News

  • Shanah Tova! A Happy and Sweet 5783!
    We wish you all a happy, healthy and peaceful year 5783 full of prosperity and harmony!
  • Konstantin Konson: Korach
    Konstantin Korach, who is leading our Shiurim, has published a new Russian-language novel. If you are interested in this book, please feel free to contact us via email.
  • Notice: Tu Be’Av Cafe on 12 Aug 22 at 1700h
    On 12 August at 17:00h our Tu Be’Av Café on ZOOM will be happening. Participate via: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75208324273?pwd=nMCG-ZKtnqcLNo3LNS-Lpjp7sOkVz7.1 Meeting-ID: 752 0832 4273Code: R7nD5j
  • “Soundscapes” Concert Impressions from 22 May 22
    Here some impressions from our concert that took place last weekend with an audience of more than 240 people – the hall was filled to capacity. We have been thrilled about the enormous interest!
  • Notice: Jewish Soundscapes as Part of HR2 Kultur on 22 May 22
  • We Mourn Leon Schwarzbaum z”l
    Leon Schwarzbaum (20 Feb 1921 – 14 Mar 2022) Mr Schwarzbaum, whom we had the honour to call “Henry”, was the only family member to survive the concentration camps Auschwitz and Buchenwald as well as the death march. We mourn a wonderful Mensch, an important historical figure of Germany’s history, a member of our congregation […]
  • Notice: Discussion with Philosopher Konstantin Konson (in Russian) on 15 Mar 22 at 2000h
    We invite you to our next event in cooperation with Limmud: Друзья, даже в самые страшные времена наш еврейский народ хранил традиции. Через тысячелетия пронесли их наши предки и передали нам. Духовные маяки нашего народа всегда освещали нам путь! Одним из таких маяков является Пурим. Поэтому проект „Перспектива“ Прогрессивной Еврейской Общины Михельсберг г. Висбаден решил […]
  • Congregational Services for Refugees
    For many days now we are living through an awful time. The war waged by the Russian Army against Ukraine has shaken us to the core. In our thoughts, we are with the people that are in Ukraine, that are fighting for their country or that had to leave their homeland. Many members and friends […]
  • Information for Jewish Refugees From Ukraina / Важная информация для еврейских беженцев из Украины / Важлива інформація для єврейських біженців з України
    The information is available in German / Russian / Ukrainian below. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need any help. Es gibt Informationen, dass der Zentralrat der Juden mit der Bundesregierung ausgehandelt hat, dass Juden aus der Ukraine einen Antrag als „jüdische Zuwanderer“ nach Deutschland stellen können! Normalerweise kann man diesen Antrag nur im […]
  • Aid Agencies for Refugees from Ukraine
    The Following Resources are in German, if you are not speaking German, feel free to contact us. We also have members that can help translating Ukrainian/Russian. Ukraine-Hilfe BerlinMit medizinischer und humanitärer Hilfe engagiert sich die Ukraine-Hilfe Berlin. Unterstützen kann man den Verein mit Geld- und Sachspenden oder indem man selbst Mitglied wird. Spendenkonto:Ukraine-Hilfe Berlin e.V.IBAN: DE24 […]
  • Notice: Jewish Soundscapes in Hesse Over the Centuries
    For 1,700 years, Jewish music is part of Germany. Over the centuries, the life of Jews in Hesse changed and alongside colorful soundscapes developed. We are presenting a short history of Jewish musical culture in Hesse: From religious to folk music, from Klezmer to Jewish composers and musicians that have worked and still work in […]
  • Solidarity Note Islamic Culture Center Halle
    Liebe Mitglieder des Islamischen Kulturcenters, lieber Zentralrat der Muslime in Deutschland, wir, die Progressive Jüdische Gemeinde Michelsberg in Wiesbaden, möchten unsere Solidarität mit Ihrer Gemeinde nach dem jüngsten Angriff ausdrücken. Ein Angriff auf eine Minderheit ist letztlich ein Angriff auf alle und muss so deutlich wie möglich verurteilt werden. Wir möchten Ihnen mitteilen, dass Sie […]
  • Tu BiShvat Impressions
    Better late than never – here are a few impressions of some of our new members meeting on the occasion of Tu BiShvat:
  • Torah Portion Vayigash
  • Chanukkah Sameach!
    With this little concert performed by Lidia & Jens we wish all a Chag Chanukkah Sameach!
