Dearest Benzi,

I hope this message finds you well.

Following our conversation on the matter, I wanted to detail again that between July 19-26, 2020, I’ll have the privilege of co-leading a delegation to Munich, facilitated and sponsored by the Schusterman family foundation. The delegation will be comprised of about 30 Jewish young professionals from all sorts of professions and origins – all, we no exception, are leaders in their respective fields, from law and policy, to arts and journalism.

Our delegation’s stated purpose is as follow: many of us are already familiar with the results and horrors of the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question”, either thorough the traditional education systems, or the participation in formal delegations to concentrations camps in Poland. The origin of this terrifying reality, on the contrary, lay in Germany. Munich and Nuremberg of Bavaria, in this regard, are the sites that represent, more than anything, the routes and pattern of the Nazi party, which needed only a decade to commit humanity’s most evil acts. However how did Bavaria, a beautiful free state within Germany, become the political incubator in which Hitler and his collaborators gradually built, with the public’s support, the infrastructure and institutions of the Nazi Party? What were the political moves they took, step by step, within the German system, to remove their opponents and silence any criticism towards their conduct? And who are the people of Munich who variedly protested and rebelled the Nazis, despite the dangerous such action entail? To these questions, and many more, Munich is a “living Museum” which provides vital answers, as significant parts of it remained the same. Among them are the fighting allies between the “Brown-shirts” (Braunhemden) thugs and the Republic’s policemen; the beer basements where the Nazi oppressor gave his rapturous speeches; the Fuhrer’s Headquarters, where Czechoslovakia was handed to the Germans without any resistant; the campus were Hans and Sophie, two students, distributed resistance leaflets against the Nazis, until they were caught and sentenced to death in a show trial; Hitler’s Jewish-owned rented apartment; and many more. These living pieces of history are in the unique position to teach us all deep lessons, Jewish and universal alike, within and intensive once-in-a-lifetime journey.     

During our one-week visit, we would attend, among others, the Munchner staad museum and explore an exhibition dedicated to propaganda (mainly, though not just against against Jews). We thought it would be fascinating to meet with a German military representative who’s dealing with the info domain; perhaps discuss how the propaganda methods used by the Nazi Party back then are perceived by German info-specialists today; and explain the shift Germany took in regards to the principles guiding its methods and conduct these days. Our visit will likely take place on July 22^nd, during the morning hours. In case of relevancy, we would of course like to invite such a representative to join us for lunch that day, or perhaps dinner.

As always, I’m available to you with any question you might have.

Kind regards from Tel-Aviv,

Gadi