Marc Hermann-Cohen: The Elephant in the Room - The Holocaust and Conceptions of Germany among Israeli Learners of German as a Foreign Language
In cooperation with the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies
12-1:30 pm Eastern Time (US)
Zoom Webinar
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About the Event
“… and even more extreme for me, my grandmother told me before I flew to Germany it would break her heart if I put my foot on German soil, even more if I learned their language ... Yes, it is complicated.”
Israeli learner of German and grandchild of Holocaust survivor
The Holocaust is inseparable from Israeli identities. Even seven decades after World War II, Israeli daily life is shaped by the horrible crimes committed by the Nazis and yet thousands of Israelis every year decide to learn German as a Foreign Language (GFL). The image of Germany has undergone tremendous change within the last 70 years in Israeli society, from a boycott of everything German to a “Berlin-hype” attracting young Israelis to relocate.
Although the relationship between Germany and Israel has been amicable for the last six decades, the choice for Israelis to learn the language that was used by a nation who once attempted to eradicate the Jewish people is emotive and infinitely complex on a political and social level. The webinar looks at the changing image of Germany in Israel, tabooizations found in textbooks for German as a Foreign Language, and Israeli learners’ perspectives on Germany.
Photo: A team of Jewish runners from Israel for the Berlin marathon take a picture in front of the Brandenburg Gate in 2017 (Shutterstock)
About the Speaker
Marc Hermann-Cohen, originally from Hamburg Germany, is a certified teaching professional with experience teaching English, Social Sciences, History and Psychology in the German school system. In Israel he is head of the German Department at the Leo Baeck Education Center, one of Israel’s leading educational institutions with a special focus on Jewish-Arab Shared Existence. He also has experience in investigative journalism (VOCATIV) analyzing the web, social media, deep web and the dark net.
His joint-dissertation from Hamburg University & University of Haifa analyzes the image of Germany among Israelis and in particular among learners of German. His research investigates the tabooizations of the Holocaust and Jewish Life in the discipline German as a Foreign Language (GFL). Earlier research included representations of diversity in the classroom, peace education, and gender competence.