Consultant against anti-Semitism

As anti-semitic discrimination, persecution and extermination are based on a complex of primarily religious, ideological and racist prejudices against Jewish people that has grown historically in Germany, we dedicate a separate chapter to this topic.

Statement against anti-Semitism

We endorse the statement of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) "There is no place for anti-Semitism at German universities", which opposes "anti-Semitism in any form".

"There is no place for anti-Semitism at German universities. The HRK General Assembly supports the resolution "Against BDS and all anti-Semitism" by the Young Forum of the German-Israeli Society, the Jewish Student Union Germany, the Free Association of Student Unions, the AStA of the Technical University of Darmstadt and the AStA of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt as well as university groups affiliated with political parties such as the Juso University Groups, the Liberal University Groups, Campus Green and the Ring of Christian-Democratic Students.

German universities are centers of democratic culture, places of dialogue and sites of diversity. With the campaign "Weltoffene Hochschulen gegen Fremdenfeindlichkeit" (Open-minded universities against xenophobia), universities have already set an example and called for clear commitments and decisive action in favor of a tolerant and open-minded society. Furthermore, universities in Germany have a special historical responsibility to resolutely oppose all forms of anti-Semitism."

Understanding of anti-Semitism

Our understanding of anti-Semitism follows the definition of anti-Semitism of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA):

"Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities."

Anti-Semitic offenses are defined in §§ 130 of the German Criminal Code (StGB) as:
1) defamation or agitation directed against a national, racial, religious or ethnic group,
2) trivialization, approval or glorification of National Socialism.
They are considered official offenses, are prosecuted without a criminal complaint and are punishable by prison sentences of three months to five years or fines.
The penalty depends on the type and degree of the offense and the guilt of the perpetrator (Sections 130 and 46 StGB).

The following links provide an overview of the topic of anti-Semitism:

Policy statement on combating anti-Semitism from the Jüdisches Forum für Demokratie und gegen Antisemitismus e.V. (only in German) more...

Flyer on the topic of anti-Semitism from the Amadeu Antonio Stiftung (only in German) more...

Awareness measures for anti-Semitism

Strengthening historical awareness, filling the culture of remembrance with life

At the UR remembrance, the culture of remembrance and the politics of remembrance are not only researched academically, but also communicated socially and practiced in academic and social interaction. The University's Center for the Culture of Remembrance, which is based on the institutional cooperation between the UR and the Flossenbürg Concentration Camp Memorial, embodies this in a paradigmatic way and stands for the social responsibility that the UR assumes here.

President Prof. Udo Hebel gives a speech at the commemoration ceremony for the liberation of the Flossenbürg concentration camp on 21.4.2024 (full text, only in German) - more...

The workshops offered by the Anti-Discrimination Point also raise awareness of anti-Semitic discrimination.