Two students and their teacher have launched a project against antisemitism at a school in Halle. They refuse to remain silent when Jews are targeted with hostility in Germany. The commitment of this small group demonstrates that everyone can do something to combat antisemitism; no one is too small or insignificant.
For Martha and Annemarie from Halle (Saale), looking the other way is not an option. That's why the students immediately agreed when their teacher suggested participating in a youth competition against antisemitism organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. "We have hardly any contact with Judaism; we're not Jewish, and we don't know many Jews. We also don't have a problem with antisemitism at our school. But we see how prevalent the issue is in our society," says Martha. It's utopian to think that antisemitism disappeared from people's minds with the end of the Nazi regime. "We see the opposite. Antisemitism is creeping into all social structures. If no one does anything about it, it spreads like a plague."
Martha (19) and Annemarie (18) get along very well with their teacher, Carolin Perling. "We had her as our teacher until 11th grade. But we wanted to stay in touch beyond that – at a level that's still acceptable for school," Martha says with a laugh. And so the three of them met regularly during breaks for a kind of debating club, exchanging ideas on various topics. Then Carolin Perling brought up the "denkt@g" youth competition of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS). Its central theme, "Remembering, Looking, Changing – Light in Dark Times," aims to encourage engagement with the past. "It's about combating antisemitism – in whatever form, where, and how it manifests itself. Decisive solidarity with Jewish people is a task for society as a whole and concerns us all. Antisemitism is not an opinion, but an attack on humanity," the KAS states.
Projects against antisemitism
The small group at the Saaleschule now had to launch various projects on the topic and report on them via a specially created Instagram channel. The first project started on March 8th, the day in 1933 when the Nazis began burning Jewish books throughout Germany. "We put on an exhibition in the school building with posters about Jewish writers," Martha explains.
Another project was inspired by the Stolpersteine (stumbling stones), of which there are so many in Halle, as in numerous other German cities. "We wanted to give the Stolpersteine a face. To tell people, look down, not just straight ahead, notice the history that passes by unnoticed," said Annemarie.
The students knew from the start that they also wanted to organize a charity run against antisemitism. The money raised was to benefit the synagogue in Halle. In 2019, on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism, a perpetrator from the far-right scene attacked the synagogue. No one from the Jewish community was injured because the synagogue door withstood the attack. However, the perpetrator later randomly shot and killed two people, Jana and Kevin.
The sponsored run was a resounding success, Martha and Annemarie recount enthusiastically. The entire school participated, including teachers, support staff, and the school administration. Students with physical disabilities were pushed in wheelchairs. It was stressful, a lot of work and organization, but all the effort was worthwhile. "I wasn't aware before that you can stand up and really make a difference even without significant influence, political mandate, or financial resources," says Annemarie. The school administration supported them throughout. The project was also well-received by the students and parents.
Running against antisemitism
More than €1,000 was raised during the charity run. The three had originally intended to simply deliver a symbolic check to the synagogue. However, they were then invited to the official memorial service for the attack on October 9th. In the presence of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor, Saxony-Anhalt's Minister-President Rainer Haseloff, and other representatives from politics and society, Carolin Perling, Martha, and Annemarie presented their donation.
Christians supporting Israel were also present that day. Together with their Israeli partner, the organization presented the synagogue with a new Torah scroll. This was a symbol of solidarity and friendship, and a message against antisemitism. Several honored guests, including the students of the Saale School and their teacher, had the opportunity to write the final letters in the holy scroll together with the Torah scribe.
“It was a sad and moving day, but also a special one – to mourn together with those present, but also to hope. We gained so much experience, were able to witness Jewish traditions. The fact that our action was so appreciated, that we were heard, touched us deeply,” says Annemarie.
The youth competition ended in late October. But the antisemitism project at the Saaleschule continues. The Instagram channel "all.against.antisemitismus" will also remain active, Martha, Annemarie, and their teacher agree. "We want to continue raising awareness. There's so much more we can do to combat antisemitism. This isn't a time-limited effort," says Martha. The students are convinced that everyone can do something to fight antisemitism and racism. Annemarie's experiences have shown her: "You're never too young to start. In Germany, we're privileged; we have every freedom to get involved."
This article first appeared in our newspaper "Israelaktuell," issue 139. You can order the newspaper here . We would also be happy to send you several copies for distribution.
