The American Institute for Contemporary German Studies, in conjunction with the American Jewish Committee and the Leo Baeck Institute, welcomed prominent scholars and journalists for a conference discussing "The Jewish Voice in German American Relations" as part of its Harry and Helen Gray Humanities Program Series. The American Jewish Committee and the Leo Baeck Institute each work to preserve the historical and cultural identity of the European and American Jewish communities as well as to nurture post-war friendships between Germany and the United States. With their assistance, Dr. Jeffrey Peck of AICGS organized the conference as a platform for both academics and policy experts to examine post-Holocaust Jewish identities and to determine the level of influence Jewish communities have in shaping transatlantic foreign and American domestic agendas.

In the aftermath of World War II, as the world continues to absorb the knowledge of the atrocities committed by the Nazis against European Jewry, the Jewish voice and identity continues to take shape; influenced by a strong cultural and historical background, but also evolving to incorporate new experiences and perceptions. Dr. Atina Grossman, an historian well versed in the Shoah, noted that historically Jews were perceived by both themselves and other groups to be a separate cohort, not fully integrated within Germany and in Europe. The perception of Jews as "outsiders" clearly appeared in the immediate post-war period of 1945-1949, when 200,000-300,000 predominantly Eastern European Jews were placed in Displaced Persons camps in Germany by the U.S. army. The German citizenry, which was described as sullen, resentful and self-pitying, bitterly complained of their own dislocation in order to support surviving Jews. According to Dr. Grossman, the presence of such large numbers of Jewish survivors in Germany produced both resentment and reinforced anti-Semitism and the " fear of being flooded by Jewish intruders." As part of the effort to create a new definition of normalcy within Germany, American soldiers deployed surviving German Jews into the Berlin government to serve in cultural officer positions. Through similar acts by both Jewish and non-Jewish American GIs, a connection was established between the United States, the Jewish Community, and Germany that would help forge a new transatlantic relationship and identity within the post-war period.

With the formation of institutions, like the Leo Baeck Institute, and through the desire of American Jews to connect with Israel, the Holocaust continues to be a pivotal aspect of the international Jewish identity. The rhetoric and images of the Holocaust, although sometimes cast about too easily in popular culture, became a unifying language for the Jewish community during the twentieth century. According to Dr. Peck, the Holocaust and its effect on the history of European Jewry has become the core of the "global Jewish memory, a situation that is not unproblematic." Moreover, as this transnational Jewish connection evolved, the Jewish voice has grown louder in its demands for reparations and restitution efforts.

However, the influence of the Jewish voice on U.S. and German policies cannot yet be quantified. Dr. Robert Gerald Livingston argued that, except in rare cases, Jewish interests have been outweighed by political desires. To prove his point, Dr. Livingston described the 1985 visit by President Reagan to Bitburg, Germany. Bitburg, which was a German military cemetery, housed not only members of the Luftwaffe from World War I and II but, more controversially, also SS soldiers. Despite the protests of American and International Jewish groups, President Reagan continued with his planned visit to the cemetery, which housed the graves of known perpetrators of war crimes. According to Dr. Livingston, President Reagan determined that the U.S. alliance with Western Germany overrode Jewish concerns and, thereby, "confirmed the imperviousness of the U.S. position to listen to the Jewish voice and acknowledge historical memory."

Dr. Gardner Feldman and Dr. Baker disagreed and contended that Jewish ties with Germany and the United States illustrate the influence of the transnational Jewish voice. Andrew Baker, of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), noted that the AJC through its public campaign succeeded in forcing Germany to confront its history and extend rights to Holocaust victims formerly living behind the Iron Curtain. The AJC has also attempted to correct the American stereotype of an " anti-Jewish" Germany. Dr. Baker asserted that, currently, American Jews have a more comforting view of Germany than many members of the U.S. government, due to the efforts of the AJC. Dr. Lily Gardner Feldman, who described the role of the AJC as a non-governmental actor, highlighted the importance of these kinds of Jewish organizations in their ability to act as a conduit during this, and other, periods of troubled transatlantic relations. Dr. Gardner Feldman noted that Joschka Fischer identified the AJC as an organization that facilitates greater understanding between Germany, Israel, and the United States.

