Meron Mendel
{{Short description|Israeli-German educator and writer, born 1976}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Meron Mendel
| image = Roemerberggespraeche-05-2024-meron-mendel-10612.jpg
| native_name = מירון מנדל
| native_name_lang = he
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1976}}
| birth_place = Ramat Gan, Israel
| citizenship = Israel, Germany
| education = M.A. University of Haifa, 2002, PhD Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, 2010
| occupation = Social scientist, educator, writer
| years_active = 2010 - present
| employer = Anne Frank Educational Centre, Frankfurt; Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Frankfurt
| known_for = Scholarship on German-Israeli relations, antisemitism and racism
| notable_works = Über Israel reden. Eine deutsche Debatte. (Talking about Israel. A German debate.)
| spouse = Saba-Nur Cheema
| website = {{URL|meronmendel.de}}
}}
Meron Mendel ({{Langx|he|מירון מנדל}}; born 1976) is an Israeli-German social scientist, professor, educator, writer and director of the Anne Frank Education Centre in Frankfurt/Main. He became known for his public statements in German news media as an expert on German-Israel relations and for his work in educational projects to combat racism and antisemitism.
Life and career
Under his leadership, the centre expanded its activities with a multimedia learning laboratory for young people, two counselling units for victims of right-wing violence,{{Cite web |date=2019-01-06 |title=Hilfe für Opfer rechter Gewalt in Hessen |url=https://www.fr.de/rhein-main/hilfe-opfer-rechter-gewalt-hessen-11007607.html |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=www.fr.de |language=de}} as well as exhibitions, for example on The Holocaust in comics.{{Cite news |title=Ausstellung "Holocaust im Comic": Art Spiegelmans Erben |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/comics/art-spiegelmans-erben-3803449.html |access-date=2024-11-05 |work=Der Tagesspiegel Online |language=de-DE |issn=1865-2263}}{{Cite web |date=2021-10-10 |title=Bildungsstätte Anne Frank in Frankfurt: Solidarität muss öffentlich möglich sein |url=https://www.fr.de/frankfurt/bildungsstaette-anne-frank-in-frankfurt-solidaritaet-mit-den-menschen-in-palaestina-muss-oeffentlich-moeglich-sein-91041736.html |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=www.fr.de |language=de}} Further, the local institution has become an internationally active organization.{{Cite web |date=2015-11-04 |title=Bildungsstätte Anne Frank bietet Beratung |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/rhein-main/bildungsstaette-anne-frank-bietet-beratung-13890262.html |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=FAZ.NET |language=de}}
Since August 2021, Mendel has been professor for transnational social work at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences.{{Cite web |title=Prof. Dr. Meron Mendel |url=https://www.frankfurt-university.de/en/about-us/facilities-and-services/administration-and-central-services/quality-management-strategy-planning/proffm/professorships/collaborative-professorships/prof-dr-meron-mendel/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=www.frankfurt-university.de |publisher=Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences |language=en}}
Mendel's book publications deal with human rights, international migration and social integration,{{Cite web |date=2021-01-01 |title=Vorstellung übers Deutschsein: Ausgezeichnet integriert |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/rhein-main/frankfurt/vorstellung-uebers-deutschsein-ausgezeichnet-integriert-17126845.html |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=FAZ.NET |language=de}} the culture of remembrance, racism and antisemitism, as well as identity politics and political education.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-22 |title="Im Zweifel links" - Vorurteile gegenüber der politischen Bildung |url=https://www.fr.de/meinung/gastbeitraege/politische-bildung-muss-unabhaengig-sein-90212931.html |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=www.fr.de |language=de}} He has also written on these topics for German news media, including Der Spiegel,{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Meron Mendel - DER SPIEGEL |url=https://www.spiegel.de/impressum/autor-bb4095b2-93c0-4408-b249-339209e0eddf |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=www.spiegel.de |language=de}} Süddeutsche Zeitunghttps://www.meronmendel.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/SZ_Israel_nov22.pdf and Die Zeit.{{Cite news |last=Mendel |first=Meron |date=2021-08-18 |title=Judentum: Juden zweiter Klasse |url=https://www.zeit.de/kultur/2021-08/judentum-alltag-maxim-biller-max-czollek-definitionen/komplettansicht |access-date=2024-11-06 |work=Die Zeit |language=de-DE |issn=0044-2070}} In 2020 and 2021 he wrote a regular column in Die tageszeitung.{{Cite web |title=Kolumne Die Mendel'schen Regeln |url=https://taz.de/!t5692867/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=taz.de |language=de}}
Mendel is married to German political scientist and writer Saba-Nur Cheema. They live in Frankfurt and have two children.{{Cite web |title=What's life like as a Muslim-Jewish couple in Germany? – DW – 10/04/2024 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/whats-life-like-as-a-muslim-jewish-couple-in-germany/video-70409854 |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=dw.com |language=en}} Since July 2021, they have been writing the op-ed column Muslimisch-jüdisches Abendbrot (Muslim-Jewish dinner) in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-28 |title=Neue Kolumne von Meron Mendel und Saba-Nur Cheema |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/kolumnen/muslimisch-juedisches-abendbrot/neue-kolumne-von-meron-mendel-und-saba-nur-cheema-17456896.html |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=FAZ.NET |language=de}}{{Cite web |title=Meron Mendel and Saba-Nur Cheema – Muslim-Jewish Dinner |url=https://literaturfestival.com/en/events/muslimisch-juedisches-abendbrot/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=international literature festival berlin |language=en-US}}