  • Notice: Hiking Excursion on 30 Oct 21
    On 30 Oct 2021, meeting time at 0915h CEST, there will be an excursion near Mainz/Wiesbaden: Please send a short mail to kontakt@jg-michelsberg.com if you will participate.
  • Notice: Poems & a Story About Time (in Russian) on 02 Oct 21 in Wiesbaden
    On 02 October 2021 at 1900h CEST our next event, supported by Limmud, is taking place at the Georg-Buch-Haus in Wiesbaden: We are looking forward to seeing you there!
  • Impressions from Zeitzeugengespräch
    Due to the High Holidays a little bit delayed, here are a few impressions from our event Zeitzeugengespräch on 01 September, where also a panel discussion including the director Volker Schlöndorff and the former mayor of Wiesbaden, Achim Exner took place:
  • The Call That Awakens the Soul
    To bridge the gap until Yom Kippur, here is a slightly unconventional Shofar:
  • Notice: Rosh Hashana Party 18-27 on 11 Sep at 20:00h
    To all those being between 18 and 27 years old, here is our invitation to our Rosh Hashanah party: Don’t worry if you don’t speak German (or Russian), you are most welcome, but please register with us by email to anmeldung@jg-michelsberg.com with your current COVID-19 vaccination or recovery confirmation.
  • Shanah Tova! A Happy and Sweet 5782!
    Dear fellow Jewesses and Jews, no matter whether you only have a Jewish mother, only a Jewish father, two Jewish parents or you are a convert, no matter your skin colour, nationality, sexual orientation and gender identity, no matter if you are orthodox, liberal or strictly secular and no matter of which age you are: […]
  • Notice: Premiere “Zeitzeugengespräch” 01 Sep 21 at 11:00h
    On 01 Sep 2021 at 11:00h at Caligari Filmbühne in Wiesbaden the premiere of the new documentary of Volker Schlöndorff on the occasion of the 100th birthday of our honorary member Leon Schwarzbaum with subsequent discussion with the participants will take place. Below you find more information and the possibility to register:
  • Notice: Rachel & YadVashem (in Russian) on 16 Aug 21 on ZOOM
    On 16 August 2021 at 1930h CEST our next virtual event in the Russian-language series Проект Перспектива will be taking place on ZOOM: Participate via: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81750427500?pwd=NnNmaXg5ek1XRys4dTBNa1NJQ2dLdz09 (Meeting-ID: 817 5042 7500, code: 827291)
  • Save The Date: 01 Sep 21 10:00h
    On 01 September at 10:00h there will be the premiere of the new film about our member Leon Schwarzbaum made by Volker Schlöndorff at Caligari FilmBühne in Wiesbaden. The full announcement will be following but if you are interested in the premiere, feel free to contact us!
  • Looking Back on Two Limmud FSU Labs Events
    Enjoy a few impressions from our last Russian-language Limmud FSU Labs ZOOM event. On 28 June and on 16 April we had two interesting and sometimes controversial debates with about 60 participants. An additional, this time German-language event is in the pipeline, as always watch this space.
  • Notice: ИУДАИЗМ – РЕЛИГИЯ КОНТРАСТОВ on 28 Jun 21 on ZOOM
    On 28 June 2021 at 2000h CEST our second virtual event in the Russian-language series Проект Перспектива will be taking place on ZOOM: Participate via: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85923212498?pwd=Tm5PYlZzQW92Z2JnR2J5cmtIMVVlQT09 (Meeting-ID: 859 2321 2498, code: 898297)
  • Portrait of Our Congregation in The Frankfurter Rundschau
    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”: Eine neue Wiesbadener Gemeinde will Religion zeitgemäß leben. Ihre Mitglieder wollen sich in […]
  • Teaser & ZOOM Link for Проект Перспектива on 16 Apr 21
    Curious? Participate on 16.04. at 1900h CEST: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/89167459063?pwd=K25mRmNxZDhNTlhZVE9ZWTBIdkdWZz09 ZOOM password on request.
  • Notice: Проект Перспектива on 16 Apr 21 on ZOOM
    On 16 April 2021 at 1900h CEST our first virtual event in the Russian-language series Проект Перспектива will be taking place on ZOOM: Feel free to contact us to get the access details!
  • We Are Now on Facebook!
    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!
  • Chag Pessach Sameach
    We wish a happy and blessed Passover 5781 to all our members and friends!
  • Calling All Students: Send Questions For Schlöndorff Documentary About Our Honorary Member
    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 […]
  • Happy New Year 2021!
