Unique Cooperation between The Jewish Museum Franconia and the Bavarian Riot Police launches 2023

A unique cooperation between the JMF and the Bavarian riot police has begun. The JMF will work closely with the IV. Nuremberg Riot Police Department to train future police officers. The education program of the JMF has now become an integral part of the training of the Bavarian riot police. Every year about 1,000 trainees and officers receive training from the JMF in Fürth.
The cooperation between the Bavarian riot police and the Jewish Museum Franconia aims to sensitize prospective police officers to Jewish history and present Jewish life as well as anti-Semitic manifestations. At the same time, the targeted communication of background knowledge and action strategies is intended to promote a confident and appropriate way of dealing with anti-Semitic incidents and to strengthen democratic resilience.
During a pilot project in spring 2023, six classes with a total of 133 police trainees received a three-day training course on Jewish history and present Jewish life as well as about anti-Semitism, conspiracy theories, Israel-related anti-Semitism as well as issues regarding to the Israeli-Arab conflict.

Focus on raising awareness, background knowledge and action strategies

Museum director Daniela F. Eisenstein welcomes the cooperation, as sustainable educational work remains an important goal of the JMF. Gerd Enkling, senior police director and head of police training for the middle service (2nd QE), was enthusiastic and emphasized: “Especially in today’s times when society is becoming increasingly fragmented and divided into different subgroups, unfortunately some of them anti-democratic It is of central importance for police training and of immense importance to strengthen the personality of the prospective police officers and to convey basic democratic values. Raising awareness and communicating appropriate countermeasures to the anti-Semitism that unfortunately still occurs, as well as the associated spread of conspiracy theories, play an important role.” Dr. Micha Fuchs, contact person for the Bavarian riot police against hate crime, especially anti-Semitism, adds: “At the same time, it is important not only to focus on anti-Semitism, but also to portray Jewish life here in Germany in its entirety. We are therefore all the more pleased that we have now found such a high-quality partner for this topic in the Jewish Museum of Franconia.” The curator of education and outreach at the Jewish Museum of Franconia, Alisha Meininghaus, particularly emphasized the motivation and interest of the police trainees and added: “We are extremely satisfied with the outcome of the project days with the Bavarian riot police and look forward to further visits.”