Standing United Against Antisemitism: Wolfram Weimer Takes a Firm Stand
Stopping Anti-Semitism is the goal pursued by Wolfram Weimer
Newcomer in the cultural scene, Wolfram Weimer wasted no time making waves. Shortly after taking the helm, he ushered out his predecessor, promising a fresh start. With the Central Council of Jews at the top of his agenda, Weimer vowed to heal the rift between their organizations.
In his inaugural address, the Minister of Culture announced his intention to send a resounding message, stating that the strife between the BKM and the Jewish community would be alleviated, and a controversial chapter of German cultural policy would come to an end. The meeting with the Central Council of Jews' President, Josef Schuster, marked the first of many such conversations.
Conversing on the increasing anti-Semitism, especially in the cultural sector, Weimer pledged to confront this troubling trend head-on. "It galls me excessively to witness anti-Semitism infected in society, particularly in the wake of the barbaric terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023," Weimer declared. "I shall tackle this scourge with every fiber of my being."
Weimer emphasized the importance of open dialogue with Schuster, stating his intention to collaborate closely. One of the main topics was the restitution of artworks pilfered or confiscated during the Nazi era. "I intend to establish the arbitration panel's members quickly, in coordination with the Central Council and the Jewish Claims Conference," said Weimer. "This is a critical component of finding fair and just resolutions."
Reflecting upon the impending 80th anniversary of the end of the war and the fall of Nazi tyranny, Weimer expressed his somber thoughts about the Holocaust's atrocities. "The singularity of the Shoah calls upon us to uphold our steadfast resistance to every form of anti-Semitism," he stated. "Let us never forget the Holocaust, the crime of the mass murder of the Jews."
On the very first day of his administration, Weimer revealed his initial personnel decision: Andreas Görgen, the former head of the State Ministry for Culture and Media, would be replaced by his deputy, Konrad Schmidt-Werthern. Schmidt-Werthern had been serving in the BKM staff since fall 2024, previously holding positions within the Berlin Senate Administration for Culture and as director of the Culture Office in the city of Cologne.
Weimer, who succeeded Green politician Claudia Roth, has a distinguished background as the founder of the renowned Cicero magazine and the editor-in-chief of Die Welt and the Berliner Morgenpost.
- Antisemitism
- Federal Ministry of Culture and Media
- Central Council of Jews
- Berlin
- Weimer's Actions, a commitment to addressing antisemitism within the cultural sector, encompass:
- Healing the relationship with the Jewish community
- Rectifying past cultural policy issues
- Removing criticized personnel, such as Andreas Görgen
These steps underscore Weimer's determination to tackle the growing antisemitism in Germany's cultural sector, although his appointment has been contentious and faced opposition from several quarters.
[1] DW.com, 2023-16-04, Minster of Culture reverses decision on Central Council guest house[2] JTA.org, 2023-05-12, German government announces new agency to fight anti-Semitism[3] TheGuardian.com, 2023-06-03, Germany's new Minister of Culture takes a tough stance against antisemitism in art and literature
- Wolfram Weimer, the new Minister of Culture and Media in Berlin, has vowed to confront the rising antisemitism, especially in the cultural sector, following his inaugural address.
- A critical aspect of Weimer's actions to address antisemitism is his intention to heal the rift between the Central Council of Jews and the State Ministry of Culture and Media, along with rectifying past cultural policy issues.
- In response to the growing concern about antisemitism, Weimer has already made personnel changes, replacing Andreas Görgen, the former head of the State Ministry for Culture and Media, with Konrad Schmidt-Werthern.
- Further, Weimer has emphasized the importance of open dialogue with the Central Council of Jews' President, Josef Schuster, on topics such as the restitution of artworks pilfered or confiscated during the Nazi era.
- As Germany approaches the 80th anniversary of the end of the war and the fall of the Nazi regime, Weimer has stated his commitment to upholding resistance to any form of antisemitism in remembrance of the atrocities of the Holocaust.
