»FREMDE HEIMAT« Deutsch-jüdisches Exil gestern und heute

In the organizer's words:

On behalf of the Friends and Sponsors of the Leo Baeck Institute, we would like to cordially invite you to our panel discussion in cooperation with the podcast "Der zweite Gedanke" (radio3/rbb), followed by a reception.

You can look forward to a stimulating discussion about German-Jewish exile yesterday and today. The focus will be on the cultural history of Jewish emigration as well as universal experiences of uprooting, isolation and life between two stools. From the topos of the Wandering Jew to the shattered dreams of a German-Jewish symbiosis to the violent present, we will explore the question of whether flight and migration can mean arrival - even if it is an arrival in a foreign homeland.

The discussion panel consists of the following participants:

• In her literary work,Dr. Ursula Krechel deals with the topics of persecution, flight and exile in the past and present, as in her latest book "Vom Herzasthma des Exils". The text appeals for a rethink and profound respect for those who (must and had to) leave their homeland. She was awarded the Georg Büchner Prize in 2025.
• Prof. Dr. Michael Brenner is the International President of the Leo Baeck Institute. He researches and publishes on topics of German-Jewish history and culture, most recently in his book "The Long Shadow of the Revolution". Michael Brenner is a professor at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and at the American University in Washington D.C.
• Dr. Sebastian Schirrmeister is a literary scholar. His research interests include German-language exile literature, German-Hebrew literary relations and German-Jewish archives. He is the author of "Das Gastspiel" (2012) and "Begegnung auf fremder Erde" (2019) as well as numerous academic essays.
• Moderator: Natascha Freundel is a journalist specializing in German-Jewish history. She is editor and presenter of the podcast and radio debate "Der zweite Gedanke" on radio3 im rbb.

We are pleased to welcome Julia Friedrich, Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the Jewish Museum Berlin.

Program

• from 18:30: Admission
• 7 p.m.: Start of the program: Welcome + panel discussion on the topic of the event
• from 20:30: Reception

The event takes place in cooperation with radio3, where the recording will be available on June 11, 2026 at 7:03 pm and on June 13, 2026 at 1:03 pm and in the podcast "Der zweite Gedanke" (among others in the ARD Sounds App).

Admission by appointment only. Admission is free of charge. Places are limited, so please register as soon as possible to guarantee your participation.

In cooperation with radio3 / rbb

Price information:

Registration required. Places are limited. Please allow sufficient time for safety precautions.