byzantine,Byzantine, is closelyclosely connected with that as president of the Abraham Gei- whether it be to the museum, or Ɵ Museum Augsburg-Swabiaa is OrientalOriental and Art Nouveau ele-ele- of the family of Rabbi Ernst Ja- ger College in Potsdam, frequently to events. People like to come,“ ps://crea hosting a number of eventss to ments,ments, explains Benigna Schön- cob,cob, who offi ciated in AugsburAugsburgg visiting his native Augsburg. Born says Rabbi Brandt, himself an Ʃ commemorate the dedicationn of hagen, director of the Jew-Jew- in 1930, he grew up in the right honorary citizen of Augsburg. the Great Synagogue one hun-un- ishish Culture Museum: ““ThisThis wing of the synagogue complex, “One senses that they feel at dred years ago, on April 4th, 1917.917. centralcentral room is shashapedped while the left wing housed the home in the synagogue. They The offi cial anniversary ceremo-mo- Jewish community’s kindergar- recognize it again as a part of ny, hosted by the Jewish Com-om- ten and school. “The synagogue Augsburg. However, it is impor- munity of Swabia-Augsburg, willwill was our adventure playground,” tant to remember that a large be held in the synagogue on Juneune he recalls. “We lived shielded from part of the congregation are 28th. Augsburg is the third larg-arg- the outside world, our parents did immigrants. Their integration on-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0) h 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA on-ShareAlike est city in the German statee of not talk about politics, and our is not a project for a couple of Ɵ ribu Bavaria, following Munich aandnd apartment and our school were years, but for a whole genera- Ʃ Nuremberg. on site.” Throughout the war the tion.” Last November, the Ger- On the occasion of its open-en- desecrated synagogue was used man government announced a ing, Rabbi Richard Grünfeld as a “ghetto house”: the National substantial grant of €6 million praised the building as “an Socialists forced Swabian Jews to which will go toward general ornament to the city and a live there before deporting them renovation of the building in pride of the community.” to concentration and extermina- whose dome a verse by Isaiah The domed central struction camps in the east. is written: “For My house will ture was built between 1913 A few weeks after the libera- be called a house of prayer for

and 1917 after the design tion, services were resumed in all the peoples.” ■ Flickr A Adam Jones 9274266015_1f6aa27ef1_o

18 | BERLIN JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY | APRIL 2017

HERITAGE & IDENTITY Cosmopolitan Classroom With A Heimishe Flavor Summer schools address various facets of Jewish culture in Berlin

JVG summer school courses with a Jewish which will host the participants. The that many Yiddish writers in Weimar fl avor. The fi rst summer program of instructors are committed to preserv- Berlin acknowledged the city in their ime and again, synagogue mem- Yiddish Language and Literature in ing and transmitting Yiddish culture, as literary works. bers all over the world complain Berlin will take place between August well as encouraging contemporary Yid- Berlin off ers a setting that is unrivaled in T bitterly about the lack of vision 14 and September 1, 2017. The program dish creativity in its various forms. To- its historical signifi cance for the history amid the local Jewish leadership and is organized by the Paris Yiddish Cen- day, hardly anyone knows that modern of modern Jewish culture. Since 2007, the about the lack of engagement of the ter – Medem in cooperation with the Yiddish literature began in Prussia, that Leo Baeck Summer University has been Jewish youth. This summer, a new Institute of Jewish Studies at the Free the archives of the Jewish Labor Bund a unique intellectual and cultural meet- program of the University of Potsdam University of Brussels and the Insti- were transferred to Berlin in 1919, that ing point. A six-week summer school in seeks to make a diff erence. The Jew- tute for East European Studies at in 1925, YIVO (Yidisher Visnshaftle- Jewish studies, conducted in English at ish Activism Summer School, “Social the Free University of Berlin, kher Institut) was founded here, and Berlin’s Humboldt University, it focuses Engagement in Theory and Practice,“ on Jewish life in Germany from the 19th aims to help young Jews and non-Jews to 21st century and its relationship to to reflect on ways to eff ectively address other Jewish communities worldwide. collective challenges on local, national This time, the emphasis of the pro- and global levels. gram is on the interaction and exchange “It is my aim to inspire, educate and or- between Jews in Germany and Eastern ganize young Jews into tikkun olam, help- Europe over a period of more than 200 ing to repair the world,” explains initiator years. What happened when 19th cen- and creative director Jonathan Schorsch, tury Orthodox Jews from Eastern Eu- who holds the chair in Jewish Religious rope met their Reform and secular and Intellectual History at the Potsdam brethren in Germany? What clashes School of Jewish Theology. “We have a and synergies resulted? phenomenal roster of instructors and And how has the infl ux of Jews from will be visiting local organizations the former Soviet Union since 1989 that do eff ective, innovative work, impacted post-war Jewish life and the learning from texts, ideas and real- broader German culture? These are world examples.” among the questions participants will The project is designed to explore from June 29 to August 11, 2017. strengthen young adults’ intuitive Against all odds, Jewish Berlin is much p://artlibre.org/licence/lal/en/ urge to work toward social change more than just a past phenomenon to Ʃ and their personal desire to be- be remembered and commemorated; it come responsible and engaged is an active part of the city’s present-day members of their communi- identity. These three summer courses ties. Participants will be are an exciting way to discover how housed in Kreuzberg, a Jewish traditions and experiences are cultural hub and hipster interwoven with the cultural fabric neighborhood of Berlin of this urban magnet. ■ that still has a revolutionary streak. For more information, see: This year, universi- • jassberlin.org/ ties in Berlin are off er- • yiddishweb.com/berlin-en/

ing two more exciting The New Synagogue is the city’s most signiﬁ cant Jewish landmark • projekte.hu-berlin.de/en/lbsu Art License 1.3 ) h Commons/(Free Taxiarchos228/Wikimedia

