Ruth Weiss’ Book reading tour, Germany, Autumn 2020: An unusual trip in an unusual year

[av_section min_height=” min_height_px=’500px’ padding=’default’ shadow=’no-border-styling’ bottom_border=’no-border-styling’ bottom_border_diagonal_color=’#333333′ bottom_border_diagonal_direction=’scroll’ bottom_border_style=’scroll’ scroll_down=” custom_arrow_bg=” id=” color=’main_color’ background=’bg_color’ custom_bg=” background_gradient_color1=” background_gradient_color2=” background_gradient_direction=’vertical’ src=” attach=’scroll’ position=’top left’ repeat=’no-repeat’ video=” video_ratio=’16:9′ video_mobile_disabled=” overlay_enable=” overlay_opacity=’0.5′ overlay_color=” overlay_pattern=” overlay_custom_pattern=” av-desktop-hide=” av-medium-hide=” av-small-hide=” av-mini-hide=” av_element_hidden_in_editor=’0′ av_uid=’av-5n3ugh’] [av_heading tag=’h1′ padding=’10’ heading=’RUTH WEISS’ BOOK READING TOUR, GERMANY, AUTUMN 2020′ color=” style=’blockquote modern-quote modern-centered’ custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=” av-desktop-hide=” av-medium-hide=” av-small-hide=” av-mini-hide=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” margin=”] AN UNUSUAL TRIP IN AN UNUSUAL YEAR
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Ruth Weiss receiving flowers after her presentation.
Respect and flowers for Ruth Weiss and her powerful message for tolerance (Photo: Lessingschule Hamburg 4.9.2020)

Now that I’ve returned from a lengthy reading trip, mainly to German schools (September 2-October 6, 2020) as a so-called 20th century eye-witness, I have had time to reflect on it.

I think the present political situation of human rights violations against the background of murderous attacks on Muslims in Hanau, a horrendous attempt of the slaughter of Jews in a Halle synagogue – and at the end of my trip, an unprovoked attack on a Jewish student on the Sukkot festival – added to the urgency of my readings.

“No one is born with prejudices. It is therefore not only necessary but possible to overcome these!”

Ruth and Lutz Kliche
Ruth with Lutz Kliche as moderator

At every discussion the dark clouds of racism, everlasting Anti-Semitism and Anti-Islamism were raised by the young – also by adults. Insecurity is felt by many, yes and fear of the future, as well as of threatening utterances by leading politicians, unresolved international conflict. A quote in a new book of the voices of Jewish women is depressing, expressing as it does one woman’s fear for her children’s safety when she was living in the Ukraine, who now fears for her grandchildren as she moved to Germany. (Halle ist Überall – Halle is everywhere – ed. Nea Weissberg).

Young people are looking for guidance.

Ruth and Lutz giving presentation.
Ruth Weiss and Lutz Kliche in Hamburg 4.9.2020 Dialogue below the telling quote of G.E. Lessing : “Wer über gewisse Dinge den Verstand nicht verliert, der hat keinen zu verlieren” (Who over certain issues does not lose his mind – has none to lose)

It was not by chance that our event in the Brandenburg House of Children, Youth and Family was attended by the State Education Minister Britta Ernst. The issue of the Nazi past linked with global racism and the fear of right wing extremism is very real. At the last school in Berlin, the Carl von Ossietzky School, the majority of the young people appeared to have a migrant background. It was therefore gratifying that they applauded the advice, “not to turn away, when someone is treated unjustly“. Just as it had been sad to hear an elderly man explain in Dresden, that he had been taught that “all Nazis lived in West Germany“.

How is it possible to find anti-Semitism where there are no Jews and anti-Islamism without knowing any Muslims?

It bears repeating: No one is born with prejudices. It is therefore not only necessary but possible to overcome these!

Ruth Weiss with Lutz Kliche at Brandenburg House of Children, Youth and Families, 2 Oct 2020 ‘No one is born with prejudices’ (Photo: J.Stopa RAA)
[/av_textblock] [av_social_share title=’Share this entry’ style=” buttons=” share_facebook=” share_twitter=” share_pinterest=” share_gplus=” share_reddit=” share_linkedin=” share_tumblr=” share_vk=” share_mail=” av-desktop-hide=” av-medium-hide=” av-small-hide=” av-mini-hide=” av_uid=’av-2daszl’] [/av_section][av_section min_height=” min_height_px=’500px’ padding=’default’ shadow=’no-border-styling’ bottom_border=’no-border-styling’ bottom_border_diagonal_color=’#333333′ bottom_border_diagonal_direction=” bottom_border_style=” custom_arrow_bg=” id=” color=’main_color’ background=’bg_color’ custom_bg=” background_gradient_color1=” background_gradient_color2=” background_gradient_direction=’vertical’ src=” attachment=” attachment_size=” attach=’scroll’ position=’top left’ repeat=’no-repeat’ video=” video_ratio=’16:9′ overlay_enable=’aviaTBoverlay_enable’ overlay_opacity=’0.1′ overlay_color=” overlay_pattern=’custom’ overlay_custom_pattern=’https://ruthweiss.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Untitled-design-2-300×165.png’ av_element_hidden_in_editor=’0′ av_uid=’av-khml2rcy’ custom_class=”] [av_one_half first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ link=” linktarget=” link_hover=” padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background=’bg_color’ background_color=” background_gradient_color1=” background_gradient_color2=” background_gradient_direction=’vertical’ src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_breaking=” mobile_display=” av_uid=’av-1xmq4′] [av_heading tag=’h2′ padding=’10’ heading='”South Africa’s revolution of change has not yet ended”‘ color=” style=” custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=’15’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=” av-desktop-hide=” av-medium-hide=” av-small-hide=” av-mini-hide=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” margin=” av_uid=’av-fy8g1′][/av_heading] [av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” av_uid=’av-kbqwnwi9′ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”] After fleeing Nazi Germany, the 94-year-old journalist and author grew up in South Africa and dedicated her life to combating racism. Weiss tells DW about her upbringing and her thoughts on democracy in her country.
[/av_textblock] [av_button label=’Read More ‘ link=’manually,https://www.dw.com/en/author-ruth-weiss-south-africas-revolution-of-change-has-not-yet-ended/a-48493792′ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’center’ label_display=” icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-kbqwokbv’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”] [/av_one_half][av_one_half min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ link=” linktarget=” link_hover=” padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background=’bg_color’ background_color=” background_gradient_color1=” background_gradient_color2=” background_gradient_direction=’vertical’ src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_breaking=” mobile_display=” av_uid=’av-1bqlw’] [av_heading tag=’h2′ padding=’10’ heading='”We have to talk about problems”‘ color=” style=” custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=’15’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=” av-desktop-hide=” av-medium-hide=” av-small-hide=” av-mini-hide=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” margin=” av_uid=’av-39pfg1′][/av_heading] [av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” av_uid=’av-kbqwnwi9′ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”] Ruth Weiss fled from the Nazis in 1936 and headed for South Africa, where she later campaigned against apartheid. She now lives in Germany. DW spoke with her about racism in Africa and multicultural interaction.
[/av_textblock] [av_button label=’Read More ‘ link=’manually,https://www.dw.com/en/we-have-to-talk-about-problems/a-15884730′ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’center’ label_display=” icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-kbqwokbv’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”] [/av_one_half] [/av_section]