Hitting the Antisemitism Problem Head-On: Wolfram Weimer Takes Charge at the Federal Ministry for Culture and Media
Determined Individual, Wolfram Weimer, Aims to Combat Anti-Semitism
Newly-appointed Minister of Culture Wolfram Weimer wastes no time shaking things up, kicking off his tenure with a firm stance against antisemitism. Just hours into his role, the former editor-in-chief of "Die Welt" and "Berliner Morgenpost" sat down with the Central Council of Jews, signaling a long-awaited reset in Germany's cultural policy.
The fresh face in the Culture Ministry has vowed to tackle antisemitism, a problem that has escalated both in society and within the cultural sector. "It's gut-wrenching to witness this vile form of prejudice seeping into our world. The horrifying terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel in October 2023 and the subsequent boycott calls against Jewish artists have left me appalled. I won't back down in my fight against this," Weimer declared emphatically.
Weimer has pledged regular conversations with Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews, to tackle the issue. One of their first discussions centered around the repatriation of artworks stolen or confiscated during the Nazi era. "I’ll be naming the members of the arbitration panel in coordination with the Central Council and the Jewish Claims Conference shortly. That's a crucial step towards finding equitable solutions," Weimer stated.
On the horrifying anniversary of the end of the war and the fall of the Nazi regime, Weimer took a moment to remember the six million Jews brutally murdered in the Holocaust. "It's our solemn duty to investigate the atrocities committed by the National Socialists and educate future generations on this dark chapter of history. The uniqueness of the Shoah compels us to combat every form of antisemitism today, particularly the Holocaust, which we'll never forget."
Weimer made his first personnel move on Tuesday, ousting the current head of the State Ministry for Culture and Media, Andreas Görgen. He will be replaced by his deputy Konrad Schmidt-Werthern.
The Cultural sector has had to address criticism from the Central Council of Jews about antisemitic representations at the documenta art exhibition in Kassel in 2022 and statements about the Gaza war during the Berlinale gala last year. Schuster has long demanded clear guidelines for the cultural sector. "Antisemitism in art and culture is deeply ingrained and evolving in an alarming manner," Schuster warned.
Germany's ruling coalition has made combating antisemitism a priority, leading to a new resolution and a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitic offenses. With Weimer at the helm, the Federal Ministry for Culture and Media will be expected to reinforce these efforts, fostering cultural projects and media programming that confront antisemitism and commemorate Jewish history, promoting societal resilience against hatred.
[1] - Federal Government of Germany, "Coalition Agreement for the 20th Legislative Period" (2021)[2] - Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, "Germany Passes Law Cracking Down on Antisemitism" (2022)[3] - Reuters, "Germany Pledges to Step Up Fight Against Antisemitism in Wake of Synagogue Attacks" (2022)[4] - Der Spiegel, "Germany’s Renewed Push to Combat Antisemitism in the Culture Sector" (2023)[5] - Deutsche Welle, "German Government Announces New Measures to Combat Antisemitism" (2023)
- The new Minister of Culture, Wolfram Weimer, announced a focus on addressing antisemitism, a problem that has escalated in both society and the cultural sector, following his appointment at the State Ministry of Culture and Media in Berlin.
- Weimer, former editor-in-chief of "Die Welt" and "Berliner Morgenpost," signaled a shift in Germany's cultural policy by meeting with the Central Council of Jews, promising regular discussions to combat antisemitism.
- One of the initial topics of discussion between Weimer and the Central Council of Jews concerned the repatriation of artworks stolen or confiscated during the Nazi era, a significant step towards finding equitable solutions, according to Weimer.
- The Weimer-led Federal Ministry for Culture and Media is expected to reinforce the coalition government's efforts to combat antisemitism, with a focus on promoting cultural projects and media programming that confront antisemitism and commemorate Jewish history, aiming to foster societal resilience against hatred.