JEWISH MUSEUM Concealed Charm

By Frank Bernbeck The exhibition explores prejudices air has long sym- and conventions of bolized the charms seeing and think- H of a woman. It ex- ing. As Cilly Ku- erted such a power of at- gelmann, the mu- traction on men that the seum’s program men behind the three ma- director at the time jor Abrahamic religions the exhibition was

ruled that respectable designed, explains: Marija Mihailova women should keep it out “The instrumental- Russian Orthodox service, Berlin 2014 of sight. Judaism, Chris- ization of religious tianity and Islam all have symbols for political aims scarves at an Orthodox similar ideas about female is a general phenomenon. Christian service, Jewish modesty. That is not very The exhibition seeks to women on a beach in the surprising, given that they warn against any hasty in- United States, and con- all emerged within a rela- ference from wearing cer- temporary fashion by both

tively short period of time Valabrega Federica tain clothes for religious Jewish and Muslim female in the same region, the Jewish families on the beach, Coney Island 2011 reasons to terrorist acts. designers who seek to help Middle East. Three thou- Close scrutiny should en- young women fi nd a com- sand years ago, Assyrian 2017, you encounter a large at the very start what this The exhibition aims to hance the understanding promise between religious law required upper-class fi gure entirely covered in exhibition is really about: enlighten by shaking up of who it is that wears ‘re- duty and the freedom to married women to keep long dark hair, created psychological projection the conventional terms of ligious garments’ and to be themselves. ■ their hair covered in public. by the Iranian-born art- on the part of men onto debate. When politicians what end.” As you enter the exhibi- ist Mandana Moghaddam. women. The Jewish wig, Is- talk about the Muslim There are plenty of sur- Cherchez la femme: tion Cherchez la femme. What those religions want- lamic burqa and Christian head scarf and burqa, it is prising and thought-pro- Perücke, Burka, Ordens- Wig, Burqa, Wimple at the ed to keep hidden is on dis- wimple that fi gure in the usually men talking about voking images to peruse: tracht is on show at Jewish Museum in Berlin, play for all to see – includ- name of the show stand women, while the latter re- immigrants from East- Jüdisches Museum Berlin which runs until July 2, ing men. It makes clear for that common thread. main silent. ern Europe wearing head until July 2, 2017 APRIL 2017 | JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY ARTS & CULTURE | 19

WALTER BENJAMIN Seismograph for the Turmoils of Modernity On the German philosopher’s life and writings

By Dieter Sattler level by working with concepts and transforming them. How else is an ransformation will once intellectual to work?” again emerge from what Throughout his life, Benjamin re- is enslaved and down- mained fascinated by the topic of trodden – but the class prostitution. From his book Berlin Tthat today endures this enslave- Childhood Around 1900 to the essay vecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ ment is the class of the literati.” Ɵ “On Some Motifs in Baudelaire,” In these early musings, written Benjamin continued to draw paral- ps://crea when he was just 20 years old, Ʃ lels between prostitutes and the fate Walter Benjamin (1892–1940) of the “literati,” whom by 1912 he posited that intellectuals would had elevated to the true revolution- be the revolutionaries of his aries. As Benjamin wrote in an essay time. Later Benjamin would go dedicated to Karl Kraus: “It is, fun- 2.0)/h on 2.0 Generic (CC BY on to become arguably the fore- Ɵ damentally, on the complete agree- ribu most thinker of the Frankfurt Ʃ ment of two forms of existence – life School. He was a philosopher, art under the aegis of mere mind, and critic and essayist – and the “im- life under the aegis of mere sexual- perfect genius” of the Freudian- ity – that the solidarity of the man of Marxist collection of philoso- letters with the whore is founded, a phers who centered around Max solidarity to which Baudelaire’s ex- Horkheimer. After an academic istence is the most inviolable testi- career eluded him, Benjamin mony.” (Walter Benjamin: Selected scraped out a precarious exis- Writings, Vol. 2, Part 2, Ed. Michael tence as a freelance writer – this W. Jennings et al, 1999) Both forms

