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German parliament approves landmark accord with Jews
Berlin, June 06: The German parliament unanimously approved today a landmark agreement that puts the country`s fast-growing Jewish community on a legal par with Germany`s main Christian churches.
Berlin, June 06: The German parliament unanimously approved today a landmark agreement that puts the country's fast-growing Jewish community on a legal par with Germany's main Christian churches.
The accord was signed by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Germany's main Jewish leader, Paul Spiegel, on Jan 27- the 58th anniversary of the Auschwitz death camp's liberation.
"Parliament has shown with today's decision that the development of Jewish life in Germany is in the interest of the whole country," Sebastian Edathy, a senior lawmaker with Schroeder's Social Democrats, said of the vote in the Lower House. The agreement still needs the approval of the Upper House, which is expected to be a formality.
Deputy Interior Minister Fritz-Rudolf Koerper said the accord served as "a sign of movement toward normality" in Germany's relationship with its Jewish community.
The accord recognises the growing importance of Jewish life and triples the annual government funding for the Central council of Jews to US$ 3.5 million.
It establishes the first legal partnership between the Jewish community and the government since World War II, in the spirit of similar agreements with the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches under which the state finances the costs of schools and other institutions.
The additional resources will help the community train more rabbis and introduce Jewish rites to immigrants who grew up under Communism without a religious education.
Bureau Report
"Parliament has shown with today's decision that the development of Jewish life in Germany is in the interest of the whole country," Sebastian Edathy, a senior lawmaker with Schroeder's Social Democrats, said of the vote in the Lower House. The agreement still needs the approval of the Upper House, which is expected to be a formality.
Deputy Interior Minister Fritz-Rudolf Koerper said the accord served as "a sign of movement toward normality" in Germany's relationship with its Jewish community.
The accord recognises the growing importance of Jewish life and triples the annual government funding for the Central council of Jews to US$ 3.5 million.
It establishes the first legal partnership between the Jewish community and the government since World War II, in the spirit of similar agreements with the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches under which the state finances the costs of schools and other institutions.
The additional resources will help the community train more rabbis and introduce Jewish rites to immigrants who grew up under Communism without a religious education.
Bureau Report