Vocational students in Floß: Maintaining the Jewish cemetery as a symbol of remembrance

Vocational students in Floß: Maintaining the Jewish cemetery as a symbol of remembrance

In Floß, a charming market with over 1,000 years of history, vocational students from Neustadt are involved in a remarkable project: They volunteer to look after the historic Jewish cemetery. This initiative is not just a nurturing campaign, but aims to instill respect and interest in Jewish history in young people. Here it becomes clear how community work promotes the fight against anti-Semitism and racism. That reported Upper Palatinate Echo.

The Jewish cemetery, which is owned by the State Association of Jewish Communities in Bavaria, is a historical monument. With over 400 gravestones bearing inscriptions in Hebrew and German, it tells a story that goes back to the settlement of the Jewish community in Floß in 1684. To counteract the lack of space, the cemetery was soon expanded. The last burial took place in 1946, keeping memories of a dark time in the region alive.

A role model for the communities

Under the leadership of Frank Eckstein and director of studies Rainer Butz, the students learn important landscape management skills as part of the agricultural engineering lessons and the elective silviculture/nature conservation. Their work is actively supported by the community of Floß, which takes care of the removal of the mowed material and the provision of work materials. This joint action illustrates the harmonious cooperation between educational institutions, municipalities and volunteers, which promotes understanding of the history of the homeland and contributes to the culture of remembrance.

In today's society, it is essential to address the history and challenges of anti-Semitism. The project “Net Olam – Jewish cemeteries in the focus of anti-Semitism and prevention” was launched to better protect Jewish burial sites. Loud juedisches.bayern.de The damage to these cemeteries is examined closely in order to gain a comprehensive insight into the background of attacks and to develop concepts for their protection.

The inviolable space of the dead

Jewish cemeteries, known as “Bet Olam” or “House of Eternity,” are considered sacrosanct under Jewish religious law. Attacks on such cemeteries not only violate the peace of the dead, but also the piety of the living. Research into cemetery desecrations is just beginning, but the contributions of the project Net Olam, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, are promising. Data on desecrations in Germany should be collected within four years in order to close the existing gaps and document the damage to the tombs.

But back to the committed Neustadt residents: While they are active in the historic Jewish cemetery, they not only have the chance to care for the landscape, but also to preserve an important heritage. In the future, your commitment will help ensure that memories of Jewish history remain alive and that young people recognize their responsibility towards society and the past. So this is not just work with a hand shovel, but also a matter of the heart - and a sign of peaceful coexistence in the community.