Germany continually affirms Israel's right to a secure position in the world through both public support and military aid. Furthermore, due to education and exchange programs between Germany and Israel, Germany receives the highest numbers of Jewish immigrants of any country in the world. Even with the recent rise in anxiety regarding European anti-Semitism, Dr. Baker argued that Europe has become the most sympathetic listener of Jewish concerns and an outspoken critic of right-wing fanaticism. Yet, Dr. Greg Caplan noted that the German press has aligned itself more closely with the Arabs on the issue it describes as "the Holocaust in Iraq" at the same time that Germany and Fischer declare unwavering support for Israel. This type of diplomacy is not contradictory according to Malte Lehming of Der Tagesspiegel because Europeans support change through political terms and not through military force. Moreover, Dr. Caplan contended that Israel understands and appreciates the complexity of these issues for Germany, as it tries to retain a passive role in international relations.

However, many conference participants still felt that Germany continues to have difficulty negotiating its relationship with the Jewish community. Since its creation, Germany has ardently supported the importance and security of the Jewish state. Yet, Dr. Frank Trommler argued that "Germans embrace(d) Israel, while suppressing thoughts of the Holocaust." In fact, he notes that it was not until the American television series, The Holocaust, in the late1970's that German public opinion regarding the Jews and the Holocaust changed. Dr. Peck described the newly built Jewish Museum in Berlin as illustrating the centrality of the past to both Jewish and German identities. With more open discussions, German Jews began to play a stronger, more unique role and to differentiate themselves from American Jews. However, Jews are still not fully integrated into Germany society. Steven Erlanger of The New York Times described his experiences within Germany where he was always identified as a " Jewish reporter" and is often contacted by the German press to discuss his thoughts or beliefs based on his Jewishness. Instead of normalizing relations with the Jewish community, Mr. Erlanger contends that Germany now places Jews on a pedestal.

In the United States, Jews hold prominent positions within the U.S. government, which unfortunately has given rise to a new incendiary view that "Jews control U.S. foreign policy." Jacob Heilbrunn of the LA Times argued that it is not the position of Jews in government or religious fervor that has lead to the war with Iraq. Instead, he believes, the Holocaust and its resonating lessons can be viewed as the main theoretical justification for U.S. intervention. Mr. Heilbrunn asserted that neo-conservatives who follow the theories of Leo Strauss- a Jewish refugee who believed in justice by the sword- view the U.S. intervention as an extension of the ongoing battle against totalitarianism and evil. Yet, not all Jews support the war in Iraq. Dr. Jeffrey Herf, who described himself as belonging to the pro-war Jewish minority, declared that the twentieth century taught Jews the lesson that totalitarian regimes cannot be stopped through diplomatic measures. Moreover, he contended that totalitarianism will always exist alongside Holocaust memory and that the desire to prevent future atrocities is not a distinctive Jewish tradition but part of a grander liberal vision for humankind.

Turning more broadly to the troubled transatlantic relationship, conference participants and audience members placed blame on different parties. Dr. Greg Caplan set the stage for debate with his assertion that Germany has failed to be a partner in the transatlantic alliance through its unwillingness to examine an option other than political diplomacy. Many participants felt that the United States' arrogance and particularly Bush's abruptness and hastiness fomented the current rift between Europe and the United States. Peter Schneider, a well-known German political commentator and author, claimed that the recent rise in Anti-Americanism actually represented Anti-Bushism and distrust of U.S. policies. However, the recent quarrel between the U.S. and Europe is not a new experience for either party. Although it is often viewed as a stable friendship, Dr. Rabinbach asserted that Europe and the U.S. actually have had a very volatile and complex history of turbulence. As Europe tries to negotiate a new collective "European" will and identity, the United States may encounter greater opposition to its policies and plans. Therefore, during future periods of upheaval in the transatlantic relationship, the long-term friendship between the United States and Germany will need to be nurtured.

AICGS would like to thank Harry and Helen Gray and
the American Jewish Committee for their generous support of this event.

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