After all that has happened, German Studies in Israel is not at all self-evident, but represents a challenge in several respects. Who is challenged and what does the challenge consist of? In Israel the German language as medium and subject of German Studies was long considered taboo. A primary aim of German Studies is to prevent the cultural heritage of German Jewry from falling into oblivion in Israel, but rather to preserve it and wherever possible to enable it to thrive again. How can German Studies assert itself in the face of the worldwide streamlining of the university system in this field, which is also taking place in Israel? Who benefits from having German Studies in Israel? Finally, what scientific, political and cultural purposes can, should and does it want to serve?

Autorentext

Hanni Mittelmann, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel; Christian Kohlroß, Universität Mannheim.