Seelow students shed light on Jewish life in the new podcast!

Seelow students shed light on Jewish life in the new podcast!

At the Gymnasium Auf den Seelower Höhe, history comes to life, especially when it comes to Jewish life in Seelow. Seven years after the first stumbling blocks that were set here in 2024, high school graduates have now published the third part of their podcast. This podcast deals with the city's Jewish history and reminds us of what is often forgotten. “Moz.de reports that the motivation for this project is the honest desire to remember Jewish life in Seelow and to give it a place in the consciousness of today's generation.

The students were particularly committed to a cleaning campaign on November 7th to clean the stumbling blocks and thus commemorate the pogrom night of November 9th, 1938. This action is not only a sign of remembrance, but also part of their intensive engagement with the history of Jewish families who lived in Seelow. The students conducted interviews with descendants, collected historical information and created a varied program with poems, theater performances and the preparation of Jewish food.

A place of remembrance

Another exciting aspect of the project is the planned redesign of the former Jewish cemetery. Mayor Robert Nitz has already provided information about possible design ideas. The cemetery, which was damaged during the Battle of the Seelow Heights and later converted into a parking lot in the 1970s, is now to be turned back into a place of remembrance. Historians say that the culture of remembrance in the GDR was for a long time focused on the anti-fascist past, which often led to the neglect of Jewish stories. This topic could not only help students find their own identity, but also initiate a social discourse.

The authors of the podcast, Miriam, Lilli and Laura, also addressed personal questions about their own origins. They cannot avoid briefly mentioning the current geopolitical challenges, such as the war in Israel and Gaza. Nevertheless, the focus was on dealing with local history. “The conversations with contemporary witnesses and descendants were very moving,” says Laura. Deputy Mayor Jörg Krüger even shared personal memories of the pogrom night, which gave the students a direct connection to history.

This cross-generational exchange and commitment to remembering are not only an important part of school educational work, but also an expression of responsibility towards social values. The podcast is available on the Seelow local history association website and invites you to engage with this valuable history.

Jewish history in Germany encompasses a long and often tragic development, as the Federal Agency for Civic Education shows. Jews have lived in Germany for at least 1,700 years, which makes the past and the struggles clear. History is marked by prosperity and the painful legacy of the Holocaust, when around six million Jews lost their lives. Today, Jewish life in Germany is developing again, and the communities are characterized by internal diversity and dynamism. This is an important step to preserve and strengthen cultural heritage, not only for the Jewish community, but for everyone living in Germany.