Last week, the Leo Baeck Institute London joined over 250 guests at the Jewish Museum Berlin to mark the 70th anniversary of the Leo Baeck Institute. Representing LBI London was Programme and Development Officer Alice Riegler, who attended the event alongside colleagues and friends from the LBI’s international community.
Held under the patronage of German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the evening reflected on the legacy and future of German-Jewish history. Writer and academic Doron Rabinovici delivered a moving keynote address, ‘On the reality of yesterday and the possibility of tomorrow – On the Jewish in the German’, which explored the enduring responsibility of remembrance and the importance of community. The programme was framed by a performance of Schubert’s Rosamunde Quartet by students from the Barenboim-Said Akademie.
Speakers including Hetty Berg (Jewish Museum Berlin), State Secretary Bernd Krösser (BMI), and LBI International President Prof. Michael Brenner highlighted the Institute’s founding mission: to preserve the cultural and intellectual legacy of German-speaking Jews in the wake of the Holocaust.
Reflecting on the event, Alice said: ‘Being in Berlin for the LBI’s 70th anniversary was both humbling and inspiring. The sense of community, the commitment to remembrance, and the optimism for the future were palpable throughout the night. It was a powerful reminder of why our work matters – not just for history, but for the generations to come.’
Although colleagues from LBI Jerusalem were unable to attend in person due to the current situation in Israel, the event’s hybrid format enabled participation from across the LBI network.
A recording of the event with English subtitles is available here: https://www.youtube.com/live/QXtQMgfhDto
Photos taken by Alice Riegler
