The German-Jewish Dialogue

a feeling of friendliness and Gemütlichkeit as we partake of light refreshments before the formal Dialogue. The meetings are planned and cochaired by the German Deputy Consul General and an AJC member; they are currently Peter Primus, who arrived this year from his previous post in Ghana, and Gerald Franks, who is a Vice President and Board Member of AJC. Peter has already taken a keen interest in the group and recently provided our Dialogue with a video of the new Jewish Museum in Berlin featuring the building and its architect, Daniel Libeskind. Gerald was born in Berlin and has lived most of his life in Chicago. A few years ago he participated in the annual exchange visit sponsored jointly by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and The American Jewish Committee. The trip favorably influenced his attitude toward today's Germany and its people. He now enjoys building more and more friendly relationships through the Dialogue. A number of other AJC members also joined the Dialogue after taking the Adenauer trip. Among our members are professionals and business people, academicians and students, housewives and retirees, etc. We ask members of the Aktion Sühnezeichen, who are in Chicago, to attend and have often found their ideas very stimulating. We usually invite one or two speakers to introduce our discussion period. Subjects selected are those of special interest to Germans and American Jews. A few examples:
1. We discussed how differently Germany and the USA deal with Neo-Nazis. Germany has very strict laws based on its history, while the United States gives broad protection to all under the First Amendment of its Constitution.

2. We learned about “Goethe and the Jews” from the former Consul General, Michael Engelhard, who is a learned Goethe scholar.

3. Recently, Professor Peter Hayes, of Northwestern University, led our Dialogue on the important and continuing lessons to be derived from the study of the Holocaust in today's world.

This Dialogue has become well known, far beyond the Chicago area and we expect it to continue for many years to come in its effort to further strengthen and influence positively German-Jewish connections, understanding and friendship.


				The German-Jewish Dialogue
	The German-Jewish Dialogue was established many years ago as a cooperative effort by the German Consulate General in Chicago and The American Jewish Committee (AJC), Chicago Chapter. The purpose of the group is to promote good understanding and friendly relationships among its members,Germans and Jews. To accomplish these worthy goals the Dialogue meets three to four times a year on an ad hoc basis. The meetings are hosted by members of the Dialogue in their homes, which promotes
	a feeling of friendliness and Gemütlichkeit as we partake of light refreshments before the formal Dialogue. The meetings are planned and cochaired by the German Deputy Consul General and an AJC member; they are currently Peter Primus, who arrived this year from his previous post in Ghana, and Gerald Franks, who is a Vice President and Board Member of AJC. Peter has already taken a keen interest in the group and recently provided our Dialogue with a video of the new Jewish Museum in Berlin featuring the building and its architect, Daniel Libeskind. Gerald was born in Berlin and has lived most of his life in Chicago. A few years ago he participated in the annual exchange visit sponsored jointly by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and The American Jewish Committee. The trip favorably influenced his attitude toward today's Germany and its people. He now enjoys building more and more friendly relationships through the Dialogue. A number of other AJC members also joined the Dialogue after taking the Adenauer trip. Among our members are professionals and business people, academicians and students, housewives and retirees, etc. We ask members of the Aktion Sühnezeichen, who are in Chicago, to attend and have often found their ideas very stimulating. We usually invite one or two speakers to introduce our discussion period. Subjects selected are those of special interest to Germans and American Jews. A few examples: 1. We discussed how differently Germany and the USA deal with Neo-Nazis. Germany has very strict laws based on its history, while the United States gives broad protection to all under the First Amendment of its Constitution. 2. We learned about “Goethe and the Jews” from the former Consul General, Michael Engelhard, who is a learned Goethe scholar. 3. Recently, Professor Peter Hayes, of Northwestern University, led our Dialogue on the important and continuing lessons to be derived from the study of the Holocaust in today's world. This Dialogue has become well known, far beyond the Chicago area and we expect it to continue for many years to come in its effort to further strengthen and influence positively German-Jewish connections, understanding and friendship.