Pressespiegel

19.03.2004

Our Concern for Germany
A message by the President of WUPJ

Members of the World Union for Progressive Judaism around the world, many of whose families emigrated from Germany, are distressed to hear that members of our Movement in Germany, the birthplace of liberal Judaism, are being discriminated against.

We will work tirelessly with the Union of Progressive Jews in Germany to ensure that Jewish pluralism becomes a reality in Germany and that both the Jewish establishment and the German Government acknowledge fully Jewish diversity. Less than a year ago, the World Union for Progressive Judaism held a festive event in Berlin marking the 75th anniversary of its first convention that was held there in 1928.

We were encouraged by the message of Minister Otto Schily that the German Government respects and holds all streams of Judaism in Germany in high regard and the State contract entered into stipulates that the Zentralrat is open to all streams in Judaism. The World Union regrets very much that efforts to reach an understanding with the Zentralrat and the German Government that would translate this commitment into actual policy, have failed.

Requests of Liberal congregations to join the Zentralrat were rejected, and no financial support whatsoever was offered by the Zentralrat for the Union of Progressive Jews in Germany and its congregations from the 2003 agreement with the German government.

This bears no resemblance to the declaration made to the Government, and incorporated into the agreement with the Zentralrat and Germany. In communicating with the German Government, the World Union has expressed its concern that the Zentralrat may not fulfill this noble and justified expectation, and sees the Government as responsible for full and equitable implementation of the commitments made to it by the Zentralrat, and the Government's own representation to the Liberal Movement.

This is of particular significance in light of the two hundred year history of Liberal Judaism in Germany, which came to a tragic end as a result of the Holocaust. It was Liberal Judaism that held a leadership role among German Jews before the war, and the beloved leader of prewar German Jewry, Rabbi Leo Baeck, a Liberal Rabbi who served as the World Union's President from 1939-1953.

The worldwide Progressive movement cannot accept that Liberal Judaism be denied equal status in present day Germany, especially in light of the critical role it could play in providing Jewish response to a rapidly growing Jewish community, which has been detached from active Jewish life for decades.

This unacceptable discrimination stands in contrast not only with Germany's own history, but also to its present day constitutional assurances of religious freedom and equality, as well as the reality of religious diversity of contemporary Jewry.

The World Union, therefore, intends to resume its efforts in Germany and internationally to ensure the rightful entitlements and status of Liberal Judaism in Germany, and supports the Union for Liberal Judaism in Germany's advocacy in towards that end.

Ruth Cohen
President

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