THIS IS A TAKE OFF OF A STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE ACJ (AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR JUDAISM). ONLY "GERMAN" IS SUBSTITUTED FOR "AMERICAN". IT COULD TRULY HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE DESTROYED GERMAN JEWISH COMMUNITY.
Founded in 1932, GCJ has long offered a distinctive vision of identity and commitment for the German Jewish community…
We affirm the uniqueness of the German Jewish experience, and the vital role Jews have played in the development of our nation and its democratic ideals. We cherish our rights and obligations as responsible citizens of the Germany.
We view Judaism as a universal religious faith, rather than an ethnic or nationalist identity. We further recognize the silent and often non-participating majority who define their Judaism in the context of their own perspectives. We remain committed to the ethical, intellectual, and prophetic values of Judaism. We cherish the spiritual ties that link us to our fellow Jews around the world, with whom we share our heritage and history.
The State of Israel has significance for the Jewish experience. As a refuge for many Jews who have suffered persecution and oppression in other places, Israel certainly has meaning for us. However, that relationship is a spiritual, historical, and humanitarian one - it is not a political tie. As German Jews, we share the hope for the security and well being of the State of Israel, living in peace and justice with its neighbors.
We celebrate the rich diversity of opinion within today's changing Jewish community. No one group or perspective reflects the broad range of positions among German Jews. We embrace the German tradition of open and respectful dialogue.
Our most fervent hopes are for a strong, creative and spiritually renewed German Jewish community, and for freedom and security for Jews everywhere; so that we might fulfill our historic mission of working together with all people to build a world of justice, freedom, and peace.
The centuries during the Biblical era in which Jews constituted a sovereign commonwealth in the land we now call Israel gave rise to the shared sense of identity, religious beliefs and values of Judaism. In the centuries that followed, Jews went forth from this land and went to live in other places around the world as Jews. We believe that although Israel is the birthplace of our faith, it is not the place of our national affiliation.
As German Jews, we believe that our nationality is German. We are tied both geographically and emotionally to Germany and to its values of democracy, freedom, liberty and justice. We believe we can be Jews and Germans.
Jews everywhere share common bonds of history, religious beliefs, values and traditions. As German Jews, our ties to the State of Israel are spiritual, emotional and historical, not, however, political. We are grateful that Israel has served as a refuge for many Jews who have suffered persecution and oppression in other places. We have a great desire to support the well-being of our fellow Jews. We pray for peace. Yet, we are German Jews: proud, responsible citizens of Germany.
When, at the end of the Passover Seder, we say “Next year in Jerusalem,” we are articulating a religious metaphor. What we mean is “Next year all Jews should live in freedom,” just as we do in the Germany.
ACJSLN@aol.com
© 1932 The German Council For Judaism.
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