The “WerteInitiative” celebrates its third anniversary in January. As a Jewish civil-society voice we have established ourselves over more than three years in many public debates. Throughout, the aim has been to strengthen the values of the free democratic basic order and to work for the safeguarding of Jewish concerns within the majority society. This serves the common good of Germany and of Europe. In recent days the “initiative” has become an “association” based in Berlin, which has applied for charitable status.
“As the WerteInitiative we can draw on the voluntary commitment of hundreds of supporters across Germany. Those active with us are politically interested German Jews.” says its chairman, Elio Adler from Berlin. Non-Jewish people can also become members, for instance if they have a Jewish father or a Jewish partner. Adler continues: “We sing the same song as the Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland (the Central Council of Jews in Germany), but in a different key and with a different emphasis. For us, strengthening the rule of law and its free democratic values plays a significant part. Put in a nutshell, the question is this: is there a Jewish future in Germany or not?”
In the three years of our existence we have intervened in many social and political debates. In doing so we have made a name for ourselves as an – often uncomfortable – point of contact for politics and the public:
- Our voice was heard when an ominous online newspaper of the “cross-front” milieu sought to award its “alternative Charlemagne Prize” to the conspiracy theorist Ken Jebsen.
- Ahead of the federal election we confronted the parties with eight of our positions and published their answers, attracting extensive international media coverage.
- Or we advised Deutsche Bahn AG constructively and helped to ensure that no train named “Anne Frank” should be travelling the country.
- When Arte and WDR had refused to broadcast the documentary on antisemitism, we were one of the decisive forces on social media that secured its broadcast.
- and much more.
Our association promotes values-based political, social and media discourse, civic Jewish engagement in Germany, and German-Israeli relations. To this end we use social media, but also classic formats such as discussion events, salons and background talks.
