“German Jews Today” - a discussion from the 1960s

Panel discussion as part of the exhibition German Jews Today. Leonard Freed (in German)

At the beginning of the 1960s, Jewish life in the Federal Republic of Germany was anything but a matter of course. In his book Deutsche Juden heute (German Jews Today), published in 1965, the American photographer Leonard Freed captured insights into the everyday life of Jews in West Germany, from Düsseldorf to Frankfurt am Main and Munich. 

Tue 18 Mar 2025, 7 pm

Map with all buildings that belong to the Jewish Museum Berlin. The W. M. Blumenthal Academy is marked in green

Where

W. M. Blumenthal Academy,
Klaus Mangold Auditorium
Fromet-und-Moses-Mendelssohn-Platz 1, 10969 Berlin
(Opposite the Museum)

Where, when, what?

A year later, the World Jewish Congress in Brussels discussed the topic of Germans and Jews. Nahum Goldmann, Gershom Scholem, Golo Mann and Karl Jaspers were among the contributors. Both the photo series and the World Congress explore the question of the possibility of living as a Jew in Germany, and are thus part of a debate that continues to this day.

In discussion: Sarah Hadda (art historian and scriptwriter), Thomas Sparr (co-editor of Deutsche und Juden. Dokumentation einer Debatte), Theresia Ziehe (curator of photography, JMB) and others. Moderation: Daniel Wildmann (Program Director W. Michael Blumenthal Academy, JMB)

Black and white photograph: Six young people stand on the banks of a wide river. They are not standing together, but spread out across the entire picture. Some are looking towards the viewer, others across to the city that stretches along the opposite side of the river. The group makes an exuberant impression.

Leonard Freed, The youth group, Düsseldorf, 1961; Jewish Museum Berlin, accession 2008/305/26. Further information about this photo can be found in our online collections (in German)

Black and white photograph: people dressed in festive outfits dancing; in the background is a stage decorated with two Israeli flags and a band playing.

Exhibition German Jews Today. Leonard Freed: Features & Programs

Exhibition Webpage
German Jews Today. Leonard Freed – 11 Nov 2024 to 27 Apr 2025, featuring all photos from the exhibition and essays by the curators
Accompanying Events
Curator’s tour: Thu 23 Jan & 13 Feb & 13 & 27 Mar & 10 Apr 2025, 4 pm, in German
Current page: “German Jews Today” – a discussion from the 1960s – Panel discussion on 18 Mar 2025, in German
See also
Leonard Freed, Photographer
Leonard Freed’s photograph of Hugo Spiegel

Where, when, what?

  • WhenTue 18 Mar 2025, 7 pm
  • Where W. M. Blumenthal Academy,
    Klaus Mangold Auditorium
    Fromet-und-Moses-Mendelssohn-Platz 1, 10969 Berlin
    (Opposite the Museum)
    See location on map
  • Entry fee

    6 €, reduced rate 3 €

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