In the early 1930s, around 35,000 Jews lived in Bavaria. Only a few hundred survived the Shoa. Today, the Jewish community in Bavaria again comprises around 19,000 Jews in 13 communities. A large number of associations and initiatives shape Jewish life and Jewish heritage in the Free State. The “Network of Jewish Life” project has now been launched to bring these actors together. The project is unique nationwide, said Ludwig Spaenle (CSU), Bavaria’s anti-Semitism officer, at the presentation of the project on Thursday. Together with Olaf Heinrich, the chairman of the regional association for home care, he signed the cooperation agreement.
The Bavarian Ministry of Culture is financing the project, which is supported by the state association, with around 400,000 euros. In his own words, Spaenle recognized the need for a network of associations, institutions and initiatives. Volunteers and full-time employees expressed the desire for regular exchange and closer networking. That’s why he approached the state association, which has experience in this area. Spaenle describes the aim of the project as a nationwide network to create “a certain amount of lobbying” for issues relating to Jewish life and heritage. The state association can provide technical support for the project and is represented nationwide, said Olaf Heinrich. One has “close contact with the Bavarian home caretakers, many of whom deal with the Jewish history of their region”.
The interest in the Jewish heritage continues to be great. “One perceives the Jewish heritage in a new way,” said Spaenle. In the individual regions, clubs and individuals have already started to network. The project now wants to advance this process throughout Bavaria. Rudolf Neumaier, managing director of the state association, explained: “We don’t want to reinvent the wheel.” Existing contacts are to be expanded at regional and state level. Heinrich explained that the regional association would have a “hinge function” between existing project partners, society and politics. As part of the project, networking meetings will take place and an internet platform will be set up. The aim is also to strengthen civic engagement and to create extracurricular places of learning. The younger generation should also be sensitized, according to Heinrich. “Getting to know the Jewish heritage and meeting Jews increases awareness of Jewish life as an integral part of Bavarian history and the present,” said Spaenle.
The anti-Semitism commissioner explained that the “Network of Jewish Life” project is a building block in the big picture. In May 2022, the state government launched, among other things, the overall concept “Jewish Life and Combating Anti-Semitism”. This included setting up a working group in which all the ministries involved are represented and setting up an online portal that links many offers to promote Jewish life and shows ways of countering anti-Semitism.