Spring Break
Jewish-German group shares personal and trip experiences
by Julie Zong
News | 1/29/08
Posted online at 3:21 AM EST on 1/29/08
Members of a Boston-area Jewish-German dialogue group that takes participants on government-sponsored seminars to Germany discussed the topic, "How do Jews and Germans learn from the past?" and highlighted events from all of its trips in the Rapaporte Treasure Hall last Tuesday.
Prof. Sabine von Mering (GRAL), along with the Center for German and European Studies organized the event, which featured Jaroslav Szonka, a professor at the Akademie Berlin, and Antje Reichel who is a museumologist from the Prignitz-Museum, which is situated in a former Christian monastery on an island in the center of Havelberg, Germany. Event attendees spanned three generations and included students, professors and Berlin natives who are looking to reconnect with their past through the Jewish-German dialogue group.
Following a six-person government sponsored seminar to Germany in 1993, members and organizers created a Jewish-German dialogue group for the Boston area. The sponsored trips are available solely for the three Jewish-German dialogue groups, von Mering said. The 10-day trips take place every summer depending on funding. The government was originally persuaded to provide funding through the work of a Brandeis graduate who is married to an international consulate.There are three other groups based in Belmont, Newton and Harvard University.
During dialogues, group members share stories about their experiences in Havelberg. They discussed the cultural relevance of Jews today in Germany, and watched presentations about Jewish artifacts and historical sites, such as the one given by Reichel.
"This is one of several groups that exist in the Boston area," said von Mering. "The other groups are private, whereas our group is more open and fluctuating, and we invite everyone to come." The dialogue was conducted in both German and English.
Szonka, who is responsible for organizing the trips, said, "The trips would not have been possible without the help of the German government [and the local people there]." The 10-day trip to Germany includes visits to Berlin, as well as a synagogue, cathedral, Hachshara camp and Jewish cemetery based around Havelberg.
Prof. Sabine von Mering (GRAL), along with the Center for German and European Studies organized the event, which featured Jaroslav Szonka, a professor at the Akademie Berlin, and Antje Reichel who is a museumologist from the Prignitz-Museum, which is situated in a former Christian monastery on an island in the center of Havelberg, Germany. Event attendees spanned three generations and included students, professors and Berlin natives who are looking to reconnect with their past through the Jewish-German dialogue group.
Following a six-person government sponsored seminar to Germany in 1993, members and organizers created a Jewish-German dialogue group for the Boston area. The sponsored trips are available solely for the three Jewish-German dialogue groups, von Mering said. The 10-day trips take place every summer depending on funding. The government was originally persuaded to provide funding through the work of a Brandeis graduate who is married to an international consulate.There are three other groups based in Belmont, Newton and Harvard University.
During dialogues, group members share stories about their experiences in Havelberg. They discussed the cultural relevance of Jews today in Germany, and watched presentations about Jewish artifacts and historical sites, such as the one given by Reichel.
"This is one of several groups that exist in the Boston area," said von Mering. "The other groups are private, whereas our group is more open and fluctuating, and we invite everyone to come." The dialogue was conducted in both German and English.
Szonka, who is responsible for organizing the trips, said, "The trips would not have been possible without the help of the German government [and the local people there]." The 10-day trip to Germany includes visits to Berlin, as well as a synagogue, cathedral, Hachshara camp and Jewish cemetery based around Havelberg.
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