New honorary award bolsters Jewish life in Germany

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Making Jewish life more visible New honorary award bolsters Jewish life in Germany

Federal Government Commissioner for Anti-Semitism, Felix Klein, will be presenting an award for voluntary commitment to Jewish life in Germany for the first time this year. The aim of the award is to encourage young Germans in particular to become more closely involved with Jewish life.

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Pupil at the Talmud Tora School in Hamburg with kippa

Applications are welcomed from all those who are concerned with contemporary Jewish life in Germany and who wish to help raise the visibility of Jewish voices and perspectives within our society – this includes school classes or schools that predominantly work on a voluntary basis.

Photo: picture alliance / dpa / Daniel Bockwoldt

Jewish life in Germany is extremely diverse and enriches many facets of society in our country. This is often underpinned by initiatives and voluntary work which seek to increase the visibility of Jewish life.

"These are the people I have in mind," says Klein, Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life and the Fight against Anti-Semitism, "and they really do exist everywhere in Germany. I want to motivate them to continue to do this important work for our society."

Support is available for projects, initiatives, and plans that help to increase the visibility of Jewish life as well as enhancing it. The prize is awarded in two categories one of which is aimed at young people under the age of 27 whilst the other is not age restricted. Both prize categories are endowed with 5,000 euros.

Who can apply?

Applications are welcomed from all those who are concerned with contemporary Jewish life in Germany and who wish to help raise the visibility of Jewish voices and perspectives within our society. This applies to individuals, associations, initiatives and groups, such as school classes or schools that predominantly work on a voluntary basis.

What requirements do projects have to fulfil?

The projects should both highlight Jewish life in all its diversity and help to break down prejudices and clichés, as well as promoting social cohesion and contributing to the perception of Jewish life as a natural part of our society. They should also address the issue of religious Jewish life in Germany and identify effective ways of imparting knowledge in the educational sector.

How do I apply?

Download and complete the application  (only German) form and send it to: Bewerbung.Ehrenamtspreis@bmi.bund.de. The award decision will be made by an independent jury of experts. It is anticipated that the award will be presented at a ceremony in November 2022.

When is the application deadline?

The application deadline is the 31 August 2022.