Last Tuesday the Center for German and European Studies provided an open forum to discuss the question of whether Jews should visit Germany. The initial discussion focused on the validity of the idea that Jews who visit Germany are overlooking the country's actions during World War II.The dialogue was lead by Prof. Sabine von Mering (GRAL) and guest lecturer Matthias Oppermann, a DAAD Visiting Scholar, part of the German Academic Exchange Service. As the discussion progressed, its scope broadened to include many other topics, some of which brought forth emotionally charged sentiments and enlightening statements regarding the fate of the Jewish legacy in Germany and modern German-Jewish relations.

After each member of the group introduced him or herself and elaborated on his or her German or Jewish heritage, von Mering jumped into the discussion by asking those in attendance whether it was important for those of Jewish descent to visit Germany.

Zachary Zorfas '10 detailed the personal importance of visiting Germany; he explained that he traveled to the country last summer in order to "get in touch with the history" and to learn about the Jewish culture that was left behind there. He was confused that some Jews are reluctant to visit Germany and Poland today simply because their relatives who were affected by the Holocaust refused to return there themselves.

Dr. Lawrence Wangh (BIOL) expressed a similar sentiment, explaining that it is also important for Jews to visit Germany in order to explore the portions of their heritage that are German or Polish.

"One goes to Germany and recognizes portions of one's character that are uniquely German," Wangh said. "Everything is familiar in a certain way, and part of the tragedy of the Nazi era is that Jews wondered, 'How could this happen to us? We're German.'"

One of the dominant topics of the discussion was how Germans today view and interact with Jews. Wangh, as well as several other Jews in attendance, described that when they visited Germany, they felt a sense of unease on the part of the German population while in the presence of Jews. Wangh described an instance when it was revealed that he was Jewish in the company of several Germans. The reaction, Wangh said, was "complete silence."

Von Mering inquired as to why he believed that this had happened. Wangh explained that the Germans "simply did not know how to deal" with those of Jewish ethnicity.

Von Mering, who is German and was raised Christian but has brought up her children with an awareness of their grandparents' Jewish heritage, elaborated on this idea. She explained that while Germany makes an attempt to recognize the Holocaust through memorials and educational programs in areas such as Berlin, there is a distinct inability amongst those of the German population "to talk about the Holocaust, to talk about things Jewish ... even if there are no Jews around."

"There is a fear of concentration camps," she said, "to be confronted with the real horror [of the Holocaust]. You think, 'My grandfather could have been one of the people who killed.'"

However, Dr. Tatjana Meschede of the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, a German who converted to Judaism prior to the birth of her sons, explained that there is a desire amongst Germans to be educated on Jewish tradition and culture. For instance, she said, there are many Germans who requested to be invited to her son's bar mitzvah in Germany so that they might be able to experience Jewish culture.

The discussion, as it continued, drifted among a variety of subjects, including the science of Jewish genetics, family planning according to religious customs and the role of women with children in general society. Ultimately, however, the forum concluded with the participants discussing more personal aspects of their lives. Talk of hometowns and families further narrowed a divide that had already been breached through a personal and revealing evening.