2. AN AMERICAN JEWISH – GERMAN INFORMATION & OPINION
NEWSLETTER
dubowdigest@optonline.net
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3. AMERICAN EDITION
October 10, 2010
Dear Friends:
The Germans have just celebrated “Die Wende” (The Change), the 20th
anniversary of the unification of the East and West. It went by almost unnoticed
here in the U.S. and the time of the two Germanys almost seems (at least to me)
like ancient history. The Federal Republic has come a long way since 1990.
Berlin is a world class city (again) and it’s getting very difficult to the naked eye to
see the where the differences used to be. Roughly 250,000 former Soviet Jews
have come to live in Germany giving it the 3rd largest Jewish community in
Europe and it is the major force in the EU. Who woulda thunk it?
In being unified, centrally located in Europe and economically strong, it has
become much more important to Jewish interests than it was in 1990. So, we
continue to follow it as it develops further knowing what happens there has
impact on Israel and Jews worldwide.
With that in mind, let’s get on with the news…
IN THIS EDITION
UNIFICATION: THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY – More about the celebration and the
meaning.
HOW IMPORTANT IS GERMANY? – Diplomatically that is.
GOVERNMENT POPULARITY: A LEAD BALOON – The CDU/CSU faction and
the FDP are not on the same page. Therefore,…
WHAT MAKES AN EXTREMIST – Is it political philosophy?
THE JEWISH PIED PIPER-ESS OF HAMELIN – Who is she? Who is she
leading?
HANDS ACROSS THE CAMPUS – A great AJC program in Germany.
ISLAM IN GERMANY – The debate continues.
UNIFICATION: THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY
While the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, the actual reunification of Germany did
not take place until October 3, 1990. The German Democratic Republic (GDR)
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4. passed into history, the Warsaw Pact and, indeed, the Cold War, the Allied
occupation joined it and a new reality was born (or re-born) in Europe.
No doubt, Germany has many problems and the East and West, while
geographically united still have large economic differences. However, the culture
of the two former independent countries is slowly uniting into a single nation. Just
think about what problems the U.S. would have if, all of a sudden, we joined
Canada in becoming a single nation. Perhaps, viewing it from an economic point
of view (one wealthy, one poor), think about a unified United States and Mexico.
National unity does not come easily even to a country that was only divided for
45 years.
This past week speeches and other celebratory events were held and a lot of
introspection about 1990 and what has happened in the last 20 years was
undertaken. The new President of Germany, Christian Wulf, used his speech “to
focus on the hot button issue of integration of immigrants (D-W World.de.).
Christianity and Judaism have been part of Germany's past and present said
Wulff. "But now Islam also belongs in Germany," he added. No German politician
has ever said that so clearly and openly.
But the president basically criticized romantic "multicultural" notions of
society, saying they had created illusions rather than solving problems. It's a slap
in the face, especially for those on the political left. (However,) Germany, Wulff
said, has long been a country of immigration. It's a message however that still
hasn't reached everyone in Germany's middle-class, conservative circles.
As the “moral voice” of Germany, Pres. Wulf is beginning to do his job of talking
through the country’s most difficult problems. Kudos!
A short historical note: In 1989 and 1990 when the matter of German unification
was being bandied about, AJC was the first American Jewish organization to
support it. The conversations were intense as the concern over a strong
Germany in central Europe again surfaced with great anxiety. However, the fact
that 17 million Germans would be removed from a dictatorship and that East
Germany, a longtime enemy of Israel would no longer be a country won the
battle. It’s a little piece of interesting American Jewish – German history
Read AJC’s press release by clicking here.
http://www.ajc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?
c=ijITI2PHKoG&b=2818289&ct=8737791¬oc=1
Dr. Jackson Janes’ American Institute for Contemporary Studies at Johns
Hopkins published a compilation of short essays on reunification. Read at least
some of them. Click here http://www.aicgs.org/analysis/c/20yearsunity/intro.aspx
The New York Times ran an interesting piece looking at reunification from the
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5. view of former East Germans. It’s certainly worth a read. Click here.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/01/world/europe/01germany.html?
_r=1&scp=1&sq=Erfurt&st=cse
HOW IMPORTANT IS GERMANY?
Now that we’ve covered (touched on?) German reunification (or just unification)
let’s move on to an important related matter.
