ASF Study Trip in Israel – First Impressions

We started with an interreligious city tour through Jerusalem and discussed how religious history and contemporary political realities intersect in the city. A central highlight was the conversation with Dr. Michael Krupp. He spoke about his personal journey, the early years of Aktion Sühnezeichen in Israel, and the development of interreligious dialogue. His reflections were informative, direct and often surprisingly humorous.

At the Leo Baeck Institute Jerusalem, we met Director Irene Aue-Ben-David. The discussion focused on German-Jewish intellectual history and current research questions. We also addressed the role of liberal Judaism in contemporary Israeli discourse. Along the way, we even had an extended exchange about the reception of Erich Kästner in Israeli children’s literature. Another visit took us to the Christian rehabilitation center Lifegate in Palestine/ Beit Jala .

In conversation with Director Burkhard Schunkert, we learned about rehabilitation work in a Palestinian context, interreligious cooperation and the practical challenges of volunteer engagement in the West Bank. A Palestinian guide then led us through Bethlehem, including the Church of the Nativity and a walk through the city, offering additional perspectives on everyday realities. The day was complemented by a lecture on the current political situation in Israel, given by our Country Representative Uriel Kashi, providing context and space for discussion.

On Friday, we visited Yad Vashem. Together with the Head of the Documentation Archive and our ASF volunteer Daniel, we were given access to the archives and received detailed insights into the work of collecting, preserving and researching personal documents, testimonies and historical records.

More photos from the study trip can be found on our Instagram page. Further reports will follow on our website.