ZENTRALRAT JUDEN IN DEUTSCHLAND
When the Central Council of Jews in Germany was founded on July 19, 1950 in Frankfurt, very few people believed this founding assembly would laid the foundation for a success story that has now been going on for decades. With the Central Council of Jews in Germany, all Jews living in Germany have a voice that is heard and is also a strong partner of civil society.
Structure and tasks of the Central Council of Jews in Germany
The Central Council of Jews in Germany unites 23 regional associations and 105 Jewish communities with around 97,791 (as of 2017 / ZWST) members and represents their political and social interests. ZWST is the point of contact for politics at federal and state level for all issues that affect the Jewish community.
The double function: representation of interests externally - structuring internally
In addition, the Central Council of Jews in Germany performs an advisory role in the areas of science, culture and education and supports the work of the regional associations organized in it, the Jewish communities and the Central Welfare Office for Jews in Germany (ZWST).
The structures of the Central Council
The Central Council of Jews in Germany is the sponsor of the University for Jewish Studies (see also HfJS) and the central archive for researching the history of Jews in Germany in Heidelberg (see also HfJS). In addition, the Central Council of Jews in Germany is the publisher of the “Jüdische Allgemeine” (see also Jüdische Allgemeine), the only supraregional Jewish weekly newspaper in Germany. For the Jewish communities and the community members, the Central Council of Jews in Germany offers an extensive and varied range in the areas of education, religion, youth development and culture.
Thinking outside the box: at the international level
The Central Council of Jews in Germany is closely linked to the Jewish community in Europe and the world. Through its membership in the European Jewish Congress (EJC) and in the World Jewish Congress (WJC) , the voice of the Central Council also has radiance and weight on an international level. Central Council President Dr. Josef Schuster represents the Jewish community in both bodies as Vice President.