Weimar: Thuringia is building for German-Israeli youth work!

Weimar: Thuringia is building for German-Israeli youth work!

Weimar, Deutschland - Thuringia is applying for the location of the German-Israeli Youth Work

Thuringia's Prime Minister Mario Voigt is more than optimistic when it comes to the settlement of the German-Israeli Youth Work in Weimar. In talks with Israeli partners, he has already confirmed the interest in Thuringia and especially in Weimar as a location for this exchange. Voigt emphasizes the important role of Thuringia in history and the need to carry them between the nations. He considers in particular Weimar, as the center of classical culture and as a place of memory of the crimes of National Socialism.

As early as 2022, the then Federal Minister of Family Lisa Paus and her Israeli colleague Yifat Shasha-Biton set the course for this initiative. In a declaration of intent, the foundations for the German-Israeli youth work were laid. This is intended to raise the exchange between Germany and Israel's youth to a new level. Financial support for student exchange programs that not only promote dialogue, but also address important topics such as culture of remembrance and dealing with current challenges such as climate change.

Important for the application is also the long Jewish history of Thuringia, which goes back over 900 years. This was emphasized by Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow, while receiving Israeli ambassador Ron Prosor in Thuringia. Prosor underpinned the need to deepen relationships between the two countries and recognized the cultural character of the region. As part of his visit, there was not only an exchange about the importance of a youth work, but also an entry in the Golden Book of the State of Thuringia.

Motivation for the German-Israeli Youth Work

The goal of the German-Israeli youth work is to promote encounters between young people from both countries and to offer them the opportunity to work together on projects. "Youth exchange is of crucial importance for future relationships between Germany and Israel," emphasized Ambassador Prosor.

The recently carried out Jewish-Israeli cultural days in Thuringia illustrate the lively Jewish culture and history that is rooted in the region. After the fearful discussions about alternative locations such as Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Reinhard Schramm, the chairman of the Jewish state community in Thuringia, came to the conclusion that Weimar was the perfect place for this project.

Overall, the German-Israeli youth work forms a strong commitment to both countries for mutual understanding and to remember the common history. The cooperation extends to diverse topics, from education to cultural exchange to social issues, which makes the upcoming project an exciting project in Thuringia.

If you want to learn more about the background and the current state of affairs, find more information in the articles of N-TV, the Jewish general and the BMFSFJ.