Author: JG Michelsberg

No longer brand new, but nonetheless do we still think that this is noteworthy: Diana Unkart wrote on 21 Mar 2021 and only slightly more than one year after our founding in the Frankfurter Rundschau in the article “Ein lebendiges, sichtbares Judentum”:

We are thus very happy that the substantial portrait, which in our eyes is very worth reading, also deals extensively with the values that are at the core of liberal Judaism in general and our congregation in particular (and which by the way in addition to what is mentioned also includes full recognition of LGBTQ communities).

Additionally, readers can learn a lot about Rabbi Abraham Geiger, who was active in Wiesbaden in the 19th century and who is one of the most significant pioneers of progressive and liberal Judaism.

We have nothing to add to that for the moment.

At https://www.facebook.com/JGMichelsberg/ you will find our new Facebook page.

Especially for our Russian-speaking members and friends we will offer a platform for exchange of ideas and networking.

We are looking forward to seeing you over there!

We wish a happy and blessed Passover 5781 to all our members and friends!

Dear Students, Azubis, Headmasters and Teachers,

since due to the ongoing pandemic still no public events may take place, including the remembrance day on 27 January 2021 regarding the Liberation of Auschwitz, we are inviting you all to a very special joint project:

On 20 February 2021 our Honorary Member Leon Schwarzbaum will celebrate his 100th birthday.

He not only is one of the last living survivors of the Shoah, but also of the Concentration Camp Auschwitz which has been liberated on 27 January 1945 by the Red Army.

On the occasion of his birthday, an oral history interview will take place, which will be lead by the famous and Oscar-winning director Volker Schlöndorff, who has been born in Wiesbaden.

Leon Schwarzbaum cordially invites you all to ask him questions about his experiences in Auschwitz and the Shoah in general, which will become part of this interview.

We are looking forward to your messages that you can gladly send either as written submission or in the form of short videos to kontakt@jg-michelsberg.com.

Dear members, dear friends, with this little Hanukkah song, sung by two of our youngest members, we wish all a Happy New Year 2021. May good luck and good fortune always be with you!

The Hanukkah-Candelabrum which we intended to kindle on the last day of Hanukkah in front of the Hessischer Landtag (Hessian State Parliament) has been built by the Jewish, Muslim and Christian metal-work apprentices of the Wiesbadener Jugendwerkstatt (Youth Workshop of the City of Wiesbaden).

תודה רבה (Todah Rabah, Thank you very much) from all members of the congregation!

Sponsors of the candles would have been members of the Hessian government, the Christian and Muslim Communities and the Jugendwerkstatt.

Unfortunately we had to call off the event due to the hard lockdown that began on 16 December 2020. Even though we had a special permit by the City of Wiesbaden, we have decided to cancel for the safety of everybody involved.

Nonetheless we are hoping very much that the candles of our Hanukkiah will be kindled as a sign of the solidarity of these three world religions every year in front of the Hessische Landtag in Wiesbaden during Hanukkah, beginning in 2021.

The year 2020 C.E. was full of huge challenges for all of us and we are still fighting the biggest one, COVID-19.

Therefore below a small photo gallery of some of the more positive moments of the first (common era) year of our congregation.