Antisemitism

… requires a comprehensive and proactive approach that includes education, prevention, and intervention. Through targeted measures and the cooperation of all stakeholders, schools can help create an environment characterized by respect, tolerance, and diversity.

In schools, antisemitism is usually addressed in lessons about National Socialism and the Holocaust, but antisemitism existed before 1933 and continues after 1945. Antisemitic incidents and remarks also occur in schools – one example is the use of “You Jew!” as an insult. 

Preventing and counteracting this is the aim of the   “Joint Recommendation on Dealing with Antisemitism in Schools” by the KMK the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and the Federal-State Commission of Antisemitism Commissioners (press release). The recommendation seeks to raise awareness among all teachers to recognize antisemitic incidents as such and respond appropriately. Die Empfehlung will alle Lehrkräfte dafür sensibilisieren, antisemitische Vorfälle als solche zu erkennen, um entsprechend reagieren zu können. 

The Central Council of Jews in Germany and the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK) advocate making the diversity of Judaism visible in everyday school life. Increasing the integration of Jewish history, religion, and culture into various subjects and grade levels should help provide students with a vivid and nuanced picture of Jewish life in the past and present. This should also include opportunities for personal encounters with Jewish people. For more detailed information, please visit the page “Teaching Jewish History, Religion, and Culture” .

Implementation in the federal states – guidelines and portals:

• Perceive – Name – Act: Guidelines for Dealing with Antisemitism in Schools (Baden-Württemberg)
• Bavaria Against Antisemitismayern gegen Antisemitismus
• Dealing with Antisemitism in Primary Schoolsmgang mit Antisemitismus in der Grundschule (Berlin)
• Guidelines for Dealing with Antisemitism in Schools (Bremen) 
• Antisemitism – A Topic for Schools  (Hamburg)
• Judaism – Antisemitism – Israel: Suggestions for Teaching in Secondary Education (Schleswig-Holstein) 

The Conference of Ministers of Science positions itself, in awareness of historical responsibility and with the conviction that the freedom of research and teaching is a central pillar of a liberal democratic society, against antisemitism and hostility toward Israel.

Together with the Federal Ministry of Research, the Science Conference adopted the “Action Plan Against Antisemitism and Hostility Toward Israel” in December 2023. With this, the federal states jointly take a firm stand against antisemitism and express solidarity with people of Jewish faith and Israeli citizens. The Conference of Ministers of Science is committed to promoting the teaching of Jewish history and culture and to combating antisemitism.

Based on this action plan, the federal states and universities have implemented a wide range of measures tailored to local circumstances. To assess the effectiveness of these measures and the situation of Jewish members of universities, discussions are held within the committees of the Conference of Ministers of Science with representatives of Jewish organizations and the German Rectors’ Conference.

The Conference of Ministers of Culture attaches great importance to the prevention of antisemitism, racism, and other forms of group-related misanthropy and recognizes the need to strengthen existing programs for awareness-raising, prevention, and conflict resolution in the cultural sector.

Following agreement at the 20th Cultural Policy High-Level Meeting (March 13, 2024, Agenda Item 1), the joint declaration “Freedom and Respect in Art and Culture” was published. With this declaration, the Conference of Ministers of Culture, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), and the leading municipal associations outlined the dimensions to be considered in combating antisemitism, racism, and misanthropy as a state obligation, as well as the issue of safeguarding artistic freedom within this tension. Key points agreed upon included clarifying funding conditions, ensuring awareness-raising, and strengthening the self-responsibility of funded institutions and projects.

Subsequently, the Cultural Foundation of the Federal States (KSL), on behalf of the Conference of Ministers of Culture, developed formats to prevent antisemitism and racism in publicly funded cultural institutions through a research and advisory process and presented the results at the 13th Conference of Ministers of Culture on March 26, 2025.

This provides a basis for further development of measures in connection with existing programs and formats in the federal states. Implementation will take place at the state level. Given the high societal relevance of the issue, regular and close exchange within the committees of the Conference of Ministers of Culture will continue to be ensured.

On the question of how the systematic integration of the topic of antisemitism in teacher education across all three phases can be designed both cross-disciplinary and subject-specific, the Joint Working Group on Antisemitism — comprising representatives of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, the Federal-State Commission of Antisemitism Commissioners, and all federal states — developed a guideline in 2025.