Germany: Brandenburg to Host Conference on Combating Antisemitism in Schools

School leaders and teachers in Brandenburg, Germany, will receive training to combat antisemitism, especially in light of the ongoing Middle East conflict. Andreas Büttner, the state's commissioner against antisemitism, announced that a conference for school leadership will be organized this year.

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School leaders and teachers in Brandenburg will be strengthened in dealing with antisemitism against the background of the Middle East conflict.

The conference will focus on how educators can navigate discussions about the conflict between Israel and Gaza in the classroom. This initiative comes as Jewish individuals in Germany report living in fear due to rising antisemitic incidents, exacerbated by the conflict. Büttner stated that the goal is to strengthen educators' ability to handle sensitive topics and counter anti-Jewish sentiment.

Büttner described a "creeping normalization" of anti-Jewish hostility, which he believes has permeated society. He noted that antisemitism is now a daily reality in schools, government offices, and political debates. To address this, events are also planned with descendants of Holocaust survivors, in collaboration with the Brandenburg Memorial Sites Foundation.

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A creeping normalization of anti-Jewish sentiment, which has also arrived in the middle of society.

The initiative follows a roundtable discussion attended by representatives from the Jewish community, antisemitism researchers, and officials from the Ministry of Education. The participants discussed strategies to combat anti-Jewish prejudice and ensure a safer environment for Jewish students and staff.

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Antisemitism is long since part of everyday life, for example in schools, authorities and political debates.