despite the fact that Theodor W. Flickr/A de Paula/5143734964_7402eba7f6_o Fabricio of street existence – the whore and Adorno, eleven years his junior Dani Karavan’s Memorial for Walter Benjamin at Portbou the urban man of letters – were com- and himself regarded as one of pelled to commodify themselves, the unworldly prodigies of the Frankfurt by Hannah Arendt. The messianic “The- – were intertwined. Benjamin, it seems, body and soul, to survive. School, tended to Benjamin almost like ses on the Philosophy of History” still was always more a man of letters than Many of Benjamin’s insights are still a father. As Adorno would later describe ranks as one of Benjamin’s most moving an academic at heart. valuable today. Perhaps his work con- Benjamin: “I have never encountered an- and thought-provoking works. Like a true artist, the paths that Benja- tinues to exert such fascination be- other person whose entire existence, in- The “Theses on the Philosophy of His- min followed during his life were always cause, like the romantic theory of the cluding his outward appearance, was so tory” begins with the description of a strongly infl uenced and inspired by his fragment, it remained unfi nished, and profoundly characterized by an intellec- painting that Benjamin had acquired in personal encounters. People who fas- thus its concepts could remain unfi xed. tual spirit.” Despite the esteem in which 1921: “There is a painting by Paul Klee cinated him often opened up new hori- After all, it was Benjamin who said the he was held, Benjamin would remain a called Angelus Novus. It depicts an an- zons of thought. This was the case with fi nished work is the “death mask of its kind of “problem child” who was only gel who looks as though he were about the educational reformer Gustav Wyn- conception.” Nonetheless, the Frankfurt- loosely associated with Horkheimer’s In- to move away from something he is eken (who, however, would later fall based literary critic Martin Lüdke warns stitute for Social Research. This also left staring at. His eyes are open wide, his into disrepute due to pedophilia) and against the urge to over-interpret Ben- Benjamin largely outside the largesse be- mouth is open, and his wings are out- for Gershom Scholem, who awakened Benjamin’s interest in Kabbalah, Jewish myth and Jewish messianism. The same applied to the women Benjamin loved. “I have met three diff erent women in my life and three diff erent men within me,” Ben- jamin would comment in 1939. The fi rst of “ The imperfect genius of the Freudian- these three women was Luise von Landau, who awakened Benjamin’s interest in the Marxist philosophers of the Frankfurt School idea of nobility; the second the Russian revolutionary Asja Lacis, who “electrifi ed” Benjamin with her communism; the third was the Parisian courtesan Hélène Léger, who Benjamin venerated as a “sexual stowed upon the inner circle by the Insti- stretched.” The angel’s gaze is directed commodity.” Other important women in tute’s endowment fund. Benjamin’s years towards Paradise, from which a storm is Benjamin’s life would certainly have in- of exile in Paris, where he had fl ed in 1933, blowing that is pushing the angel away. cluded his fi ancée Grete Radt as well as were particularly marked by dire poverty It is the storm of history, which is heavy Dora Kellner, his wife of many years. – and of course the fear that he would be with catastrophe – a history whose path Benjamin had a tendency to overin- captured by the Nazis. and future the angel cannot know or fl ate the personal dimension and to at- control – signaling a conception of his- tribute world-historical signifi cance to

The storm of history tory that represents a marked break the twists and turns of his own biogra- Benjamin Archiv Berlin - Walter der Künste, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain, Akademie with the intellectual traditions of both phy. This is also true of his political in- Around 1928 In 1940, Benjamin left for Spain, hoping Marxism and the Enlightenment. tentions. As was true for Adorno, some to continue onward to Portugal and then The vision that opens Benjamin’s essay of the fi gures of thought that Benjamin jamin’s unfi nished life and work. In his escape to the United States, where many is an expression of the despair and resig- identifi ed as dialectic were more prop- early academic years, Benjamin did in- Jewish intellectuals had already sought nation that had overcome the Frankfurt erly a paradox. In this new biography, deed explore the idea of producing a sys- refuge. Wracked with fear and despair, School after Nazi Germany made its ini- as well, there are repeated discussions tematic work. According to Lüdke, “The he committed suicide in the Spanish bor- tial conquests. But Benjamin, who had about whether Benjamin’s dedication to fragmentary character of [Benjamin’s] der town of Portbou. Had he succeeded already spent three months in a French revolution was more a matter of verbal later work certainly also had something in making his way to the US, Benjamin internment camp after the war broke out radicalism than real conviction. Indeed, to do with his precarious circumstances would likely have found life there more in 1939, was the one who had most di- Benjamin’s activist impulses remained after the failure of his academic career.” diffi cult than his exiled comrades. Benja- rectly experienced its impact. always within the mode of language. Ultimately, however, Walter Benja- min spoke little English and his research In his highly lauded new biography min’s life was a tragic one. We should interests were even more specialized of Walter Benjamin, Lorenz Jäger, who Literati and prostitutes therefore be all the more grateful for than those of his colleagues. Benjamin has for many years been editor at the the “brief redemptions” that Benjamin’s was believed to have been carrying an culture desk of the daily newspaper However, Lorenz Jäger decisively re- writings grant to us. ■ important manuscript with him in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, deftly futes the claim that Benjamin’s political suitcase that was found with him after and knowledgably describes how Ben- engagement might have been less than Lorenz Jäger: Walter Benjamin: Das his death. This manuscript fi nally reap- jamin’s personal and intellectual worlds serious in its intent. In Jäger’s words: Leben eines Unvollendeten. Rowohlt peared years later in the US, passed along – as might be expected from a “literatus” “The intellectual engages on a political Berlin, EUR 26.95, 395 pages 20 | ARTS & CULTURE JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY | APRIL 2017

TEMPLERS IN ISRAEL Like in Old Times Traces of German Christian pioneers in the Promised Land Library of Commonwealth of Commonwealth Library The Templer seƩ lement Sarona around 1900, now in the heart of Tel Aviv