    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 Story of Our Hanukkiah
    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 […]
  • Photo Gallery 2020
    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.
  • Notice: UPDATE 2 – Hanukkah on 17 Dec 20 at Schlossplatz
    Update 17 December: Due to the radically worsening situation in Wiesbaden, we will not erect a Hanukkiah today. Update 16 December: Due to the current situation, the event below has been cancelled. The Hanukkiah will be erected and kindled without any further celebrations. We cordially invite you to our Jewish Festival of Lights, Hanukkah 2020 […]
  • Campaign “Emtpy Shoes” on 10 Nov 2020
    If you have been at the Memorial Site on Michelsberg in Wiesbaden on 10 Nov 2020, then you have been able to see half a Star of David, formed by empty shoes. On 10 Nov 2020 at 0530h – the point in time when the Synagogue on the Michelsberg has been ablaze 82 years ago […]
  • Notice: Vigil on 10 Nov 20 on Occasion of Destruction of Reform Synagogue
    On 10 November 2020 at 0530h – the moment, at which the building was ablaze – we will at the Michelsberg Memorial Site hold a vigil and commemoration event on the occasion of the destruction of the Reform Synagogue 82 years ago. Of course all the currently required and due to the circumstances appropriate social […]
  • We Are Officially a “Registered Association” (e.V.) Now
    A challenging year 2020 also for our members and us will draw to a close soon, but we do have some good news that are worthy of a short update: We are officially a registered association (“eingetragener Verein” or e.V.) now and we already have a provisional recognition of our charitable status from the tax […]
  • Yom Kippur 5781 and Sukkot
    Dear reader, if you have been visiting our site earlier already: Our article about Yom Kippur was part of the New Year Seder article before, which lead to some misunderstandings, so we now split it in two. Of course we celebrated Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement in a modern way but in accordance […]
  • New Year Seder
    Dear reader, if you have been visiting our site earlier already: This article in a past version also contained our Yom Kippur experience, which lead to some misunderstandings, so we now split it in two. On the second day of the Rosh Hashanah holiday we had organised a “Seder” (a lunch with special, symbolic food) […]
  • A Lot of Political Support At Rosh Hashanah
    Through the rebirth of the Jewish Congregation at Michelsberg, Progressive Judaism is visible again in Wiesbaden – and we have celebrated our first Jewish New Year with a lot of political support! Our congregation is member of the World Union of Progressive Judaism, the biggest Jewish movement in the world with 1.8 million members in […]
  • For The First Time in 82 Years, Batja Celebrates Rosh Hashanah in a Jewish Congregation in Germany Again
    To celebrate the High Jewish Holidays during times of COVID-19, we had to be imaginative. Of course health is of supreme importance for our congregation. Nonetheless we wanted to celebrate the important Jewish holidays Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur together as far as possible – and also to remind the City of Wiesbaden and our […]
  • Wreath Laying Ceremony Honouring End of War
    In May 2020 large ceremonies on the occasion of the 75 anniversary of the end of the war had been planned. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 risks prevented this. Dates like that one do not only give us reason for celebration. We mourn our family members that lost their lifes during the times of the Shoah. We […]
  • 99th Birthday of Our Oldest Member
    Due to the situation of the last few months, we publish this news item somewhat late: On 20 Feb 2020, the oldest member of our congregation, Leo Schwarzbaum, turned 99 years old. The Torah from which was read during the first memorial service of our congregation on 27 Jan 2020 at Michelsberg, has been provided […]
  • Media Reports About Our Founding
    We are enthusiastic about the attention our official formation has drawn early this year – the first formation of a Reconstructionist congregation in Germany! Julia Kleiner has written in the Wiesbadener Kurier under the headline “Weitere jüdische Gemeinde in Wiesbaden gegründet”: In Wiesbaden hat sich eine weitere jüdische Gemeinde gegründet, die progressive jüdische Gemeinde. https://www.wiesbadener-kurier.de/lokales/wiesbaden/nachrichten-wiesbaden/weitere-judische-gemeinde-in-wiesbaden-gegrundet_21182796 […]
  • Rabbi Maurice Harris Visits Us
    In November last year Rabbi Maurice Harris, the Associate Director for Thriving Communities and Israel Affairs Specialist of Reconstructing Judaism visited us. His visit was an important signal of support for our at that time still fledgling community. Last not least, the SV Wehen Wiesbaden has a new supporter in the USA since an almost […]