Erfurt's City Oberhärpert strengthen friendship with Haifa despite the crisis

Erfurt's City Oberhärpert strengthen friendship with Haifa despite the crisis

In a very important online conference, Mayor Andreas Horn and the Mayor of Haifa, Yona Yahav, exchanged their best wishes. This virtual encounter is intended to enliven the city partnership between Erfurt and Haifa, which has been consolidated in a friendship contract since 2000. Yahav was touched by this initiative and underlined the importance of contact between the two cities. [erfurt.de]

The situation in Haifa is currently tense, reported Yahav. An attack from Iran a month ago caused considerable destruction. Despite these difficult circumstances, Horn Yahav paid tribute to his leadership. "I am pleased that despite technical challenges in this video conference, we can come together to show our connection," said Horn during the session.

a focus on the common history

At the conference, Johannes Gräßer from the Jewish state community Thuringia was also present, which presented a certificate to appreciate the city twinning. Gräßer and City Councilor Michael Panse took the opportunity to discuss future projects and the exchange between Erfurt and Haifa. Panse even plans a personal visit to Haifa in October to further consolidate the gang.

helpful contact with the Goethe-Institut could be support for new projects. The city twinning has been actively lived since 1997 and has produced numerous visits to delegation over the years.

Jewish legacy and cultural events

Another reason to be happy for the Erfurt is the latest award of the Jewish-medieval heritage in Erfurt. On September 17, 2023, the old synagogue was included in the UNESCO World Heritage together with the Jewish ritual bath. This is not only a victory for the city, but also a sign of the revival of Jewish culture, which was almost wiped out by the Holocaust.

The Thuringian Jewish national community has been open for 33 years and is organizing a varied program as part of the Jewish-Israeli Cultural Days, which indicates the close connection to Israel and at the same time wants to encounter anti-Semitism and Israel hatred. The residents of Thuringia are invited to participate in these cultural days and to familiarize themselves with the history and culture of the Jewish community.

With the honor of the Jewish sites and the active promotion of a tolerant -looking community, Erfurt shows that it has a big heart for cultural diversity. This is also underlined by the commitment of the Ahorn Hotels & Resorts that promote peaceful coexistence and welcome numerous employees and guests from different nations.

Overall, this development illustrates how important the city partnership in Haifa is for Erfurt. It confirms the close connection and the joint striving for peace and understanding.