Photo art for remembrance: Jewish life in Germany in focus

Photo art for remembrance: Jewish life in Germany in focus

The exhibition “Shalom. Three Photographers See Germany” opens on April 3, 2025 in the House of History of the Federal Republic of Germany. This presentation focuses on the works of photographers Holger Biermann, Rafael Herlich and Benyamin Reich. The exhibition includes 51 photographs that reflect Jewish life and culture in Germany.

The photographers' works cover a variety of topics, including the newborn in a rabbi's family, a Jewish cantor at a soccer game, and Rosh Hashanah celebrations. But not only the beautiful sides of Jewish life are presented; Anti-Semitic graffiti and social challenges also find their place in the exhibition, which covers a period from 2000 to 2015.

Vernissage with a prominent cast

The first presentation of the exhibition took place in 2016 at the House of History in Bonn. The aim is to address the normality of Jewish life in Germany 80 years after the Holocaust. The opening will take place on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 6 p.m. in the Lion Building at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. The speakers at the vernissage are Rector Prof. Dr. Claudia Becker, Prof. Dr. Ottfried Fraisse and curator Dr. Dirk Schaal.

The exhibition will remain open until June 1, 2025, with visitors having the opportunity to view the images from Wednesday to Sunday between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Admission is free, but registration is recommended.

The photographers in focus

Rafael Herlich, born in Tel Aviv in 1954, has lived in Frankfurt am Main for over 40 years. Its goal is to record the normality of Jewish life in Germany and to promote interreligious dialogue. Benyamin Reich, born in 1976 and coming from an Orthodox family, shows important stages in Jewish life in his photographs, such as celebrations such as births and weddings.

Holger Biermann, known for his nostalgic black and white photographs, was born in Bremen in 1973. His work and that of his colleagues demonstrate the diversity and challenges facing the Jewish community in Germany.

Jewish life in Germany in a historical context

The historical background to Jewish life in Germany is of crucial importance. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Jews experienced a change in their social integration and emancipation. The Prussian Edict of 1812 and the North German Federal Law of 1869 secured them civil rights. Despite these advances, however, Jews encountered resistance and anti-Semitic prejudice increased, especially after the founding of the German Empire in 1871.

The cultural contributions of Jewish personalities such as Heinrich Heine and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy cannot be overlooked. However, the emergence of anti-Semitic stereotypes, especially after the 19th century, led to a rise in anti-Semitism and deep social hostility, culminating in the Holocaust.

Overall, the exhibition "Shalom. Three Photographers See Germany" is not only a look at Jewish life today, but is also in the context of a complex history that is of great importance for understanding the current challenges in Germany.

Addressing these issues remains important in order to shed light on the facets of Jewish life and the social challenges that are still relevant today. It becomes clear that photographic documentation not only provides memory, but can also contribute to understanding. The exhibition invites all visitors to critically examine these topics.

The information comes from various sources: University of Hall, House of History and Israelogy.