FAU shows: Living diversity – New initiative for Jewish students!

FAU shows: Living diversity – New initiative for Jewish students!

The Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) has launched a new initiative that is explicitly dedicated to supporting Jewish students and employees. The establishment of an interest group was initiated by Jewish members of the university and receives support from Prof. Dr. Lutz Edzard, the special representative against anti-Semitism at FAU. This initiative is consistent with the core value of diversity that the university upholds. Prof. Edzard emphasizes that this group not only promotes exchange, but also serves to draw attention to anti-Semitic incidents and increase the visibility of Jewish life.

“The recent developments in Germany have unsettled many Jewish people,” explains Prof. Edzard. He points to a difficult time for Jews, especially since October 7, 2023, when anti-Semitic incidents in public increased. In contrast to cities like Berlin, the situation in Erlangen is calmer. Nevertheless, there is a growing awareness among non-Jewish citizens of the concerns of their Jewish fellow citizens. The Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann also supports the projects for interreligious dialogue at FAU.

The importance of safe spaces

The new group is intended to act as a “safe space” for Jewish students and employees and promote interreligious dialogue. Prof. Edzard emphasizes that religious communities like Judaism need these safe spaces to exchange and network. He invites all interested Jewish members of FAU to contact him to organize an initial meeting. This initiative could also help to reduce prejudices and make Jewish life in Germany more visible.

Growing up young people in Germany is characterized by a variety of cultural, religious and ethnic affiliations. Young people represent the most heterogeneous population group and show great openness to diversity. Nevertheless, the way Jewish life is treated in society is often characterized by prejudices that result from a long history of anti-Semitism. Many non-Jewish young people have little contact with Jewish classmates and experience inadequate education about Judaism, often limited to the Holocaust.

Anti-Semitism and visibility

Anti-Semitism remains a pressing problem in Germany that cannot be traced back to the behavior of Jews. Rather, it is a social phenomenon that is deeply interwoven with post-National Socialist contexts. In recent years, media attention to anti-Semitism has increased, particularly after incidents such as the bullying of a Jewish student in Berlin or the attack on the synagogue in Halle in 2019. These events have sparked increased discussion about the visibility of Jewish voices and the need to address Jewish life in Germany.

Reporting on Jewish life is often characterized by stereotypes, and youth often associate Judaism with victimhood and tradition, which distorts perceptions. Initiatives such as the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk as well as digital media promote the visibility of Jewish diversity to address these challenges and strengthen dialogue between Jewish and non-Jewish communities.