Berlin (dpa) – A visible sign of Jewish life, a place of tolerance: after four years of construction, the largest Jewish institution for education, culture and sport since the Shoah, the Pears Jewish Campus, opens today in Berlin. With a total surface area of 8,000 square metres, the building houses a daycare centre, primary school and secondary school, art ateliers and music studios, a cinema, a sports and event hall and a kosher deli.
“We’re building to remain,” said the chairman of the Jewish Campus Foundation, Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal. “Despite the difficulties, there’s an absolutely vibrant future here.” He said the new campus was “the heart for the future of Jewish life and positive coexistence.” The educational facilities and event spaces are open to people of all faiths, and anyone and everyone can visit the campus – despite the security precautions required at all Jewish institutions.