= Positions in public discussions =
Mendel repeatedly has participated in controversial public discussions. In 2017 he was involved in protest actions against the presence of right-wing publishing houses at the Frankfurt Book Fair.{{Cite web |date=2019-01-06 |title=Den Rechten die Zähne zeigen |url=https://www.fr.de/kultur/literatur/rechten-zaehne-zeigen-11000490.html |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=www.fr.de |language=de}} Especially with regard to antisemitism among young people, his criticism and demands for more efficient education have attracted attention. Commenting on a music award for two German rap musicians, Mendel said "When idols such as Kollegah and Farid Bang rap antisemitic lyrics, it naturally has a special strength and impact on young people."{{Cite news |last= |date=2018-04-13 |title="Verheerendes Zeichen": Kritik an Echo für Farid Bang und Kollegah |url=https://www.zeit.de/news/2018-04/13/kritik-an-echo-fuer-farid-bang-und-kollegah-180412-99-867831 |access-date=2024-11-06 |work=Die Zeit |language=de-DE |issn=0044-2070}} In 2019, Mendel described the decision of the city of Frankfurt not to provide urban venues to the BDS movement as a "strong signal against hatred of Jews and Israel-related antisemitism."{{Cite web |last=Adeoso |first=Marie-Sophie |date=2019-01-06 |title=Keine antisemitische Gruppen in Saalbauten |url=https://www.fr.de/frankfurt/keine-antisemitische-gruppen-saalbauten-11002007.html |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=www.fr.de |language=de}} Criticizing antisemitism in German cultural life, Mendel denounced a mural depicting negative caricatures of Jewish characters and symbols by an artists' collective from Indonesia at the 2022 art fair documenta fifteen.{{Cite web |title=Antisemitic mural removed from Documenta art show – DW – 06/22/2022 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/antisemitic-mural-removed-from-documenta-art-show/a-62216554 |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=dw.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=HFBK: 1st day of the symposium: Controversy over documenta fifteen: Background, Interpretation, and Analysis |url=https://hfbk-hamburg.de/en/aktuelles/kalender/kontroverse-documenta-fifteen/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=hfbk-hamburg.de |language=en}}
In his article for the Süddeutsche Zeitung of 3 April 2024, Mendel commented on public discussions about cultural events in Germany, where cultural organizations had decided to cancel events including either Israeli or Palestinian writers. He denounced boycotts such as the cancellation of a literary prize for Adania Shibli at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2023 as wrong and unacceptable. According to his article, both pro-Palestinian activists protesting against cultural events including Jewish artists as well as authorities trying to silence Palestinian artists are a "threat to the freedom of cultural expression" in Germany.{{Cite web |last=Mendel |first=Meron |date=2024-04-03 |title=Traut euch |url=https://www.meronmendel.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/030424_Traut-euch_Mendel.pdf |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=Süddeutsche Zeitung |language=de}}
Reception
In March 2023 Mendel published his book Über Israel reden. Eine deutsche Debatte. (Talking about Israel. A German debate.){{Cite web |title=Five lessons from Meron Mendel's 'Talking about Israel' – DW – 05/15/2023 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/five-lessons-from-meron-mendels-talking-about-israel/a-65579092 |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=dw.com |language=en}} It was met with positive critical acclaim in newspaper and online reviews.{{Cite web |last=Steinke |first=Ronen |date=2023-03-08 |title=Meron Mendels neuer Essay: Gebrauchsanweisung zur Israel-Debatte |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/meron-mendel-ueber-israel-reden-1.5764316?reduced=true |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=Süddeutsche.de |language=de}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-18 |title=Meron Mendels Buch "Über Israel reden" |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/buecher/rezensionen/sachbuch/meron-mendels-buch-ueber-israel-reden-18735612.html |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=FAZ.NET |language=de}} In a review by the NDR public broadcast his views in the "excited permanent discussion" on the Middle East conflict were judged as "pleasantly differentiated."{{Cite web |last=NDR |title="Über Israel reden": Wo endet Kritik und wo beginnt Antisemitismus? |url=https://www.ndr.de/kultur/buch/sachbuecher/Ueber-Israel-reden-Wo-endet-Kritik-und-wo-beginnt-Antisemitismus,mendel116.html |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=www.ndr.de |language=de}} In 2023, the book was nominated for the German Non-Fiction Prize.{{Cite web |title=Deutscher Sachbuchpreis |url=https://www.deutscher-sachbuchpreis.de/archiv/2023/ueber-israel-reden |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=www.deutscher-sachbuchpreis.de |language=de-de}}
In 2024 Mendel and Cheema were awarded the Federal Cross of Merit by the German president.{{cite web |date=2024-10-01 |title=Ordensverleihung zum Tag der Deutschen Einheit |url=https://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Berichte/DE/Frank-Walter-Steinmeier/2024/10/241001-Verdienstorden-TdDE.html |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=bundespraesident.de}}
Selected publications
- with Bude, Heinz (eds.). Kunst im Streit: Antisemitismus und postkoloniale Debatte auf der documenta fifteen. Campus, Frankfurt 2025, ISBN 978-3-593-51973-9.