By Gideon Wollberg and returned to mainstream still a miserable place, overshad- of Haifa. Schumacher was a for the two of them in 1952: “A German Protestantism. It is owed by Acre, the district capi- Templer and an engineer and dissertation from 1937 is lying in his Bethlehem is not now called Alonei Abba. The tal. Most of the 4,000 inhabit- architect who left his mark on front of me. It tells me that the full of pilgrims or sou- colonists built a small church ants lived crowded within the the city. fi rst houses in the village were venir merchants or the with a tower, not just a simple city walls. If there was anything For the Jewish settlers who built in 1900 and that the place sound of Palestinian community centre. Nowadays, like a fresh breeze to be felt in started arriving in greater was then called Neuhardthof Tpop music. This is not the fa- the moshav is something of a the small town at that time, it numbers in 1882, the Tem- and was a German settlement. mous Bethlehem where Jesus is refuge for artists. The singer was the German settlers who plers, about three thousand The founders of this colony said to have been born, but Beit Shlomo Artzi was born there. now provided a decisive impe- in all at the time, were at fi rst had drilled a well there. […] For Lekhem ha-Glilit, Bethlehem of The writer Meir Shalev spends tus for its development.” role models and living proof years I had thought we had built Galilee, a village beside an oak time there. He wrote about the After Haifa, further colonies that it was indeed possible for and lived on the terrain of what forest between Haifa and Naza- colony and its German found- were established on the initia- Europeans to live, work and had been a Palestinian village.” reth in northern Israel. Its well- ers in his novel Fontanelle. tive of Christian Hoff mann and preserved stone houses were Georg David Hardegg. The Ger- built by German Templers who A success story man Colony at Emek Refa’im settled here more than a centu- in Jerusalem is now one of the ry ago. They were dairy farmers The traces of the German colo- city’s most fashionable neigh- Living proof that it was possible and their community survived nies here in Emek Yisrael and borhoods. In 1871, Matthias “ until the Second World War. elsewhere in Israel – Haifa, Tel Frank from Neuff en bought for Europeans to live, work and Now the village is a moshav, a Aviv and Jerusalem – are intrigu- a tract of land there and built cooperative agricultural coming. What was the movement all himself a house and a steam- thrive in the Land of Israel munity, founded in April 1948. about? As the Israeli historian Ja- powered fl our mill. Merchants, It has restaurants, art galleries, kob Eisler puts it, “in the second hoteliers, craftsmen, build- guest houses and an herb farm, half of the 19th century, Chris- ers and teachers soon settled thrive in the Land of Israel. Kobi Fleischmann, who lives in and attracts tourists seeking tians from various countries and there. After Hoff mann moved Later, the Templers’ rather Beit Lekhem ha-Glilit, writes in tranquility in the countryside. nations wanted to resettle to the the Templer headquarters and universalist faith gave way to a similar vein: “We thought the The Templers emerged from Holy Land, which had been un- college to Jerusalem in 1878, the a fervent German patriotism. Jewish settlers before 1940 and the Pietist movement in the Ger- der Turkish dominion for more movement was centered there. In the early 1930s, more and after 1945 had created the infra- man state of Württemberg and than three hundred and fi fty more of them turned to structure in this area. Now we saw themselves as “living stones” years. In the 1850s the fi rst at- Nazism. During the Sec- hear that Germans were here of “a spiritual house”. tempts by colonists from Wup- ond World War, Britain, before us, and it was upon their While Christians believe Jesus pertal failed after eight years; as Mandate power in Pal- achievements that we could was born in the other Bethlehem, attempts by colonists from Phil- estine, interned the Tem- build after 1948.” some archaeologists and histori- adelphia failed after four. And plers and then either sent The buildings in the former ans think it more likely he was a another attempt at colonization them to Germany or de- German Christian settlements native of this one near Nazareth by Americans from Maine be- ported them to Australia. across Israel – homes with red-

in Galilee. Bethlehem of Judea, tween 1865 and 1867 also failed... Board Tourist Haifa The last remaining Tem- tiled roofs, schools, community the city of King David, is only The only Christians who suc- plers had to leave the centres – and their cemeter- named as Jesus’ birthplace in the ceeded in settling permanently In about 1890, the Templers country in 1948 at the time of ies are slowly being declared Gospels of Matthew and Luke. in Palestine were the Templers built a new neighborhood in a the foundation of the state of heritage sites and carefully re- The earlier Gospel of Mark calls from Württemberg.” pine forest on Mount Carmel in Israel. Nowadays, the Temple stored. Nowadays, the former Nazareth his hometown. They established thriving Haifa, with residential build- Society is based in Stuttgart. Templer colony of Sarona in Did the young Templers who colonies in Haifa (1868), Jaff a ings, hotels and convalescence In the early years of the state the heart of Tel Aviv, with its settled in Beit Lekhem ha-Glilit (1869), Sarona (1871) and Jerusa- homes. Keller House, which of Israel, little attention was 37 buildings, is like an open- in 1906 think this Arab village lem (1873) and after Kaiser Wil- had been the residence of the paid to the history of the Tem- air museum. Swedish explorer was the birthplace of Jesus? helm II’s visit in 1898 Wilhelma fi rst German consul in Haifa, plers. Author Peter Finkelgru- Sven Hedin wrote about Saro- Just a few kilometers away, (1902) and then Bethlehem in Friedrich Keller, is home to the en, who lives in Cologne, wrote na in 1916: “Many plants were another colony, Waldheim, Galilee in 1906. Gottlieb Schumacher Institute about two old fountains beside in blossom... They mainly grow was established in 1907 by The fi rst German colony was for Research of the Christian the little house near the beach grapes, oranges and vegetables. people who broke away from in Haifa. Historian Alex Carmel Presence in Palestine in the in Kfar Samir outside Haifa that Like in old times – in the land the Templer Society in Haifa writes: “In those days, Haifa was Modern Era at the University his grandmother Anna had built of milk and honey.” ■ APRIL 2017 | JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY ARTS & CULTURE | 21

LEO BAECK INSTITUTE The German Roots of Zionism Documenting the development from utopian dream to matter of survival

