What do we expect from Jewish cultural events in Dresden and Saxony? The 80 participants at the "Jewish, now!" symposium brought many questions with them. Two days of lively and committed debate took place in Dresden in April. In addition to questions about the content and artistic organisation of Jewish cultural events, the participants also discussed the issues of sustainable support and funding.
Jewish cultural events are undoubtedly an important contribution to our democratic society
The speeches by the German and international speakers clearly emphasised how important Jewish cultural events of all kinds are for the preservation of a democratic society. They not only serve to cultivate and promote Jewish traditions and identity, but also make a significant contribution to diversity and intercultural exchange.
There are diverse - and contradictory - expectations of Jewish cultural events
The debates were characterised by questions about expectations. What do visitors expect, what do state and private sponsors expect, what do those who organise the event expect? What do Jews in our community expect? In general, it was about the question of what characterises Jewish culture and how others look at it. Keith Kahn-Harris, author of the book "How do Jews look like", set the tone for the symposium in his highly acclaimed keynote speech. In his witty speech, he called for more banality, more mediocrity, more normality from the cultural professionals present. The everyday aspects of Jewish culture should be emphasised, not the exclusive. In this way, the people who live Jewish culture today should also take centre stage.
In her break-out session on the first day of the symposium, Lea Wohl von Haselberg, curator of the Berlin-Brandenburg Jewish Film Festival, explained how diverse the expectations of her work are and how she deals with them. It is also part of the job to counter expectations. If cultural programmes are overloaded with educational tasks, you have to stand up to them. Culture needs freedom.
Jewish cultural events in particular are often addressed by political actors with all kinds of socio-political tasks: they should not only show the diversity of contemporary Jewish life and culture, but also keep the memory of the Shoah alive and deal with all forms of anti-Semitism. Several contributions at the symposium revealed that not every single Jewish cultural event can fulfil all of these expectations.
Voices and perspectives of different Jewish groups and individuals
The desire to present Jewish culture in all its breadth and diversity is an important need that was expressed in many contributions. The different facets of Jewish life today and here should be recognised. In this way, stereotypes and prejudices can be broken down. It also creates an inclusive cultural landscape in which Jews from different backgrounds can feel represented and recognised.
In the best practices session on the second day of the symposium, Klarina Akselrud and Caroline Riggert from DAGESH's cultural education programme explained how they use a school project to sensitise young people to contemporary Jewish life and at the same time enable them to talk directly to young Jewish artists.
The means by which Jewish culture can be conveyed and made tangible were debated. In particular, the important role of Jewish artists and cultural workers in the concrete organisation of Jewish cultural events was repeatedly emphasised.
Long-term financial support for Jewish cultural events is urgently needed
At the closing panel, Valentina Marcenaro, Chair of the Board of the Jewish Music and Theatre Week, emphasised that it is crucial for society to work together to preserve and promote Jewish cultural events. In addition to diverse civic involvement, sustainable financial support from the state is needed. Annekatrin Klepsch, Mayor of Dresden, sat on the panel on behalf of the state capital, and Markus Franke, Head of the Arts Department at the Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism, sat on behalf of the Free State of Saxony. Claudia Maicher, member of the Saxon state parliament, also took part. All three emphasised the importance of financial support, but also explained the complex processes of cultural funding at various levels. The State Government Commissioner for Jewish Life, Thomas Feist, supported the call for long-term financial support for Jewish cultural events.
Together with the Office for Culture and Monument Protection, the Jewish Music and Theatre Week Dresden association invited people to the symposium for the first time. It is part of a renewal process for the Jewish Week Dresden. The cultural festival will not take place in 2024. The organisers of the supporting association Jüdische Musik- und Theaterwoche Dresden have decided to focus on the urgently needed internal structural renewal this year.
Over the two days of the event, the symposium developed into an important and lively meeting point for the diverse players in Jewish cultural life in Saxony, especially in preparation for the announced Jewish theme year 2026 in Saxony. Participants expressly called for such meetings to be repeated in the coming years.
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