1.1 Uwe Dziuballa

Staying active in spite of it all …

For some time now, many people have forgotten how to listen to others who do not share our way of thinking, living and acting, or even deal with them. Our society is caught in a deep “knowledge trap,” as too many people trust their half-knowledge, their feelings. Of course, a wonderful community always has a dark side. Even an excellent wine has a hint of sediment. That’s how I view anti-Semitism in our society. I can’t say how much of it is active, militant, hidden, latent, or whatever kind of anti-Semitism. Anyway, there are lots of studies and statistics that try to get at those things accurately.

Xenophobia and anti-Semitism have always been a part of our society and always will be. Too many people feel comfortable in the role of being against someone else. And then, if you add a physical or virtual group, you get a mob mentality where people neglect thinking for themselves and get caught up in arguments put forward by others. Granted, everyone thinks it’s great to meet people with the same or similar views. It’s just that everyone should have some skepticism toward group knowledge – or even their own.

Here at SCHALOM Restaurant in Chemnitz, we have been constantly growing and evolving in culinary terms since March 15, 2000, reinterpreting and offering new takes based on very old, traditional dishes. Our approach earned us a recommendation in the Michelin Guide in 2018 and 2019. We also have a large number of loyal regular guests. Admittedly, negative side issues amid a very positive public presence are something of a law of nature. In addition to world conspiracy activities, political infiltration, media, banks, and well poisoning, we always take a lot of time to offer high-quality food, drinks and informal conversation in a pleasant atmosphere.
That is our contribution. After all, a community where dialog is shifting toward monologue lacks the openness and the blend of thought, calm, and humor needed for society to flourish.

Taking the figures from the Central Council of Jews in Germany as a basis, there are “currently” 150,000 Jews living in Germany (about 94,000 officially members of Jewish congregations), and all of them report sharp increases in anti-Semitism. About 15 years ago, there were 300,000 Jewish people registered in Germany, and at that point, anti-Semitism was less of an issue in society. Not to be imagined, if less than 100 Jews lived in Germany, then nearly ALL should collapse here.

Although I guess people could stop worrying about using grammatically correct German then.


Photo: Private

Uwe Dziuballa, born in Karl-Marx-Stadt (now Chemnitz) in 1965, initially grew up in Belgrade and returned to the city of his birth at the age of 12. He has managed the kosher restaurant Schalom there for 20 years. In 1998, he founded the Schalom Association as a German-Israeli-Jewish meeting place.