In Dresden, the Gefilte Festival is Canceled Amid Fears of Anti-Semitic Backlash
In Dresden, the Gefilte Festival is Canceled Amid Fears of Anti-Semitic Backlash
Blog Article
In a city known for its rich history, where the echoes of the past are still felt deeply, a seemingly innocent celebration of Jewish culture has been overshadowed by fear and rising tensions. Valentina Marcenaro, the chairwoman of Jewish Week Dresden, had hoped to bring the Gefilte Festival to life in early November, showcasing the culinary traditions of the Jewish community. Unfortunately, recent developments and a climate of uncertainty forced her to cancel the event, a decision that speaks volumes about the growing anxiety among Jewish communities in Germany today.
Marcenaro had envisioned a joyful celebration, complete with traditional Jewish dishes and cultural activities that would allow both Jews and non-Jews to share in the experience. However, the rising atmosphere of fear and insecurity in Dresden, particularly in the wake of recent global events, made the festival impossible to carry out. "Some of those who had been scheduled to take part in the festival were too scared to identify themselves as Jewish," she said. “You shouldn’t try to argue against fear; you just have to respect it.”
Marcenaro, a German-Italian who describes her connection to Judaism as more cultural than religious, was deeply disappointed by the cancellation. She has always believed that teaching people about Jewish customs, particularly through something as accessible as food, could help bridge divides and combat anti-Semitism. For her, a shared meal could be a potent antidote to the ignorance and misunderstanding that fuel prejudice. "Teaching others how to cook Jewish food is the best recipe against anti-Semitism," she affirms.
The cancelation of the Gefilte Festival marks a turning point in Marcenaro’s efforts to build cultural understanding in Dresden. Originally from Italy, she moved to the city in 1998 and found herself deeply invested in fostering Jewish identity in the local community. Marcenaro has always emphasized that Jewish culture is not just about remembering past atrocities, but about highlighting the vibrant, living traditions of Jewish life today. Through the Jewish Week Dresden, she hopes to challenge stereotypes, educate, and encourage engagement with Judaism’s rich and diverse culinary heritage.
However, recent events have shaken Marcenaro’s optimism. The situation has become even more complicated by a broader geopolitical context, where food—once a unifying force—has become another battleground for political and cultural disputes. For example, the ongoing debate about the cultural ownership of dishes such as hummus has resurfaced in the wake of the Middle East conflict. In the United States, tensions have flared between Lebanon and Israel, with accusations of cultural appropriation swirling around the origins of dishes like hummus and falafel. Such debates are not confined to distant shores. Marcenaro’s festival had already been set against a backdrop of similar cultural disputes, where even something as simple as food is being politicized.
Marcenaro takes issue with the idea that the shared preparation and enjoyment of Jewish food should be viewed through a lens of political conflict. She sees the fusion of Jewish and Arab cuisines as a natural reflection of cultural diversity rather than appropriation. Jewish food, after all, is a tapestry of influences from all over the world—Eastern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. From borscht in Ukraine to Caponata Siciliana in Sicily, the diverse flavors that characterize Jewish cuisine tell a story of migration, adaptation, and survival. Even in Israel, the blending of Jewish and Arab culinary traditions is nothing new, and Marcenaro celebrates it as a testament to diversity, not division.
On her desk in her office, Marcenaro keeps a porcelain pomegranate, a symbol of fertility, abundance, and new beginnings in Jewish culture. It is also the emblem of the Gefilte Festival Dresden. She holds onto the belief that despite the current climate of fear and division, new beginnings are always possible. "We can't let these divisions define us," she says. "Jewish food, like our culture, has always been about adaptation and survival, and we must continue that tradition."
The cancellation of the Gefilte Festival is a tragic reminder of the complexities facing Jewish communities in Germany today. What should have been a joyous occasion to celebrate Jewish heritage and foster cross-cultural understanding instead underscores the harsh reality that fear and insecurity have become part of daily life. Marcenaro’s decision to cancel the event may have been necessary, but it also signals the growing challenges in maintaining Jewish cultural traditions in an increasingly polarized world. Yet, for Marcenaro, the fight to maintain Jewish culture and identity continues. The pomegranate, symbolizing hope and renewal, remains on her desk—an enduring reminder that change is always possible, even in the face of adversity.
https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/jewish-life-in-germany-a-sudden-ominous-sense-of-insecurity-a-e21696e4-35f8-4c32-9300-f875885ef638