By William H. Weitzer Nevertheless, two factors coalesced to stoke the dream of a diff erent Jewish future Jewish homeland? A refuge from among some intellectuals. First, the situ- anti-Semitism! A place for Jew- ation of Jews in Eastern Europe was little ish religion and culture to fl our- improved, and some were concerned for ish! What an idea, especially for the welfare of their brethren in the Rus- theA millions of impoverished Jews in East- sian Empire. Second, and closer to home, ern Europe in the 19th century, subject to nationalism and emancipation had failed pogroms and the arbitrary rule of the Czar. to extinguish prejudice but rather gave rise The roots of the modern Zionist idea, how- to a more virulent strain of anti-Semitism ever, run even deeper in the relatively affl u- that was typifi ed by the wrongful convic- ent and assimilated communities of Jews in tion of French Jewish artillery captain, Al- German-speaking lands than in the Shtetl fred Dreyfus, for espionage in 1894. culture of the Pale of Settlement. At the Center for Jewish History in New York, an Dreyfus Aff air exhibit created by the Leo Baeck Institute traces the development of Zionism among German-speaking Jewish thinkers – mes- German-speaking Jews from a utopian sianic rabbis, socialist utopians, and Jew- dream to a matter of survival. ish cultural partisans – had already pro- By the second half of the 19th century, posed a Jewish homeland in Palestine, Jews in the Habsburg and Hohenzollern and even coined the term “Zionism”, but empires were well along the path of assimi- the idea and the movement crystallized lation. The cradle of Jewish Enlightenment, around the peak of the Dreyfus Aff air in or Haskalah, had been Berlin, and Jews in 1896, when the Viennese journalist The- the German sphere had taken its values to odor Herzl published The Jewish State. heart by learning German, reforming reli- Herzl was a typical assimilated Austrian gious practice, and embracing secular edu- Jew whose journalistic interests had not cation, or Bildung, as a universal value. been particularly Jewish, or even political, but the experience of life under Vienna’s anti-Semitic mayor Karl Lueger and the false prosecution of Dreyfus galvanized him. The issue of anti-Semitism would not be solved even in the “civilized” countries “ If you will it, of Western Europe until the Jews had a homeland, he now argued. it is no dream. In the ensuing decades, Zionism would Theodor Herzl remain a primarily German-speaking Members of the Jewish athleƟ c associaƟ on Bar Kochba, Berlin, 1902 movement. The early Zionist Congresses moved between Basel and a series of other becomes absorbed by the nation in leadership shifted mainly to Eastern Euro- At the same time, romantic nationalist German-speaking cities. German was the whose midst he lives,” was the offi cial pean leaders such as Chaim Weizmann, a movements linked the struggle for liberal language of the Zionist movement and its position of Jewish community leaders in British citizen of Russian origin. The end reforms with the idea that sovereignty was administration was headquartered fi rst Munich. Left out of the offi cial position of the Ottoman Empire and the Balfour the right of free peoples united by a na- in Vienna, then in Cologne, and fi nally in statement, but much discussed, was the Declaration of 1917 brought an end to the tional heritage. German Jews were deeply Berlin. The Zionistische Vereinigung für notion that such troublemaking would dominant organizational role of German- involved in these movements – civil rights Deutschland (Zionist Union for Germa- only provoke the anti-Semites. The speaking Jews, but their intellectual and or- for Jews were among the demands of the ny, ZVfD), founded in 1897, was a crucial Central Association of Ger- failed revolution of 1848 – and soon Jew- source of fi nancial support for the Inter- man Citizens of the Jewish ish thinkers began to apply similar ideas national Zionist movement. Faith, or Central-Verein, ap- to the Jewish people. If the German people As rooted in German-speaking culture proached Zionism with es- deserved self-determination in a national as it was, the Zionist movement never sentially the same attitude, homeland, then why not the Jews? found mainstream support among Ger- instead of pursuing a strat- These liberal and nationalist political man Jews. Plans to hold the fi rst Zionist egy of defending Jewish civil movements contributed to the gradual Congress in Munich were scuttled when rights in courts of law and emancipation of Jews in Germany and the local Jewish Community protested touting the contributions of Austria, so that by the time Germany was a movement they viewed as “antitheti- Jews to German society in unifi ed in 1871, Jews across Central Europe cal to the spirit of Judaism,” according the court of public opinion. enjoyed full rights of citizenship and pros- to an editorial in the local paper. “The The Orthodox rabbinate, pered to an unprecedented degree. Jew identifi es with his fatherland and except for a small minority of supporters, condemned Zionism as incompatible with the universality of the Jewish religion. CerƟ fi cate for planƟ ng olive trees in PalesƟ ne, pre-WW I Although Zionism never became a mass movement in Germany or ganizational legacy contributed enormously Austria, the early days of political Zion- to the eventual founding of the Jewish state. ism were fi rmly rooted in the German- Even for committed German and Austri- speaking world. Apart from ZVfD, other an Zionists, the thought of abandoning a Zionist organizations also retained a fi rm, comfortable German cultural landscape for if marginal place among German-Jewish an uncertain future in the desert held lit- communities throughout the early 20th tle appeal, and relatively few emigrated to century. The “Blue and White” youth Palestine through the 1920s. That changed and sports organizations and agricultur- with the rise of the National Socialists in al training camps known as Hachsharot 1933, when increasing persecution led sig- worked to foster a generation that was nifi cant numbers of German Jews to recon- up to the challenge of Jewish nationhood, sider the idea of a Jewish homeland as a and Zionist newspapers like the Robert matter of survival. No longer just a dream,

tute New York Berlin (3) New York tute Weltsch’s Jüdische Rundschau advanced but not yet a state, Palestine had become a Ɵ the intellectual project of Zionism. real place of refuge. ■ World War I transformed the political

