In a recent interview with Germany’s Tagesspiegel newspaper, Michael Brenner, President of the Leo Baeck Institute (LBI) International, called on Germany to remember not just the horrors of the Holocaust, but also the vibrant Jewish life that was lost. “We must not forget what was destroyed,” he urged, stressing the importance of confronting the legacy of the Holocaust through a deeper engagement with German-Jewish history.
Brenner, a leading expert on German-Jewish history, warned against selective memory, and emphasised the rich cultural and intellectual contributions of German Jews before the Nazis came to power.
As part of the LBI network – alongside our sister institutions in New York and Jerusalem – LBI London shares Brenner’s commitment to preserving the legacy of German-speaking Jewry. Dr. Joseph Cronin, LBI London’s director, explained, “Our work is about more than documenting tragedy. It’s about understanding the full scope of German-Jewish life and ensuring future generations understand what was lost.”
In line with our 70th anniversary, LBI London continues its mission to support research, preserve archives, and foster dialogue on German-Jewish history while combating rising antisemitism across Europe.
“History is not only about what happened, but also about what could have been,” said Brenner, emphasising the critical role institutions like the LBI play in keeping these memories alive.
Read the full Tagesspiegel article (in German) here: https://www.tagesspiegel.de/themenspeziale/bildungundforschung/historiker-michael-brenner-uber-deutsch-judisches-leben-vergesst-nicht-was-zerstort-wurde-13801408.html
