Pressespiegel

FAZ, 14.11.2000

New Rabbinical School Praised
by Ralf Melzer and Stefanie Flamm

POTSDAM. The historic event witnessed here by Manfred Stolpe on Sunday was described by Brandenburg's state premier as "an extremely significant step of great symbolic importance."

Mr. Stolpe was among those taking part in the official opening ceremony of the Abraham Geiger College, the first academic rabbinical school on German soil since World War II. Once the school opens for instruction during the winter semester 2001/ 2002, students will be trained there as progressive rabbis for Jewish communities in Germany and other European countries.

In an address, Bundestag Vice President Antje Vollmer had similar words of praise, saying the seminary finally closed the gap "torn open 60 years ago by German sin." Interior Minister Otto Schily spoke of a "new episode in the postwar history of the Jewish people in Germany."

Unlike the politicians, though, some members of Germany's Jewish community were restrained in their reaction to the school's establishment and its possible direction.

The college is named after Rabbi Abraham Geiger, who was one of the first and most widely known teachers at the University for Judaic Sciences, which was founded in 1870 in Berlin. Mr. Geiger is considered one of the most important theoreticians of Jewish liberalism. In his studies, he wanted to show that Judaisrn was no inimutable religion as suggested by his Orthodox critics, but one that had changed during the course of history without ever losing substance. Liberal Judaism emerged in 19th century Germany as an alternative to orthodoxy and assimilation. The college will attempt to ensure that this tradition will flower once more. In addition to the German politicians, the representatives of liberal Judaism extolled the decidedy liberal new institution in the highest tones in the brochure drawn up for the opening ceremony. The Central Conference of American Rabbis said it saw the seminary as a "catalyst for the rejuvenation of European Judaism."

However, the Central Council of the Jewish People in Gerrnany, which for historical reasons is committed to a more conservative line, has remained silent, and, the reaction of Berlin's Jewish community, has also been restrained. Some of its members said they would have to wait and see in which direction the rabbinical seminary developed.
Nobody wants to talk of a divide between liberals and conservatives among the German Jewish community before the school opens. Nevertheless, there are fears that this college, in whose establishment the central council was not involved, could endanger the principle of a single Jewish community. The liberal Berlin Rabbi Walter Rothschild considers the establishment of the school an act of desperation on the part of all those who no longer feel at home in the rather conservative Jewish community. "The college is proof that today's community is no longer willing or able to represent German Judaism in all its facets." Mr. Rothschild said.

However, Jan Mühlstein, chairman of the Union of Progressive Jews in Germany, emphasized the college's, advocacy of pluralism. "Our students will be able to work in synagogues of all persuasions," he said. As the Jewish communities traditionally elect their rabbis, it is up to the believers whether they choose a graduate of the college for their Synagogue.
The college is supported by the Union of Progressive Jews in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, an organization representing 12 liberal communities that do not belong to the central council.

The college's founding president, Chief Rabbi Walter Jacob of Pittsburgh, emphasized the importance attached to an understanding of other religions in Mr. Geiger's thought. The courses in Potsdam, therefore, will be combined with a degree course in Jewish studies at the University of Potsdam where the trainee rabbis will complete the interdisciplinaly course with non Jewish colleagues.

The timing could not have been better, with 80 synagogues looking for German speaking rabbis, said Christoph Schulte of the Moses Mendelssohn Center. Initially, the college, which does not receive state funding, will be able to accept only three to five students each year. As it has no money for a building of its own, the seminary will work together with the Moses Mendelssohn Center at the niversity of Potsdam.

In the past, German rabbis who studied in Britain, the United States or Israel lacked the practical experience of working in German communities.

back