(via google translate) EKV Pfad: Startseite / Home / Artikel „Kultur ist manchmal auch Herausforderung“ Diskussion zum Umgang mit antisemitischen Artefakten an Kirchen - Studienabend zum Buß- und Bettag in der Melanchthon-Akademie 27.11.2017 „Sollte man das Bildnis ‚Judensau‘ an der Stadtkirche in Wittenberg hängen lassen und als historisches Objekt einordnend kommentieren? Oder das Bild abnehmen und ins Museum stellen, weil die Verschmähung von Juden im öffentlichen Raum keinesfalls etwas zu suchen hat?“ Diese Frage stellt sich in vielen Städten, an deren Kirchen die obszöne antisemitische Skulptur hängt – unter anderem auch am Kölner Dom. In der Melanchthon-Akademie in der Kölner Südstadt widmete sich der Studienabend am Buß- und Bettag vor rund 70 Zuhörern der Kölner und der bundesweiten Debatte. Prof. Johannes Heil and a selection of pictures on Judensau on the canvas The presentation of the "Judensau" was particularly widespread in German-speaking countries, said Professor Johannes Heil, Rector of the College for Jewish Studies in Heidelberg, in his keynote speech to the evening. The oldest such motif in the cathedral in Brandenburg / Havel is said to date from 1230. The presentation then spread in the 14th century. The Internet Dictionary Wikipedia lists 35 such sculptures, most of them are still preserved. The image of the "Judensau" shows a pig in contact with Jews, who are recognizable as such by their then prescribed clothing. The depiction mocks and insults Jews - the pig is regarded in Judaism as an unclean animal. The effect of the presentation until today: "It is humiliating and degrading for me," said Bettina Levy of the synagogue Roonstraße in the conversation after the keynote speech. The question remains how to deal with the humiliating pictures. Heil pointed out the various positions: Some wanted to remove the figures, they saw in the sculptures an unacceptable persistent abuse. For the artist Wolfram Kastner, for example, the "Judensäue" at Cologne Cathedral are "a model case for the production of violence in our heads". He demand at least a clear distancing from it. The "Judensau" at the city church in the Lutherstadt Wittenberg wants to completely remove the British theologian Richard Harvey. The church should again radiate dignity and beauty and present no obscenities. For salvation, the decrease of the figures is not the right way. "Culture is not always comfortable, but sometimes a challenge," he said. If you remove the figures, leave a blank space. But you can not easily bury the ideas and the genesis of the story. He also made a current political reference: With the distance one would give ideas of Björn Höcke of the right-wing populist AfD space. For Höcke memorials were "Schandmale" and prevented his "memorial policy turnaround". If one were to remove the "Judensäue" as memorials, one would bend in front of his idea. For his position salvation not only received approval, but energetic contradiction of some listeners. "I'm not afraid of humps. But the Judensäue are not a matter of history, but revile Jews in the present and the future, "was heard from the plenary. One can not "condone" Christians to tolerate a symbol that contradicts the Gospel in the Church, just because it was always there and the distance was "ahistorical." He himself did not want to destroy the figures, but put them in the museum, that would be in Wittenberg in the Luther House and in Cologne Cathedral Treasury or Diocesan Museum downright on. Even Cologne is affected by the discussion, at the cathedral there are even two of the anti-Semitic depictions: a carving in the choir stalls and a gargoyle on the southeastern choir. How difficult it was and still is to raise awareness in the city, Dr. Bernd Wacker from the Karl Rahner Academy. For the first time, the topic was dealt with seriously in public at an event with Wolfram Kastner in 2002. Another step in 2008 was the examination of the subject under the title "The Cathedral and the Jews" in the Domblatt, the yearbook of the Zentral-Dombau-Verein, that deals art historically with the problem. However: "There were hardly any reviews, so it was not an issue in public," said Wacker. In 2013, discussions about appropriate measures failed due to the lack of readiness to talk of the cathedral chapter. Only since 2016 is there a working group with all involved. "Suggestions are there to impose the figures for a certain period of time or to include guided tours on the topic in the regular program," said Wacker. In any case, it's about not creating spaces. It would be necessary to find forms that clearly prevent thought: the figures are there, so the church affirms that. In order to create an overall social awareness of anti-Semitism, however, it would have to be started with the early educational work. Marcus Meier from the Cologne Society for Christian-Jewish Cooperation. Text: Julius Georg Fiedler photo (s): Julius Georg Fiedler © Evangelischer Kirchenverband Köln und Region