Germany launches 'Rent-a-Jew' program

MAINZ, Germany — Do you wish you knew a Jew? If so, you can now rent one.

That is the attention-grabbing idea behind a project that aims to promote cultural understanding and dialogue by offering face-to-face encounters with Jews living in Germany.

"We wanted to loosen things up a bit and remove reservations right from the start," said 32-year old Alexander Rasumny, one of the initiative's organizers.

Amid the rise of far-right political parties and anti-Semitism across Europe, organizers believe the seminars provide an important chance to overcome prejudice and could serve "as a long-term prevention project."

The "rented" Jews are not professional speakers but volunteers of different ages and backgrounds who visit schools, universities and churches free of charge.

"With the direct encounters between Jews and non-Jewish citizens in Germany, far beyond the clichés and stereotypes, we are allowing people to speak with each other rather than about each other," Rasumny said.

Germany is home to more than 200,000 Jews but most people in the country "have never met a Jew," Rasumny said.

Ben Reilly wrote:If it includes black people then there needs to be a better name than the "rent-a-something" format ...