© via Netzwerk Israel
Natalie Baruch collaborated with the Jewish-Muslim educational organization Maimonides in Ingelheim am Rhein to develop workshops that address the perspectives of Mizrachi Jewish women in Israel and Muslim women in Germany. The aim is to create space for exchange and to highlight diverse social perspectives.
This exchange also promotes dialogue between the two participating organizations. Natalie participates on behalf of ACHOTI, a feminist organization founded by Mizrachi Jewish women in Israel that advocates for social justice. Both organizations are involved in educational and cultural work to empower and support marginalized groups in Israel and Germany.
After October 7, 2023, both organizations faced unprecedented challenges – both internally and in their collaboration. Planned workshops had to be canceled.
In her first report from Germany, Natalie writes:
"As part of my scholarship, I participated in a series of meetings with colleagues from the Maimonides Educational Center, focusing on joint projects and a new examination of Mizrachi culture, identity, and memory. These encounters illustrate a powerful truth: Mizrachi culture—whether Jewish, Muslim, or from other backgrounds—holds the potential for healing, bridge-building, and creating shared spaces for exchange. It is a journey with the goal of creating connections—between communities and identities, as well as between the past and the future. I am honored and excited to be here to amplify these voices and help shape a culture of peace."
“Mizrahi” refers to Jews from countries in the Middle East and North Africa, especially those whose family roots go back to Jewish communities in the Arab world.
The Maimonides Jewish-Muslim Educational Institute, based in Ingelheim am Rhein, was founded to promote understanding and cooperation between Jewish and Muslim communities. The institute offers lectures, discussions, and workshops that emphasize shared heritage and strengthen cultural dialogue between the two religions, with a particular focus on their intertwined history and potential for cooperation.
