In Magdeburg begin today the Days of Jewish Culture and History. The series of events runs until 15 December and opens at Forum Gestaltung. As is tradition, the Hermann-Spier Prize will be awarded at the opening; this year, the honour is set to go to Marga Rosina Pepping from Gouda. The laudatory address will be delivered by Waltraut Zachhuber.
According to the state capital and the participating initiatives, the programme brings together concerts, film screenings, readings, discussions and events designed to foster encounters. Its aim is to make the diversity of Jewish life visible, link historical remembrance with contemporary artistic perspectives, and spark debate about antisemitism and social responsibility.
The Days of Jewish Culture and History are jointly organised by local and regional participants. These include the Magdeburg branch of the German-Israeli Society, Forum Gestaltung, the Friends of the New Synagogue Magdeburg, the Jewish Community of Magdeburg and municipal cultural departments. According to the city, the State Chancellery of Saxony-Anhalt and the Ministry of Culture, as well as the Hamburg State Agency for Civic Education provide financial and organisational support for the series.
Representatives of the participating institutions explicitly describe the event as a cultural policy project: the idea of making politics through culture stands for bringing social attention together and creating spaces for nuanced discussions about remembrance culture, contemporary relevance and the prevention of antisemitism. Involving schools, eyewitness accounts and academic contributions is intended to strengthen local networks while also providing impetus beyond the region.
The series has been held regularly in Magdeburg since 2008. In the city, it is regarded as part of democratic remembrance culture and as a platform where artistic perspectives and civic engagement come together. Events are announced on an ongoing basis throughout the series, including music and film evenings, literary and philosophical events, and discussions with guests from academia, culture and education. The participating venues and the city administration provide information about dates, locations and tickets.
The organisers are relying on partnerships across the city’s communities. This approach targets different groups, from school pupils to audiences with an interest in culture. In the view of those involved, the link between historical responsibility and contemporary cultural production remains the common thread – including in light of ongoing disputes over antisemitic prejudice. At the outset, there is not yet enough evidence to predict whether the event will attract a larger audience this year than in previous years; according to the organisers, what matters is the reach of the debates and the visibility of Jewish life in the city.
Editor: Celestina Fuentes (Article created with AI assistance).