“Shalom zusammen!“ mit Tanya Raab/ Buchvorstellung, Moderation: Katja Garmasch

Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Lew Kopelew Forum, Neumarkt 18 (Neumarkt Passagen), 50667 Cologne
In-person and online

Free admission, registration required: https://forms.gle/jJNp3fawLofkyLLR8
Featuring: Tanya Raab (activist and author)
Moderator: Katja Garmasch (journalist and author)

Jewish Life Beyond Clichés: Activist and Author Tanya Raab Dispels Prejudices

“You don’t look Jewish at all” is a phrase Tanya has heard many times while dating. Ever since she overheard a classmate calling another “you Jew” in the schoolyard, she’s been grappling with many questions: What does it mean to look Jewish? Is there even such a thing? Should I be ashamed of being Jewish, or can I be proud of it?

Born in Ukraine, Tanya Raab moved to Germany at age 3 as a Jewish quota refugee. Her mother is Jewish; her father is not. Over the years, she’s been repeatedly advised to keep this part of herself hidden to protect herself. But one day, she decides she’s done hiding. Whether wearing a Star of David necklace at the gym or a rainbow kippah while shopping—the queer and feminist activist shows that Jewish life can be lived differently than people expect. With self-assurance, she talks about her everyday life—navigating the balance between tradition and modernity—as well as her daily encounters with antisemitism; she debunks widespread stereotypes and takes a critical look at Germany’s culture of remembrance.
With insight and wit, Tanya Raab offers inspiration for a future in which Jewish people can live in Germany free from fear and prejudice.

Tanya Raab lives with her partner and daughter in Brandenburg an der Havel. Since 2021, she has been using her activist account @oy_jewish_mamma to raise awareness about Judaism, antisemitism, and the culture of remembrance.

The discussion will be moderated by journalist and author Katja Garmasch.
The event is a collaboration between the “Heimatbühne – Home is where your Art is” project—funded by the EU through the Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund—and the Lew Kopelew Forum e.V.