- with Saba-Nur Cheema: Muslimisch-jüdisches Abendbrot. Das Miteinander in Zeiten der Polarisierung. Kiepenheuer & Witsch, Cologne 2024, {{ISBN|978-3-462-00742-8}}
- as editor: Singularität im Plural. Kolonialismus, Holocaust und der zweite Historikerstreit, Beltz Juventa, Weinheim 2023, {{ISBN|978-3-7799-7329-4}}.
- [https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/49CVEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PT102&dq=%C3%9Cber+Israel+reden Über Israel reden: Eine deutsche Debatte. Kiepenheuer & Witsch, Cologne 2023], {{ISBN|978-3-462-00351-2}}
- with Saba-Nur Cheema, Sina Arnold (eds.): Frenemies. Antisemitismus, Rassismus und ihre Kritiker*innen. Verbrecher Verlag, Berlin 2022, {{ISBN|978-3-95732-538-9}}.
- [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Trigger_Warnung/sVyhDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Meron+Mendel&pg=PP1&printsec=frontcover with Eva Berendsen, Saba-Nur Cheema (eds.): Trigger-Warnung: Identitätspolitik zwischen Abwehr, Abschottung und Allianzen. Verbrecher Verlag, Berlin 2019], {{ISBN|978-3-95732-380-4}}[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Trigger_Warnung/sVyhDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Meron+Mendel&pg=PP1&printsec=frontcover .]
- {{cite book |editor-last=Mendel |editor-first=Meron |title=Remember. Art competition of the Anne Frank Educational Centre - the first five years |publisher=Kehrer Verlag |location=Heidelberg, Berlin |year=2019 |isbn=978-3-86828-931-2 |language=de, en}}
- with Astrid Messerschmidt (eds.): Fragiler Konsens. Antisemitismuskritische Bildung in der Migrationsgesellschaft. Campus Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 2017, {{ISBN|978-3-593-50781-1}}.
- with Katharina Kunter, Oliver Fassing (eds.): 100 Jahre Leugnung. Der Völkermord an den ArmenierInnen – Beitrag zu einer multiperspektivischen Erinnerungskultur in Deutschland. Aschendorff Verlag, 2017, {{ISBN|978-3-402-13188-6}}.
- with Friedman-Sokuler (ed.): Menschenrechte in Erziehung. Ansätze und Arbeitsinstrumente. Bildungsstätte Anne Frank, 2016.
- with Susanne Heyn (eds.): Deutscher Kolonialismus – Ein vergessenes Erbe? Postkolonialität in der rassismuskritischen Bildungsarbeit. Bildungsstätte Anne Frank, 2015.
- Zur Identität jüdischer Jugendlicher in der gegenwärtigen Bundesrepublik Deutschland. PhD thesis, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt a. M., BoD, Norderstedt 2010, {{ISBN|978-3-9813388-1-2}}.
References
External links
- [https://www.meronmendel.de/ Official website]
- Biography on the homepage of the [https://www.bs-anne-frank.de/ueber-uns/team/biografie-mendel Anne Frank Educational Center]
- Collaborative professorship at the [https://www.frankfurt-university.de/en/about-us/facilities-and-services/administration-and-central-services/quality-management-strategy-planning/proffm/professorships/collaborative-professorships/prof-dr-meron-mendel/ University of Applied Sciences]
- [https://www.dw.com/en/whats-life-like-as-a-muslim-jewish-couple-in-germany/video-70409854 Video portrait of Saba-Nur Chemma and Meron Mendel] by Deutsche Welle
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mendel, Meron}}
Category:Recipients of the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Category:Academic staff of the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
Category:Contemporary historians
Category:21st-century Israeli educators