Munich tram now with Jewish motifs’: Judaism in Munich
Since the beginning of the month, a tram of the Munich Transport Company (MVG) with a Jewish motif has been in regular service in Munich. The campaign takes place as part of the festival year “1,700 years of Jewish life in Germany”. With the comic motifs, the Dutch-Jewish comic artist Ben Gershon wants to show Jewish traditions in a humorous way.
Figures from the Comic strip “Jewy Louis” by the Dutch-Jewish artist Ben Gershon to see. His drawings have been published weekly in the for years Jewish general and have already been published as a book.
Judaism and Comics
Ben Gershon on the action: “Comics are part of Jewish history, Superman, Batman, and Asterix are all made by Jewish artists. With Jew Louis I want to make the Jewish tradition better known in a humorous way. There were dark times in Munich’s history when Jews were not allowed to take the tram. Today Jewy Louis and his friends are proudly out and about in the city and can present the Bavarian way of life with a Jewish twist. “
Festival year 1,700 years of Jewish life
The President of the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria, Dr. hc Charlotte Knobloch: “I am delighted that we can carry the festival year to 1,700 years of Jewish life right in the middle of the city with this special tram. With the Jewish characters by Ben Gershon we point out with a twinkle in our eye, but seriously at the core, that Munich is of course also a Jewish hometown and the kippah is just as much a part of this homeland as the Tyrolean hat. This message must become visible in the anniversary year, and I am delighted that we and our partners were able to make this possible today. I would also like to thank you Mrs. Jehudit de Toledo-Gruberwithout whose initiative the project would not have been possible. “
Munich tram
The project is as extraordinary as it is positive for the state capital Munich and Stadtwerke München. Because so far they were dying Munich trams Only decorated with pennants on special occasions, such as the city birthday, Oktoberfest or Pride Week. A whole “Motiv-Tram” for such a cultural event is something very special and is committed to Judaism in Bavaria.
Making Judaism visible in Munich
Lord Mayor Reiter, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of SWM, classifies the campaign accordingly: “1700 years of Jewish life in Germany also means a particularly important anniversary from a historical point of view. We are pleased that we can clearly express with this motif tram, in addition to many other events for the anniversary: 1,700 years of Jewish life in Germany is a reason to celebrate! And especially in times like these it is important to make Jewish life in Munich visible! “
Jesus Christ was Jewish
Ingo Wortmann, Managing Director Mobility at SWM and Chairman of the MVG Management, adds: “Jewish life is an indispensable part of our society – not just in Munich. Our cultural and religious similarities are many, e.g. War Jesus Christ Jew, and we should emphasize them instead of looking for differences. That’s why we gladly took up our suggestion to underline this in a humorous way with Motiv-Tram. I think we have to do that even more intensely as a society. “