In a Special Atmosphere, the Traditional Seminar of the Teachers’ Unions Resumed After a Four-Year Break

The seminar, held with the active participation of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation Israel, brought together educators and professional leaders from Israel and Germany to discuss issues of memory, identity, antisemitism, education for democracy, resilience, hope, and coping with situations of crisis.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of an exceptionally complex period: for Israeli society—following the events of October 7 and the war; and for German society—amid ongoing efforts to grapple with the memory of the Shoah, antisemitism, the rise of far-right political trends, and social and educational challenges.

What made the seminar unique was not only the topics discussed, but the very opportunity to create a shared space for dialogue between educators from two countries with a common, painful, and complex history.

The seminar demonstrated that, precisely in times of crisis, education can serve as a space that enables us to remember, ask questions, listen, address controversy, and rebuild hope.