Leo Baeck Ins landscape of Europe and the course of the William H. Weitzer is Executive Director of RecreaƟ on room of the Ahava orphanage in Haifa, 1938 Zionist movement as well. After the war, the the Leo Baeck Institute New York Berlin 22 | ARTS & CULTURE JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY | APRIL 2017

CREATIVE POWERS Music as Spiritual Resistance Preserving humanity under inhuman conditions

By Jascha Nemtsov unpublished manuscript in Polish on Music and Singing in Fascist Concentra- nder the conditions of extreme tion Camps from 1933 to 1945 as well as brutal oppression, especially more than 100,000 other documents and under National Socialism and manuscripts on the subject. Stalinism, with the ultimate Ugoal of the destruction of human life, Self-assertion active resistance of the victims was only possible in exceptional cases. Disen- Hardly explored is the musical life in the gaged, isolated, and robbed of elemen- Jewish Cultural Associations [Jüdische tary living conditions, men and women Kulturbünde] – a kind of Jewish cultural could express their resistance, if at all, ghetto within Nazi Germany. Founded in only through their spirit. This included 1933 as a self-help organization to sup- above all the preservation of humanity port Jewish artists who had lost their jobs despite inhuman conditions. Although due to the occupational ban pronounced the struggle for physical survival under by the government, these Jewish Cul- these circumstances should have ab- tural Associations were tolerated until sorbed all their energy, many of them 1941. Although music events organized still found the energy for spiritual ac- by local Cultural Associations in some tivity, which in turn provided essential major cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt, moral support to their resilience. Dresden or Hamburg are partially docu- Although research about music under mented, there is still very little known the conditions of dictatorship has been a about the musicians who actually shaped part of German musicological discourse Jewish musical life at the time, especially since the 1960s, the fi rst fundamental in the provincial cities. Even less atten- works in this area by Joseph Wulf and tion has been given to compositions cre- Fred K. Prieberg were hardly noticed. ated under the conditions of Nazi rule After Germany’s reunifi cation, the topic and promoted by the Jewish Cultural was given new impetus. In particular, Associations. But the creative activity of the history of the Theresienstadt ghet- German-Jewish composers in the 1930s, to, its rich cultural life, which was partly despite their persecution, was extremely abused by the Nazis for propaganda pur- rich and pro-active. Among other things poses, and the works of the composers a composition competition, carried out imprisoned in Theresienstadt attracted in 1936 by the Reichs Federation of Jew- the attention of the general public. Over ish Cultural Associations (Reichsverband the past 25 years, a number of scientifi c der Jüdischen Kulturbünde), is proof of publications and artistic projects, edi- that creativity. tions, television and radio productions, One year after the Nuremberg racial exhibitions and documentaries have laws were passed, when anti-Semitic been devoted to music from Terezin. measures were increasing, it was a daring A concert program of the Music School in the Vilna Ghe One initiative among others was the stu- undertaking to appeal to the creativity of dent run research group Exile Music at the Jewish composers. Quite unexpectedly, a Ʃ o, 1941 Archive for Jewish Music Institute of Musicology at Hamburg Uni- total of 122 works were submitted. Apart versity, which existed between 1985 and from their quality, all these compositions 2005, devoting itself to exploring German were – more than anything else – testi- in the ghettos in Warsaw, Lodz, Lublin, oners. It would be an important task to and Austrian Jewish musicians driven in- mony to the spiritual strength and cul- Vilna, Kaunas, among others, concerts continue and deepen this research. to exile by Nazi persecution. In addition tural creativity of their creators. The fi rst and other musical activities took place in Among the prisoners of the gulag were to a book, publications and exhibitions, prize was awarded to Richard Fuchs from the fi rst months of their existence – and world-class musicians, such as Vsevolod this workgroup now focuses on its online Karlsruhe for his oratorio Vom jüdisch- beyond. Also life in the concentration Zaderatsky (1891–1953), who composed a cycle of 24 preludes and fugues for piano in a camp on the Kolyma River in north- eastern Siberia between 1937 and 1938. Zaderatsky was exposed to political persecution throughout his entire life in the Soviet Union; his music was outlawed by ““It must be emphasized that Theresienstadt has a total ban of performance. One CD an- thology with piano works by Zaderatsky increased, not reduced, my musical work, that by no recorded by the author of this article, among them also the cycle of preludes means did we sit weeping at the rivers of Babylon, and and fugues, will be released in the summer of 2017. that our desire for culture equalled our desire for life.” The manifold traces of this spiritual resistance, which have largely disap- peared in the past decades, are not Viktor Ullmann, 1944, murdered the same year in Auschwitz only of aesthetic importance. They are also a testament to humanity and the European humanistic values that project Encyclopedia of Persecuted Musi- en Schicksal (About the Jewish Fate). camps was not silent. There was music. have been maintained in the decades cians of the Nazi Era (Lexikon verfolgter It was fully prepared for its premiere in Until recently, musicology has also of barbarism. The musical creativ- Musiker und Musikerinnen der NS-Zeit). 1937, which, however, had to be canceled completely ignored the topic Music in ity under the conditions of the dicta- One of the most important sources for at the last moment due to prohibition by the Gulag. But in 2014, the young mu- torships can help current and future music practice in concentration camps Nazi authorities. To this day, the compo- sicologist Inna Klause published her generations in search of their own cul- is the archive collection of Aleksander sition has not been performed. The man- doctoral thesis The Sound of the Gulag, tural roots and their spiritual location, Kulisiewicz (1918-1982), which is shared uscript lies in an archive in New Zealand. which is a meritorious entry into prom- thus strengthening the foundations of between the memorial and museum An important chapter in the history ising research in this particular fi eld. our democracies. ■ Sachsenhausen and the Holocaust Me- of the spiritual resistance in the Jew- During the decades of Stalinism, musi- morial Museum in Washington and has ish ghettos established by the Nazis in cal activities took place in many Soviet Jascha Nemtsov is Academic Director of so far hardly been explored. Kulisiewicz Eastern Europe is the rich cultural life camps. In addition to the prescribed mu- Cantorial Training at Abraham Geiger was imprisoned in Sachsenhausen con- celebrated and nourished within. It has sic, there were also independent artistic College in Potsdam and Professor for centration camp from 1940 to 1945. His yet to be systematically researched and activities, which helped to preserve the History of Jewish Music at the University archive contains over 700 pages of the documented, although it is known that courage and human integrity of the pris- of Music Franz Liszt Weimar APRIL 2017 | JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY A MENTSH | 23

