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Celebration for Peace: Beth Shalom turns 30 in Munich!
The Jewish community Beth Shalom celebrated its 30th anniversary in Munich with prominent guests and new plans for Lehel.
Celebration for Peace: Beth Shalom turns 30 in Munich!
On Thursday evening, November 7th, 2025, there was a very special occasion to celebrate in Munich. The liberal Jewish community Beth Shalom looked back on 30 years of existence. At the festive event in the heart of the city, the community welcomed numerous prominent guests from culture, politics and religion, including George Stein from New York. Rabbi Alan Podet attended the celebration in a cowboy outfit, accompanied by his wife Jill Ann. Such lively performances underline the special character of this community, which literally means “house of peace” and has always been committed to harmonious coexistence since its founding in 1995, after the US Army withdrew from Munich.
Founding member Stacey van Hooven spoke during the celebration about the origins of Beth Shalom and its goal of creating a “warm, happy place for children.” Today the community has around 700 members and is planning to build its own synagogue in the Lehel district, designed by the renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. Beth Shalom not only has an important place in Jewish life in Munich, but is also actively involved in the community. For example, 3,000 copies of Anne Frank's draft novel were donated to schools in the area, in collaboration with C. Bernd Sucher.
Commitment to collaboration and dialogue
During the celebrations, progress in the relationship with the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria (IKG) was also discussed. IKG President Charlotte Knobloch emphasized the importance of cooperation between the various Jewish groups in Munich. This historical connection has often been difficult in the past, but is currently showing a positive trend towards greater understanding and cooperation.
Mayor Dieter Reiter spoke out clearly in favor of the visibility of Jewish life in the city, which supports the efforts of Beth Shalom. The directors of the Munich theaters, including Andreas Beck and Christian Stückl, announced that they would work closely with the community in the future. These partnerships are reflected in the community's vision of promoting cultural diversity and practicing interreligious dialogue.
New CEO as a source of inspiration
Another significant step for the community was the election of the new chairman of the board, Professor C. Bernd Sucher, which was announced on May 11, 2025 in Munich. The renowned author and theater critic brings with him a wealth of experience that should have a positive impact on further developments within the community. Sucher is not only a member of the PEN Club and the German Academy of Performing Arts, but also holds the postgraduate course in “Theater, Television and Film Criticism” at the Munich University of Television and Film. He emphasizes that he is very much looking forward to working with the board and members to further strengthen Beth Shalom's social role.
In summary, the 30th anniversary celebration of Congregation Beth Shalom was not only a look back into history, but also offers a glimpse of the future. With a clear focus on community, culture and interfaith dialogue, Beth Shalom is well prepared for the years to come.