Protecting Jewish Students at German Universities: A Call to Action from State Secretary Marx
Henry Marx, the State Secretary for Science in Berlin, has emphasized the importance of implementing measures to safeguard Jewish students at universities. This includes the consistent use of domiciliary rights, expanded prevention, training, and support structures, and the establishment of anti-Semitism officers, as Marx announced following an expert discussion on anti-Semitism at universities.
The goal, as Marx articulated, is to create a secure environment at German universities where Jewish students can pursue their education without fear or worry. All relevant parties must collaborate to achieve this, and proactive efforts should be made to prevent anti-Semitic acts on campus.
This call to action comes in response to a sharp increase in anti-Semitic incidents in Berlin, as reported by the Research and Information Center on Anti-Semitism Berlin (Rias). One instance at a university involved posters displaying Hamas-kidnapped hostages being replaced with "Free Palestine" posters. This and other anti-Semitic incidents can be distressing for Jews and Israelis, as they may feel isolated and confronted by hostility.
To combat this issue, various stakeholders, such as government officials, academics, and student organizations, need to work together. This collaboration should include establishing anti-Semitism officers, promoting awareness, and implementing proactive measures to protect Jewish students.
Supporting Jewish Student Safety and Engagement
Several strategies can help ensure the safety and engagement of Jewish students at German universities. These measures include:
- Establishing networks of anti-Semitism representatives and strengthening their commitment to combating anti-Semitism in higher education.
- Implementing sanctions for antisemitic behavior, such as enforcing house rules, temporally excluding students from classes or studies, and even expulsion.
- Increasing funding for research on antisemitism and contemporary Jewish studies to better understand its causes and develop effective countermeasures.
- Promoting Jewish life and security measures, such as training educators to combat hostility towards Israelis and Jews and enhancing security for Jews on campus.
- Encouraging dialogue and education about the Holocaust and Jewish history to sensitize university members to anti-Semitic attitudes and stereotypes.
- Combating pro-Hamas demonstrations and antisemitic incidents and imposing severe consequences, like expulsion, for students engaging in antisemitic agitation.
By implementing these strategies, German universities can more effectively address anti-Semitism, thus ensuring a secure and engaging environment for Jewish students.
Resources to Learn More
References
[1] The German Rectors' Conference. Competence Network. Retrieved from https://hrk-versus.de/de/menu/themen/competence-network-to-preview-competence-network-teaser_
[4] Israel's Embassy to Germany. This serves as a reminder: Germany’s Federal Parliament calls for stricter action against Antisemitism. Retrieved from https://www.german-israel-info.de/aktuelle-meldungen/this-serves-as-a-reminder-germanys-federal-parliament-calls-for-stricter-action-against-antisemitism-17-04-2023/
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