A MENTSH: MIRJAM ROSENSTEIN In the Tradition of Judaism

By Rafael Seligmann quires intensive exchange with cellent German that he made members of parliament, with a profound impression on his t fi rst glance, Mirjam ministerial bureaucracies, and German counterparts in the Rosenstein looks like an with a variety of social groups realms of politics and beyond. A almost biblical fi gure – and associations. Itzhak Ben Ari, who was born tall, slender, and almost fragile in Vienna, was known for his in appearance. Her dark-brown Advocating peace irresistible charm, which won doe-like eyes radiate warmth him many friends, both among and compassion. This biblical Her husband, children, ca- German politicians and the impression becomes even more reer and her hobby of riding, broader public. Avi Primor, a apparent in a conversation. which she has pursued since confi dant of Helmut Kohl, was Not in an abstract time-bound she was a young girl, as well a born “fi sher of men.” His suc- sense, but rather in the sense as many trips to visit her fam- cessor Shimon Stein, who is still of an affi nity with the women ily in Zurich, occupy much of a trusted friend of Chancellor of the Bible – the mothers of Mirjam Rosenstein’s time and Angela Merkel, won over both the patriarchs, Sarah, Rebecca, emotional energy. Nonethe- political parties and ordinary Rachel and Leah, but also Han- less, for the past several years Germans with his passionate nah, who became mother to the she has still managed to pur- advocacy for Israel. prophet Samuel at an advanced sue another endeavor, working age, and the judge Deborah. on behalf of NAFFO, a German A public voice All of them women who were initiative founded in 2009 that motherly and benefi cent, but advocates peace in the Middle In recent years, however, Is- with a formidable will. East. But why yet another Jew- raeli diplomats in Berlin have Mirjam Rosenstein speaks in a ish association? It recalls the for the most part found it un- quiet voice that reveals her Swiss old, self-deprecating joke: three necessary to possess a mastery origins. She is a careful observer, Jews will get you fi ve political of German. As a result, Israel but it is clear that this delicate- parties, and six associations. no longer has a public voice seeming woman knows exactly But NAFFO expressly does not within Germany. An Israeli what she wants. A trained econ- wish to be a political party, nor representative in Berlin has omist from Zurich, she followed does it wish to be co-opted by stated that, in his view, it is her husband back home to Ger- one. It is, as its name suggests, diffi cult to convey Jerusalem’s many. She is mother of two chil- a forum – an open platform for position in a convincing man- dren, four-year-old Raphael and all who seek peace, while refus- ner in Germany. This is noth-

NAFFO 2017 NAFFO ing but a declaration of political bankruptcy. ited resources. In Berlin, for table defi cit: Prime Minister Plugging this gap and pro- example, there is a dedicated Benjamin Netanyahu has no moting an understanding of press offi cer as well as an advi- foreign minister. Netanyahu Israel’s needs is NAFFO’s true “ Understanding for Israel sor who carries out public rela- apparently believes he can purpose. This is a matter of tions work. They are but two manage foreign relations on his patient and meticulous work staff members; on the other own, in passing, as it were. The rather than splashy public side, there are the delegations reverberations of that decision appearances. Mirjam Rosen- his younger sister Lea. At the ing to allow idealism to take of 21 Arab states and more than are felt even in Berlin. stein sets about this task with same time, Mirjam Rosenstein, precedence over the interests 30 Islamic countries. A few of Ever since Germany and Isra- thoughtfulness and charm, but who grew up in an observant of the Jewish state. True to the them are counted among the el took up diplomatic relations also with determination. She Jewish home, represents the in- motto: We want peace, and we richest countries in the world. just over 50 years ago, Jerusa- considers it her duty as a Jew to terests of a Swiss pharmaceuti- also want a viable Jewish state. There is also the open secret lem dispatched outstanding advocate Israel and peace, es- cal company in Germany. Op- Yes, Israel does have an em- of Israel’s ineff ectiveness. The representatives to Bonn and pecially among pol iticians and erating at the intersection of bassy, both in Germany as well government in Jerusalem pre- later to Berlin. Yohanan Meroz, journalists. In so doing, she is research, business and politics, as in Switzerland. But the rep- sides over an unusually large a descendant of the illustrious continuing one of the human- it is demanding work which re- resentatives of Israel have lim- cabinet. But there is one no- Marcuse family, spoke such ex- istic traditions of Judaism. ■

BOMHOFF RECOMMENDS Remember Seelisberg!