”How important is Germany in international affairs?” It’s a vexing question. Here
is this enormously strong economic machine with 82 million people directly is the
middle of Europe and yet it does not seem to use its diplomatic power
unilaterally, frequently seeming to explain itself as only a part of Europe and the
EU. While Chancellor Merkel is normally outspoken on the issues of importance
to Israel and the Jewish community, the government sometimes seems reluctant
and not in tune with the Chancellor.
I have often thought about Germany’s skittishness in playing a larger world role.
In a recent D-W World interview with Philip Zelikow some of my questions have
been answered.
Philip D. Zelikow worked on German reunification as a senior National Security
Council official under President George H.W. Bush. Together with Condoleezza
Rice, he is the author of "Germany Unified and Europe Transformed: A Study in
Statecraft (1995)." Zelikow also served as executive director of the 9/11
Commission and as the top adviser to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He
is currently the White Burkett Miller Professor of History at the University of
Virginia.
In the interview he said, “…Germany's role in the European Union has remained
vitally important, and Germany is still a pillar in the European Union. But it's
difficult to point to any particular diplomatic issues and see where Germany has
played a critical role in providing leadership to the rest of Europe. And it has
been very difficult for the Germans to be partners in important international
ventures outside of Europe. Their intervention in Afghanistan has of course been
a very difficult story, as I think most Germans realize. It has been good in some
ways, but very constrained in others, and I think it will be looked on by many
Germans as a somewhat frustrating exercise.
It has just been difficult for Germany to figure out exactly how to find its place in
world politics. It had a very clear place in world politics in the context of the Cold
War and now as Germany has become a normal country it has not yet found a
world role comparable to the role it played earlier. For all I know many Germans
may regard that as a good thing “.
In thinking about it, I believe Mr. Zelikow (he’s also a Dr. and a Prof.) is
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6. absolutely correct. The 20th Century has left its mark on Germany and it has not
yet “recovered” from World War II and then reunification. None of this is to say,
however, that we should not continue to press them on the issues of importance
to world Jewry. They are important! When they “talk” others listen – especially
those in Europe. In a small way (boast! boast!) AJC is helping Germany come to
grips with itself. The faith AJC had in establishing a Berlin Office is one of those
votes of confidence that Germany needs, appreciates, and finds helpful. A strong
pro-Israel and pro-Jewish Germany is “good for the Jews” and Germany can be
key in that role.
If, indeed, they are having post World War II and reunification problems, you
should know that they have just finished paying off their World War I financial
debts – 92 years after the war ended. Talk about not being able to put the past
behind them!
You can read the full Zelikow piece by clicking here. http://www.dw-
world.de/dw/article/0,,6056154,00.html
The story about the debt repayment is available by clicking here.
http://www.thelocal.de/society/20100929-30145.html
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7. GOVERNMENT POPULARITY: A LEAD BALOON
Much like what is happening here in the U.S., the coalition government in
Germany is having its problems and has had its popularity drop like the
proverbial “lead balloon”. So, like what we are to see shortly in the Obama White
House, Chancellor Merkel as well is on the cusp of bringing in new people in
order to get her house in order because of what looms in 2011.
As The Local.de puts it, “With six crucial state polls (elections) looming next year,
Merkel is under the gun to get her centre-right alliance on track.
Merkel scraped to victory, with her conservative Christian Union bloc on
September 27, 2009, allowing her to dump her unloved coalition partners, the
Social Democrats (SPD), and link up with the pro-business Free Democrats
(FDP).
But after 11 years of dreaming of reuniting in government, the two sides have
been at constant loggerheads over core issues, allowing the SPD and the
resurgent Greens to capture a clear ruling majority in opinion polls.
Bitter infighting over tax breaks, healthcare reform, cuts to social welfare benefits
and conscription have all taken a heavy toll on voter support.
And in another headache for Merkel, tens of thousands of nuclear energy
opponents took to Berlin's streets last weekend to protest plans to extend the life
of reactors well beyond the planned shut-off date of around 2020.
Since the summer break, Merkel has thrown herself into work, promising an
"autumn of decision-making" in a tough speech to parliament in which she
claimed credit for a robust economic recovery and lower joblessness.
But the influential weekly Die Zeit warned the damage will be tough to repair.
