Jüdische Allgemeine Honored with ELNET Award for Enduring Responsibility

The German Jewish newspaper Jüdische Allgemeine was presented with the ELNET Award for Enduring Responsibility on Tuesday evening. ELNET CEO Carsten Ovens stated that for 80 years, the publication has been a central Jewish voice in Germany, reporting on Jewish life, Israel, and German-Israeli relations. He specifically highlighted the editorial team's sustained contribution since October 7, 2023, in contextualizing developments in Israel and their impact on Jewish life in Germany, emphasizing the team's long-term commitment and journalistic responsibility.

Roland Rixecker, Antisemitism Commissioner of the Saarland State Parliament, served as the laudator. He praised the newspaper for remaining in Germany, the perpetrators' country, 80 years ago and for continuing to show conviction today, especially in a society marked by antisemitism. Rixecker noted that "all dams have broken" since October 7, and the Jüdische Allgemeine competently reflects this, irrespective of the political origin of the hostility, despite facing significant animosity.

Editor-in-Chief Philipp Peyman Engel accepted the award on behalf of the entire staff, viewing it as a crucial sign of support and encouragement, particularly when many other media outlets present a distorted picture of Jewish life, antisemitic attacks, and the State of Israel. He expressed immense pleasure, stating the editorial team provides essential reporting under immense pressure and constant hostility, characterized as well-founded, independent, nuanced, and opinionated.

ELNET presented awards for outstanding commitment for the sixth time in three categories, honoring individuals, institutions, and projects dedicated to European-Israeli relations, Jewish life, and combating antisemitism. Minister of Justice Stefanie Hubig delivered the keynote address. The Solidarity Partnership Bergisch Gladbach, Nir Oz e. V., which supports the reconstruction of the kibbutz Nir Oz and organizes anti-hatred demonstrations, received an award in the education category, with initiator Petra Hemming accepting.

The conference series "Voices after Auschwitz" was recognized in the culture category for bringing together people from Israel and Germany since 2012 to confront the lasting consequences of the Holocaust. Additionally, Elisabeth Krafft's podcast "Israel, kurz erklärt, Kontext statt Schlagzeilen" (Israel, Explained Briefly, Context Instead of Headlines) received an award for contributing to a nuanced engagement with Israel.

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche, patron of the ELNET Awards, remarked that a partnership for the future has grown out of historical responsibility, emphasizing that this friendship thrives on personal encounters and robust networks, which ELNET cultivates, especially in difficult times. ELNET, the European Leadership Network, aims with its awards to highlight positive efforts and demonstrate that the commitment to Israel, Jewish life, and the fight against antisemitism is both necessary and effective.