New Jewish community and education center inaugurated in Berlin - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Tue., November 13, 2007 Kislev 3, 5768

Israel Time: 20:17 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Print Edition

Diplomacy

Defense

Arts & Leisure

Real Estate

Jewish World

National

Advertising

Magazine

Week's End

Business

Opinion

Rosner's Domain

Anglo File

Books

Travel



		Rabbis wait for the inauguration ceremony of the Jewish education centre Szloma-Alban-Haus and Rohr Chabad Centre in Berlin Sunday. (Reuters)

del.icio.us

Digg It! new

Last update - 20:25 02/09/2007

New Jewish community and education center inaugurated in Berlin

By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press

tags: Jews, community, center

A new Jewish community and education center opened in Berlin on Sunday, in the latest reflection of the growing strength of Jewish life in Germany.

Germany's foreign minister was among the guests of honor at the inauguration of the Szloma Albam House, run by the Chabad Lubavitch organization - which described it as the first Jewish center built in Germany after World War II to be financed largely by private donations.

"With the opening, Chabad Lubavitch is sending a signal that Jews trust in the future of Germany," said the center's executive director, Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal.

	Advertisement

Along with a synagogue, the three-story, $6.8 million center boasts facilities that include a library and media center, conference center, seminary, youth lounge, a mikvah, or ritual bath, and a tourist welcome center.

The sleek, contemporary design includes an entrance that features a 100-square-meter replica of Jerusalem's Western Wall, meant as a symbol rather than for worship.

"The Western Wall is the source of identity for everyone in the Jewish people," Teichtal said.

The rabbi added: "What we build here is not meant to take the place of the real Western Wall, but to serve as a source of inspiration for Jews, to help them connect. As such, with the minister and 30 ambassadors here, we sang about Jerusalem at the end of the ceremony."

Teichtal described the opening as a historic event and said 10 rabbis would be trained at the center each year.

Germany's largest synagogue, across the capital in the former East Berlin, reopened Friday after being renovated following decades of neglect.

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier recalled a former German Jewish leader's observation that, after the crimes of the Holocaust, it was an unexpected miracle that a renaissance of Jewish life in Germany came about.

"The opening is a joy in and for Germany and a reason for gratitude after the insane crimes that are seared into the memory of Germany," Steinmeier said at the ceremony. At the same time, he cautioned that vigilance against anti-Semitism remains necessary.

The Jewish community in Germany is the fastest-growing in the world, according to the World Jewish Congress, mostly because of immigrants from the former Soviet Union.

Germany's Central Council of Jews says the Jewish community has some 110,000 registered members. Some 560,000 Jews lived in Germany before the Holocaust.

Teichtal has said that one of the new center's main functions is to help Jewish immigrants integrate into German society, with all services and classes to be given in German.

The Brooklyn, New York, native whose grandfather's family was killed in the Holocaust has stressed that the center is meant for everyone, including non-Jews.

More Jewish World news and features

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	Religious identity
	Palestinian negotiator Erekat: Palestinians won't accept Israel as a 'Jewish State'


	Freedom of expression
	The head of Google Israel refuses to censor anti-Jewish hate material on the internet.




1.	To Rabbi Teichtal and Chabad	18:25	\|	Choni Davidowitz	02/09/07

2.	Disgrace	18:31	\|	Choni Davidowitz	02/09/07

3.	The truth behind the headlines	19:55	\|	Jonathan S	02/09/07

4.	#1 #2 welcome back	21:06	\|	Kris	02/09/07

5.	Chabad in Germany	21:44	\|	David	02/09/07

6.	Your comments	22:47	\|	Leser	02/09/07

7.	Chris #4 re Davidowitz	22:58	\|	Mary	02/09/07

8.	#1#2#5Chabad	23:10	\|	David	02/09/07

9.	Jonathan S	00:00	\|	Axel	03/09/07

10.	are they all "holocaust survivors" ?	00:12	\|	nobodysacred	03/09/07

Today Online


	Burston: Palestine, and the crime of being a Jewish state
	Responses: 229


	Abbas says an end to the occupation will bring peace
	Responses: 83


	Harel & Issacharoff: Hamas losing grip on Gaza, Fatah gaining
	Responses: 52


	PA official: Barak, Livni holding Olmert back on peace process
	Responses: 119


	Peres makes history with first address to Turkish parliament
	Responses: 83


	Haaretz.com TV: 'Gazans detained by IDF return naked'
	Responses: 59

Rosner's Domain

Rosner's Guest: Vanessa Ochs on inventing Jewish rituals

GA 2007: Oy vey, no catastrophe to talk about

Reasons to like John McCain (WTR)

Ahead of summit, N.Y. Congressman fears for Mideast stability

More Headlines
19:10 PM to settler council: We will have to make concessions


18:42 In Turkey, Peres gives first presidential address to Muslim legislature


19:46 Interior Minister: Israeli Arabs must perform national service


16:14 Hamas arrests scores of Fatah activists after Arafat rally in Gaza


14:01 PA official: Barak, Livni holding Olmert back on peace process


16:12 Murdered teen's family petitions court against killers` release


18:47 State Prosecutor-designate submitted a false deposition


06:54 ANALYSIS: Hamas losing grip on Gaza, Fatah gaining support


03:36 Ultra-Orthodox program taught in schools despite ministry ban


06:46 Alperon crime family defendants charged with aggravated assault