The “Irgun” and its German periodical

© Goethe-Institut

“The Association of Israelis of Central European Origin” dates back to the year 1932. It is concerned with the welfare of Israelis (and their descendants) who came from Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and other regions. Only one condition has to be fulfilled: German must be their language and cultural heritage. Units of value are defined as follows: “Mutual help, social solidarity, Zionism and development of the country, service and enhancement of knowledge, education and culture, working morale and economic development, as well as a pluralistic philosophy that has Jewish heritage and the culture of Central Europe at its root.”

© Goethe-Institut

Active interest – shortage of young people

There is one branch of Irgun (organisation) – as it is known for short – in Rambam Street in Tel Aviv, another in King George Street, Jerusalem, and a third in Mapu Street, Haifa. Their most important activities include a mutual assistance enterprise, which offers support mainly to older people who need help, and is responsible for the management of a total of nine homes for the elderly across the country. Furthermore they organise social and cultural events.

The response is active, even if members have long not been as mobile as they once were because of old age. Anyone who attended presentation evenings in the past often used to wonder at the vitality of the elderly Israelis, who sometimes had to get away promptly at the end of an event – because they still had theatre tickets for the same evening.

As the greatest worry was the young people, NOAM was founded in 1998 to respond to the needs of the young German-speaking new immigrants. About 800 members are currently registered with them. The Irgun also awards grants for second and third generation students.