We, Jewish-(German-)Israeli members and former members of ASH Berlin, would like to express our solidarity with Prof. Dr. Bettina Völter and the entire Executive Board of ASH Berlin in connection with the occupation of the university's Audimax on January 6, 2025. Immediately after Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Bettina Völter contacted us personally - not only to ask how we were doing and what support we needed in this situation - but also to seek advice on how the university could deal with the topic of Israel/Palestine from our point of view and at the same time counter anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim racism. Since these discussions, we have been actively involved in shaping teaching and thematic event series at the university.
Bettina Völter has thus achieved something that we sorely miss in the general discourse (and to some extent even in our immediate personal environment): she has not presumed to talk about us, our concerns and our needs. Instead, it has actively brought us on board and created space for our own voices. As our voices are in danger of being drowned out again in the current debate about the occupation of the Audimax and the university's treatment of us, we are taking the space to make our voices heard. Many people will not like this because they are only ever interested in Jewish and Israeli perspectives if they legitimize and strengthen their own position.
Specifically, the discussions and consultations have resulted in various offers for the entire university, inviting the entire university community to participate in the debate:
- In the summer semester of 2024, a lecture series on anti-Semitism in the social, educational and healthcare sectors was held in cooperation with the other SAGE universities in Berlin.
- In the summer semester of 2024, we were explicitly invited to participate in an internal "Deep Democracy Process" together with the student self-government committees, in which self-critical and groundbreaking communication work was carried out. We found this format very enriching and would like to see something similar at all levels of the education system.
- The event series "Civil Society Engagement in Israel/Palestine - Voices against the Lack of Perspective" is taking place throughout the current winter semester 2024/25. Here, both Israeli and Palestinian speakers who are committed to reconciliation and understanding will have their say.
- On the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, 2025, an art performance - "Paths of Remembrance" - is planned, which will be realized by a Jewish and a Kurdish artist. In our eyes, this is the future of remembrance culture: multi-perspective, dialogical and participatory. We are under no illusions that the path to an inclusive culture of remembrance that does not shape identity in an exclusionary way is not an easy one. Nevertheless, we believe there is no alternative and would like to see more practical commitment in this area.
Prof. Dr. Völter personally co-organized three of the four events mentioned. This is the approach she often works with and which is exemplified at ASH Berlin - involving oneself in order to understand and develop relationships on the basis of which something common can be created that is more than "more of the same". In this respect, the occupation without eviction offers the opportunity to work with the students on their experiences afterwards and not just to exclude and socially stigmatize them. Commitment to an inclusive and socially just society means confrontation and yes, sometimes even conflict. Two of the signatories of this letter therefore give seminars as part of the ASH degree programs in which they critically examine anti-Semitism and the Israel-Palestine conflict and engage in discussions with students. Bettina Völter encouraged us to take part in these events and was always available to discuss them with us - including the frustrating moments that teaching always entails.
As Jews living in Germany, we know only too well that there is no space that is free of anti-Semitism. The fact that there were anti-Semitic statements and actions during the occupation of the hall concerns us, but does not surprise us. We were partly at the university during these days and saw symbols glorifying Hamas and heard slogans. However, we have also seen how the university management and other members of the university have actively and personally engaged in de-escalating discussions and formulated clear boundaries. Discriminatory posters were then removed by the occupiers themselves. However, the images remain online and have since been exploited by a wide variety of actors for their own political purposes.
Political actors from the right-wing and conservative spectrum are using the viral transgressions by some of the occupiers to criminalize and silence criticism of the German government's handling of the Israel-Palestine conflict and the actions of the Israeli military in Gaza. To describe all those involved in the occupation as "anti-Semites", as was done in a statement by the Governing Mayor, Kai Wegner, is discriminatory and simply wrong in this generalization. Such dangerous generalizations do not protect Jewish people from anti-Semitism. Quite the opposite: if every expression of solidarity with the people in Gaza is labeled as anti-Semitism, actual anti-Semitic statements and deeds become less significant. We also oppose the fact that Jewish and Israeli perspectives only ever receive attention when they legitimize one's own stance on Israel/Palestine, but are otherwise ignored or even opposed.
As social workers and political educators, we are committed to dialogical and non-violent forms of debate and conflict resolution in accordance with the values of our professions. Despite all our differences, this attitude unites us.
We fully support the decision of the Executive Board to end the occupation and the associated statements and symbolism internally and in a de-escalating manner and not to arrange for a police eviction. We also firmly reject the allegation that Prof. Dr. Bettina Völter tolerated, promoted or supported anti-Semitism in her actions. The opposite is the case: anti-Semitism is critically addressed at ASH Berlin in all its manifestations, and we have set clear limits to the anti-Semitic outbursts of the squatters. We will continue to campaign for a diverse university that is critical of discrimination and anti-Semitism in the future. We would like to see clear solidarity and more commitment from our non-Jewish fellow students and colleagues.
Boris Arons
Dikla Levinger
Vered Berman
Arnon Shaked
Miriam Bloch
Liat Bolztman
Arnon Hampe