How does a country move on after such a tragic event? Is it better to rebuild by looking to the past or by looking to the future?
Those are the questions that struck me today as we had our introductions to GCU, Munich, and the Munich Jewish community. As a city, Munich chose to look to the past, holding on to its historic identity by restoring what had been, while the Munich Jewish community chose to look to the future, building a new modern complex with clean lines standing out from the rest of the old city. Is one solution better than the other?
It’s a personal question and one that each person has to decide for themselves in how to move on. It was long after most of the city was restored that a new Jewish community center was rebuilt. There is acknowledgment of the past, a wall carving of the original destroyed building and a hallway showing the names and stories of victims but a completely modern and clean building.
After meeting with and learning about GCU and the Jewish community it was interesting to go on a city tour that largely glossed over the reconstruction. The guide focused on the time periods each building was originally built which managed to both true and slightly disingenuous. But I guess that’s a reminder of why history is so complicated and why this trip is so important.
The original Munich synogogue was destroyed by the Nazi party before the war or bombings even started. This was never rebuilt and was thought to be completely lost. However, a few years ago they found a piece of the original building in the river front. The old synogogue was used to help build up the riverfront. It wasn’t completely gone just like the Jewish community here. Despite attempts to erase the Jewish community – they still exist in both the new buildings and in structuring the riverbank which is an essential part of the city.