Berlin, 8 October 2020. The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, the Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight against Anti-Semitism, the Central Council of Jews in Germany and the Cultural Integration Initiative are launching a photography competition under the heading “Cohesion in Diversity – Jewish Everyday Life in Germany”.

One year after the antisemitic attack on the synagogue in Halle and a few days after the attack in front of the Hamburg synagogue, the initiators want to use the competition to show that the diverse, multi-facetted and everyday aspects of Jewish life form an integral part of German society. Everyone living in Germany is called upon to engage with the life, customs, and everyday routines of Jewish citizens via photography. The photography competition commences today and shall end on 20 December 2020. The total prize money available amounts to 12,500 euros with the winner of the first prize receiving 5,000 euros.

An independent panel of judges will select ten photographs among those that have been submitted. The panel of judges includes: Iris Berben, Stephan Erfurt, Dalia Grinfeld, Monika Grütters, Felix Klein, Shelly Kupferberg, Patricia Schlesinger, Josef Schuster and Olaf Zimmermann. After the prize-giving ceremony, the photographs will be shown to the general public throughout Germany as part of a travelling exhibition.

The photography competition will kick off an annual day of action that is, from now on, to take place every year on the 9th of October as a sign of solidarity celebrating diversity and cohesion.

Minister of State Monika Grütters, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, insists: “75 years after the Shoah it must be possible for Jewish life to continue to thrive in freedom and without fear. With the photography competition ‘Cohesion in Diversity – Jewish Everyday Life in Germany’ we want to send out a signal of solidarity and empathy – and show that the richness of Jewish life in Germany constitutes part of our shared identity and history.”

Dr Felix Klein, Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight against Anti-Semitism, emphasises: “Jewish life is an integral part of our history and our present time. These days it shows itself, once more, as a formidable and confident force. This is a great blessing for our country. I am looking forward to many interesting and exciting pictures that show the multi-facetted life of Jewish citizens in Germany.”

Dr Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, states: “It is high time that efforts are made to reduce any reservations and prejudices people may have against Jews and to push back against right-wing extremism. To do so, society must get active at all levels. One year after the attack on the synagogue in Halle we need a new democratic awakening.”

Olaf Zimmermann, Spokesperson for the Cultural Integration Initiative, says: “’Cohesion in Diversity’ is the title that underpins the 15 propositions made by the Cultural Integration Initiative, a hitherto unique alliance between civil society organisations, churches and religious communities, social partners, the media, the Federal Government, the Federal States and communal umbrella associations. Our photography competition on everyday Jewish life in Germany invites participants to present the multi-facetted aspects of Jewish life in our midst and to openly raise a voice against antisemitism.”

Information on the competition:

• Duration: from 8 October until 20 December 2020
• Prizes: 1st prize: €5,000, 2nd prize: €3,000, 3rd prize: €1,000, 4th to 10th prize €500 each
• Selection by an independent panel of judges
• Prize-giving ceremony and exhibition in February/March 2021

For further infos please visit the competition website:
fotowettbewerb-juedischer-alltag.de

#jüdischerAlltag

Application deadline: Dec 20, 2020

Initiative kulturelle Integration
c/o Deutscher Kulturrat e.V.

Taubenstraße 1, 10117 Berlin