"Not even the economic upturn, that old miracle-worker, can bring back the
peace between the people and their government," it wrote.
Like Pres. Obama, Fr. Merkel has her hands full. State elections in Germany are
far more important than they are in the U.S. A few bad results and the party
faithful might not wind up not being so faithful – at least to the Chancellor. “The
Party” is everything in the Federal Republic. Much like in American professional
sports, when the team begins to lose the cry you hear is “Fire the Manager”. It
probably won’t happen but it ain’t pretty.
WHAT MAKES AN EXTREMIST
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8. Every once in a while you come across an article that might not tell you anything
you didn’t know before but reaffirms what you do know and, therefore, it rings a
bell. Such was a recent article in DW-World.de entitled, “Social factors, not
political ideology, lead to extremism”
I think it’s pretty clear that the young thug-like neo-Nazis that I write about
occasionally know very little about National Socialism. In fact, as the article
points out, “Extremists of all political persuasions - from the Molotov cocktail-
throwing anarchist to the neo-Nazi skinhead - have a lot in common according to
a new study by Germany's criminal police agency.
Social factors are more important than political persuasions for young people
who turn to radicalism, according to a new study by the Federal Criminal Police
Agency (BKA).
Young people are attracted to the feeling of belonging that a group gives them,
rather than to the political viewpoints of the group, according to Thomas Kliche, a
political psychology researcher at the University of Hamburg.
"The ideology is a very second rate ideology in their biography," he said. "At that
age they don't even comprehend the reach of these ideas, they just comprehend,
'The group tells me I'm fine, the group tells me I'm strong.'"
If we accept Thomas Kliche’s theory (I do) perhaps then, should we stop
worrying about the rise of neo-Nazism in Germany? A few crazies and that’s it?
Absolutely not! Not every extremist group member has to be an expert in political
philosophy. The followers of Hitler went along mostly because of social and
emotional factors rather than a genuine understanding of his philosophical
leanings.
What then makes the article worth reading? First, it will help you understand that
this sort of radicalism can happen anywhere. Second, if you think about it, you
will see that it can more easily spread at times of economic stress and what
might be miniscule today can be much larger tomorrow.
Click to read the article. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6043769,00.html
THE JEWISH PIED PIPER-ESS OF HAMELIN
You may remember the dark and unhappy childhood fairy tale of the Pied Piper
of Hamelin wherein the Piper, not getting paid for getting rid of the community’s
rats, led the children of Hamelin to the river - never to be heard from again. This
Middle Ages legend, obviously, had a very dark and unhappy ending. Today
there is a Jewish sequel with a much happier conclusion.
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9. The small city of Hamelin (Hameln in German) still exists in Lower Saxony (sort
of in the middle of Germany). It has a population of slightly less than 60,000. Until
the late 1990’s it had a very small number of Jews. However, it had a Jewish
Pied Piperess in Waiting. In 1997, after the influx of Soviet Jews began, Rachel
Dohme and a small group of Russian immigrants, organized the first Jewish
community to be established in Hamelin since the Shoah. The congregation
today has grown to include over 200 congregants, almost all of whom are recent
Russian Jewish émigrés. The Hamelin Jewish Community (JGH) is a member of
the Union of Progressive Jews in Germany and the Central Council of Jews of
Germany. Close working relationships with the local government, cultural and
church groups, and the Society for Christian-Jewish Solidarity have contributed
to the congregation’s success.
JGH is a dynamic congregation that has made important strides in revitalizing
Jewish life in Hamelin. In 1999 the congregation was successful in having
Hamelin’s historic Jewish cemetery, desecrated during WWII, reopened for use.
A new, larger Jewish community cemetery, administrated by the city, was
dedicated in November 2001. JGH also sponsors a Chevra Kaddishah (Burial
Society).
Jüdische Gemeinde Hameln offers a wide range of religious and social services,
including holiday celebrations, Shabbat observance, life cycle officiation, a basic
course in Judaism offered in Russian, a religious school, adult education, a
Jewish music group, German language classes, and various cultural activities. In
the summer of 1999 a Jewish summer camp sponsored by the congregation
served all liberal communities in Germany. In addition, non-German-speaking
members are given assistance in dealing with medical and other appointments
as needed.
