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Young, German and Jewish

January 4, 2021

"We’re not aliens!" say young German Jews. They want to be seen as normal young people. But even in 2021, fitting into German society doesn’t come easily.

https://p.dw.com/p/3nUvn
Screenshots Dokumentation Hey, ich bin Jude! - Jung. Jüdsich. Deutsch.
Image: ZDF

What does it mean to be the only Jew in the whole school? This is a film about dealing with clichés and stereotypes in everyday life, from the sports field to the synagogue, from the Torah to Instagram, from Shabbat to parties.

Screenshots Dokumentation Hey, ich bin Jude! - Jung. Jüdsich. Deutsch.
Image: ZDF


In German schools, calling someone a Jew is a common slur. For young German Jews, anti-Semitic phrases, jokes and prejudices are part of everyday life. It’s a sad truth that they often can’t wear their kippah or Star of David necklace openly, for fear of abuse or assault.

Screenshots Dokumentation Hey, ich bin Jude! - Jung. Jüdsich. Deutsch.
Image: ZDF



At the same time, they want to escape the label of victim. Ilan (20) says: "For many people we are a marginalized group that’s always being insulted. But it’s wrong to reduce us to that." Paula (12) adds: "Yes, I wish we wouldn’t get funny looks all the time."

Screenshots Dokumentation Hey, ich bin Jude! - Jung. Jüdsich. Deutsch.
Image: ZDF


This documentary shows the young and vibrant Jewish culture in Germany today. As different as young Jewish people are in their religious beliefs, interests and talents, they all have one thing in common. None of them want to only be seen as what Roman (19) calls a "museum piece," but as active young people who live in the here and now.


This documentary dispenses with commentary and listens to the voices of young Jews between the ages of 12 and 25, whom filmmaker Jan Tenhaven met in Berlin, Frankfurt, Osnabrück, Essen, Munich and Wessling. The conversations are interspersed with reports of anti-Semitic incidents.

Broadcasting Hours: 

DW English

MON 22.02.2021 – 01:15 UTC
MON 22.02.2021 – 05:15 UTC
TUE 23.02.2021 – 09:15 UTC
SAT 27.02.2021 – 12:15 UTC
SUN 28.02.2021 – 15:15 UTC

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TUE 23.02.2021 – 09:15 UTC

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