Yad Vashem to Open First International Educational Center in Munich

Dayan stated the decision comes 'at a critical time when instrumentalization or denial of the Holocaust and antisemitism are increasing.' The memorial said the move responds to rising antisemitism worldwide, noting that knowledge about the Shoah is declining, especially among young people, and the generation of contemporary witnesses is disappearing.

Political and Community Support

The educational institution will have about 20 employees and is intended to be open to all but will particularly target teachers. The center aims to network educators, multipliers, and educational institutions nationwide for modern forms of Holocaust education.

Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder called the selection an 'honor' for his state and gave a personal 'promise of protection' for Yad Vashem in Bavaria. 'We stand by our historical responsibility: the atrocities of National Socialism must never be repeated,' Söder stated.

Charlotte Knobloch, chairwoman of the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria, praised the selection of Munich as the 'right decision' and described the city as a 'hub of Jewish life in Europe' offering 'perfect conditions.'

Saxony Minister-President Michael Kretschmer called the decision 'a great honor and at the same time an obligation.' He said Leipzig could serve as 'a bridge to Eastern Europe' and cooperate with Poland and the Czech Republic on remembrance work.

A Nationwide Competition

Federal Education Minister Karin Prien stated: 'Knowledge of what was is important to prevent evil in the future.' She added that young people in Germany know 'too little about the Shoah and the systematic murder of millions of Jews under National Socialism' and said the federal government will closely support the establishment of the educational center.

The states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony had also expressed interest in hosting the center. In NRW, there was broad support across party lines, with the CDU, Greens, SPD, and FDP welcoming the bid in a joint motion in November. State Chancellery Chief Nathanael Liminski promoted NRW by citing the largest Jewish community in Germany.

NRW has been cooperating with Yad Vashem for many years, with teachers, prosecutors, and police officers regularly completing training there. State Parliament President André Kuper traveled to Israel at the end of October and held talks with the head of the memorial, Dani Dayan. Essen, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, and Cologne had expressed interest as locations.

Origins and Timeline

The idea for an educational center in Germany originated from a proposal by Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan, first made in 2023 during a meeting with then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The project is supported across party and state lines and is defined as a nationwide task.

The financing concept for the center is in place, and the Bavarian government has provided a financial assurance for the project. After the location is determined, the center could begin operations approximately two to three years later.