Who is this Pied Piperess, Rachel Dohme, who brought organized Jewry to
Hamelin? A native of Butler, Pennsylvania, she is married (Ferdinand) to the
owner of the largest mushroom growing farm in Germany and has 3 grown
children. Her daughter Rebekka has acted as cantor at the local synagogue.
What can one say about the spirit of Rachel Dohme? Almost single handedly she
has brought Judaism to a small German community where without her the
Russian émigrés would surely have drifted off from any connection to the Jewish
people.
In my opinion a medal for Rachel is not sufficient to reward her for her labors.
How about a golden flute or a shofar?
HANDS ACROSS THE CAMPUS
Is AJC in Berlin (Ramer Institute) only there to share information with the
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10. government, meet with its leaders, support Israel and keep an eye on anti-
Semitism? If that’s what you think you only have part of the story.
Another part is AJC’s involvement in helping Germany with the development of
its democracy and, particularly, the integration of immigrant population –
especially the children.
Roughly 9 or 10 years ago, Deidre Berger, AJC’s Berlin Director took a
“tolerance building” program called Hands Across the Campus which the Los
Angeles Chapter of AJC had initiated 20 years or more ago, re-did it in German
to fit local circumstances and began to get German school districts interested in
it. It has slowly grown into a premier program that now has the backing of the
States of Brandenburg and Berlin and the Federal Ministry of Families, Seniors,
Women and Youth. Originally, aimed at older children, there is now a version
called “Hands for Kids” for younger children.
In its literature the program is explained as follows: The “Hands” program
promotes elementary understanding of inalienable human rights and basic
understanding of democracy, as well as sharpening awareness of dangers to
democracy. Focuses of the program include promotion of children’s and young
people’s identity formation, encouragement to become involved and act
practically, and consideration of key issues in German and transatlantic
democracy.
It is truly outstanding!
To read more, click here.
ISLAM IN GERMANY
If there is discussion about Islam in the U.S., there is a great deal more of it in
Germany. Because of the recent book about the dangers Islam holds for the
Federal Republic, the nation, as I have reported before, is engaged in a national
debate about the integration of its population of 4 million Islamics – citizens and
non-citizens.
As noted above, President Wulf has called for increased steps toward
integration. Another facet of the discussion was noted by Chancellor Merkel who
said (Haaretz) … that Muslims must obey the constitution and not sharia law if
they want to live in Germany.
The debate comes against a backdrop of U.S. and British concerns over the
threat of terrorist attacks by militant Islamists living in Germany, with Berlin
attempting to tone down such fears.
Merkel faces corresponding discussions inside her Christian Democratic Union
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11. (CDU) about whether she is conservative enough, and the center-right leader's
latest comments seemed directed at those who think Wulff went too far in
appeasing the Muslims.
Merkel - the daughter of a Protestant pastor brought up in East Germany, who
leads a predominantly Catholic party - said Wulff had emphasized Germany's
"Christian roots and its Jewish roots."
German Christian Democrats often cite shared Judeo-Christian values rooted in
the early history of Christianity because of sensitivities about the Holocaust.
"Now we obviously also have Muslims in Germany. But it's important in regard to
Islam that the values represented by Islam must correspond with our
constitution," said Merkel.
"What applies here is the constitution, not sharia," she stated.
Merkel said Germany needed imams "educated in Germany and who have their
social roots here," and concluded: "Our culture is based on Christian and Jewish
values, and has been for hundreds of years."
By the way, the University in Osnabrueck is the first to offer special seminars for
imams. You can read about it by clicking here.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,721818,00.html#ref=nlint
I should add that the debate in Germany is complicated. Not only are the
Germans talking through how people of the Islamic faith are to live in Germany
but what stance they should be take regarding Turkey’s admittance to the EU. In
addition the matter of terrorism figures in as well. It now appears that the
Hamburg has been a hotbed for developing Islamic terrorists even those that are
homegrown Germans. Add to all that the fact that the wave of anti-Islamic feeling
plays right into the hands of the extreme right something that is frightening to
almost all Germans.
Like my mother said, “Nothing is easy”.
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See you again at the end of the month.
DuBow Digest is written and published by Eugene DuBow who can be contacted
at dubowdigest@optonline.net
Both the American and Germany editions are also posted on line at
www.dubowdigest.typepad.com
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