The final training event for the international cohort of trainers of the MiDorLeDor Europe takes place in Berlin
The third and final training of trainers of the MiDorLeDor Europe (MDLDE) project, developed with the support of the CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) programme of the European Union, has taken place in the city of Berlin between Sunday 8th September and Thursday 12th, consisting of an intense work program designed to consolidate the learnings and the planning of the actions that will follow. These will consist of the deployment of the process of training for Jewish heritage educators, guides and mediators in the Upper Rhine area, between France and Germany, in southern Italy, connecting multiple localities with relevant Jewish heritage, many of which currently lack active communities; in Spain, interconnecting the Centro Sefarad Israel with the network of cities that work on the promotion of Jewish heritage under the umbrella of Caminos de Sefarad; in Greece, where the Jewish Community of Athens is in the process of creating the cultural route that will have its epicentre in the Greek capital; and in Poland, from Lublin, where Brama Grodzka TNN is developing the Shtetl Routes, which interconnects a vast area where shtetls were placed formerly and represents a great opportunity to involve Ukrainian professionals despite the current difficulties; and from Warsaw, where the Taube Center for Jewish Life & Learning has been rolling out the project since 2012 and intends to give it continuity by developing a full review on their previous programmes thanks to this co-learning process.
The training program implemented in Berlin was led, designed and implemented by Centropa – Germany, being a key ally for the incorporation of an in-depth look at the narrative around memory, the contribution of Jewish heritage to memory policies, and ultimately enriching the full training programme. Considering the fundamental purpose of the CERV programme, the connection between the process of educational action on Jewish heritage and the European Union’s strategy to combat anti-Semitism is more evident than ever: in an increasingly prevalent far-right climate in Europe, it is essential to recognize that raising awareness should be viewed as a primary strategy, serving as a foundation for intercultural dialogue within a diverse European society.
Berlin serves as an outstanding foundation for the international cohort of trainers to engage in this reflective process. On Sunday, they visited the Liebermann Villa and the Haus der Wannsee-Konferenz, experiencing a compelling and significant contrast between the Jewish individuals who played a vital role in Germany’s artistic development during the Impressionist era and the systematic planning of the deportation process. Centropa has conducted a series of sessions focusing on the history of the Jewish community in Berlin and its heritage, encompassing both tangible and intangible aspects. These sessions served as a foundation for the educational resources offered, featuring a presentation by Prof. Michael Brenner from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. Fieldwork conducted in significant memory sites, such as the Jewish cemetery in Weißensee, the Levetzowstraße Memorial in Berlin-Moabit, and exhibitions such as the “We Were Neighbours” exhibition at City Hall Schöneberg, and the Neue Synagoge – Centrum Judaicum, as a rich compilation of different narratives which has facilitated the analysis of various interpretative resources and the effects of Germany’s memory policies, which can be identified in measures of this nature.
In addition, in a workshop with the archive team of the Jewish Museum in Berlin, which manages and develops the process of inventory, documentation and research, but also determines the definition of educational resources, we were able to deal with reference cases on the application of the results of documentary research to the construction of narratives that allow us to exemplify decisive historical aspects in human life. The programme concluded with a session of analysis of the narratives of Jewish heritage that have converged throughout the training process in this first phase of MDLDE, as well as with a Havruta session, used as a discussion tool. The limitless interpretations Jewish thought offers brings us to the core of the CERV programme, reflecting the rich diversity of Jewish European society throughout history, which mirrors the diversity of the European continent itself. Recognizing the importance of this diversity is essential for fostering inclusion in an intercultural Europe.
Throughout the autumn, the second phase will be launched, in which professionals from the various participating institutions will deploy training in the regional contexts of the Upper Rhine, Southern Italy, Spain, Poland, Greece and the area of Poland adjacent to Ukraine, with the aim of also incorporating professionals in the mediation of Jewish heritage who are currently refugees.
AEPJ extends its heartfelt gratitude to Centropa for their warm hospitality this week and for their collaborative efforts with us aimed at promoting innovation in the mediation of Jewish heritage.