Today, it has become ence, the French fi rst statements following World War ily had perished in the Shoah, Erich commonplace to speak ambassador to the II, in which Christians, with the advice Bickel and Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich had about Europe’s Judeo- Vatican, Jacques and counsel of Jews, began to come to fl ed Nazi Germany, Rabbi Zwi Chaim Christian tradition. 70 Maritain, asked for terms with the implications of the Sho- Taubes had fl ed from the Ukraine to years ago, when an in- a battle against this ah. The theses were primarily directed Switzerland. Survivors and displaced ternational conference “racial and anti-Se- towards Christians and stated that Jesus persons, they realized the importance of Jews, Protestants and mitic leprosy”. He was a Jew, that his disciples were Jews, of guiding Christian teaching and Catholics gathered in emphasized that and that the calamity that met the Jews preaching when referring to Jews and Switzerland to confront Christians should was not a consequence of their sinful- Judaism, thus becoming the pioneers the reality of anti-Semi- consider that Jesus ness or of their vicious nature. From to- who paved the way to the the 1965 tism and the Holocaust, was born of a Jew- day’s perspective, these are fundamen- “Nostra Aetate” declaration, in which such a statement was in- ish virgin, that he tal truths which seem obvious. In 1947, the Second Vatican Council largely ad- conceivable. In summer himself was a Jew this document was revolutionary. opted the Seelisberg resolutions. 1947, from July 30th to “par excellence de In the context of Jewish-Christian di- Ín 1947, the agenda was the defense August 5th, the Interna- nature,” that the alogue, we stand on the shoulders of of human rights in the light of a resur- tional Emergency Con- apostles and fi rst giants whose names are almost forgot- gence of anti-Semitic violence. Today, ference on Anti-Semi- martyrs were Jews, ten. Among the sixty-fi ve participant the Christian challenge is to formu- tism took place in the JVG that many absurd of the Seelisberg conference, there late a new Christology, a Christology Swiss village of Seelisberg, near Lucerne. expressions such as “race of God-killers” were about thirty Jews whose indi- that provides modes to talk about Je- It led to the formation of the Internation- and “perfi dia iudaica” should disappear vidual stories illustrate why interfaith sus appropriately without degrading al Council of Christians and Jews. from Catholic terminology. work was so personally important to Judaism. It’s worthwhile to remember Anti-Semitism was rampant in post- The “Ten Principles” issued at the them. Many had narrowly escaped ter- the Seelisberg conference and to ac- war Europe. In a missive to the confer- Seelisberg Conference were one of the mination. Most of Jules Isaac’s fam- knowledge its achievements. ■ 24 | RELIGION JEWISH VOICE FROM GERMANY | APRIL 2017 Next Year in Jerusalem Making hope a reality

By Rabbi Walter Homolka more than two thousand years. And the yearning also has an eschatologi- assover, which just ended on cal element: according to Isaiah 22, April 18, is the ﬁ rst of three festi- at the “end of the earth” all people vals of pilgrimage during which will go to Jerusalem to greet the Jews, both during the time of the Kingdom of Peace. PTemples and in the later Diaspora, made It was the Viennese Rabbi Sha- an annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The lom of Neustadt (who died around Passover festival recalls the Exodus of 1415) who incorporated the Hasal

tute New York Berlin the Israelites from Egypt, an event which Seder Pesach, a poetic compila- Ɵ also marked the emergence of the Isra- tion of all the rules of the Sed- elites as a people. It was King Hezekiah er evening, as the culmination Leo Baeck Ins who renewed the Passover feast, upon of the festival liturgy. From his which “there was great joy in Jerusalem” student, Isaac of Tyrnau, who Die Haggadah des Kindes, published in Berlin in 1933, one of the earliest European children’s Haggadot (2 Chron 30: 25-26). was born in Vienna, we know On Passover eve, we recount the Hag- that initially it was customary gadah which tells the story of the Exodus to say “next year in Jerusalem” imme- and says, “Whoever is in need, let him diately before Hasal Seder Pesach. The come and conduct the Seder of Passover. phrase was fi rst mentioned in Rabbi Seder with the wish “L’Shana Haba’ah ployed in the 1920s by the fi rst Ashke- B’Yerushalayim.“ In so doing, we re- nazi chief rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook. call the journey that brought us from However, the phrase Yerushalayim Egypt to Jerusalem. The Hebrew name ha-Benuyah does not presume the con- for Egypt is Mizrayim, which can also struction of the Third Temple and the The path to the City of Peace leads from the concrete mean “boundaries,” “limits” or “restric- re-introduction of the sacrifi cial ser- “ tions,” while Yerushalayim means “City vice. Rather it is our duty to work for a to the abstract, from the profane to the holy of Peace.” The path to Jerusalem thus better Jerusalem, the Jerusalem of our leads from the concrete to the abstract; ideals. This is the Jerusalem envisioned from the profane to the holy. in Israel’s Declaration of Independence This year we are here; next year in the Tyrnau’s “Book of Customs” (Sefer ha- But what do we say if we already live – of a state based in “freedom, justice land of Israel. This year we are slaves; Minhagim), suggesting that by the late in Jerusalem? With the settlement of and peace as envisaged by the prophets next year we will be free people.” Ever 14th century it had become customary more and more Jews in the Land of Is- of Israel.” Next year in Jerusalem? If we since the Middle Ages, the Seder eve- in the Duchy of Austria, the Kingdom rael in the 19th century, it became tra- take the social obligation articulated ning ends with the phrase “Next year in of Hungary, and Styria. ditional to end the Seder by exclaim- by the prophets seriously, we will have Jerusalem.” This wish is an expression of Around the world, when Jews cel- ing “Next year in the rebuilt Jerusalem.” taken a further step toward making this a yearning that has been preserved for ebrate Passover, they conclude the This expression, for example, was em- hope a reality. ■

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