The new Jewish academy in Frankfurt has opened as the first of its kind in Germany. This location has been chosen as an educational center in western Germany; a place where Frankfurt has always been recognized as a hub of Jewish intellectual life. Today, this city stands as one of the most important centers of Jewish life in Germany alongside Berlin, Munich, and Düsseldorf.
Historical Significance of the Academy
This academy is less than a 10-minute walk from the city's largest synagogue and is located near the historic festival hall building in the Frankfurt exhibition grounds. Here, the Nazis gathered Jewish men in 1938 and sent them to forced labor camps. Additionally, the Central Council of Jews in Germany was established here in 1950, with Berlin currently serving as its headquarters.
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Frankfurt is also home to the Central Welfare Council of Jews in Germany (ZWST) and a Jewish museum that opened in 1988. Jewish scholars have played a key role in the intellectual and academic history of this city, and the Jewish community of Frankfurt significantly contributed to the founding of Goethe University in 1914.
Key Messages at the Opening Ceremony
At the opening ceremony, Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, emphasized the importance of combating hate through education, stating: "We must fight hate with education, education, and education." He described this institution as a "milestone" that reflects "the determination of the Jewish community to call Germany their home."
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of Germany, also stressed the need to reject antisemitism firmly and unconditionally, adding that this issue must also be addressed politically. He noted that the murder of six million Jews in the Holocaust has also harmed the world of Jewish learning and knowledge.
The Jewish academy combines traditional features of a German villa from the early 20th century with a modern four-story building, examining the past, present, and future. Sabina Donath, the director of the institution, stated: "We see ourselves as a place where the past, present, and future are examined equally."
Donath and her colleague, Doron Kissel, described this academy as "a bridge between academia and the public" as well as "a home for researchers and those who ask questions." The goal of this institution is to focus on topics related to the philosophy of religion and ethics, as well as discussions concerning contemporary Jewish life.
This project emerged from an initiative by Dieter Graumann, former President of the Central Council of Jews, who encouraged the establishment of an educational department in 2012. The construction costs of this academy are estimated at around 40 million euros (45 million dollars), half of which is funded by the Central Council of Jews and the other half by federal and state governments.
Notably, a mezuzah containing verses from the Torah has been affixed to the entrance door of the academy, and security measures are also an integral part of this new building. Donath stated: "It is a bitter reality that Jewish institutions must be protected. The academy must be safeguarded like Jewish schools and synagogues. For us, this is a sad reality of everyday life."
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