Committee to support the Commissioner for Jewish Life

In future, a council of experts will support the Saxon government's Commissioner for Jewish Life. Thomas Feist has held the position since 2019. "The expert council will develop proposals for measures and projects in cooperation with the Jewish communities," the Ministry of Culture announced. These include the reporting and advice centre for anti-Semitic incidents, which began operations in 2022, as well as exchange formats, it said.

Saxony's clear commitment to promoting Jewish culture

"The new appointment of the Expert Council underlines the clear commitment of the Free State of Saxony to promoting Jewish culture and protecting Jewish life," emphasized Minister of Culture Conrad Clemens (CDU). He appointed three women and three men to the committee, including Ekaterina Kulokova, Chairwoman of the Saxony State Association of Jewish Communities. The council is chaired by Olaf Glöckner, research associate at the Moses Mendelssohn Center for European-Jewish Studies in Potsdam.

Contact person for Jewish citizens and Jewish communities

The Commissioner for Jewish Life works on a voluntary basis and is supported by an office in the Ministry of Culture. Feist previously headed the German-Israeli Society in Leipzig. In his honorary position, he is not only a contact person for Jewish citizens and communities. He advises the government on issues such as the promotion of Jewish life and the preservation of historical heritage. Another focus is the fight against anti-Semitism.