Published: 21 May 2021
Last updated: 4 March 2024
MATI SHEMOELOF talks to the Israeli expat behind a program to help both Jews and Muslims drop their suspicions and prejudices against ‘the other’
YONATAN WEIZMAN IS AN ISRAELI Jew who, since 2018, has managed an organisation called Shalom Rollberg, in which Jewish and Israeli volunteers educate and empower children of Muslim immigrants in the Rollberg district of Neukölln in Berlin.
Today, the Rollberg neighbourhood is an area with the highest percentage of Muslim residents in the city. “Shalom Rollberg” engages with about 150 kids a year, offering them lessons in everything from English to yoga for girls and women, skateboard, kung fu and art. Some are one on one lessons. And all of it is provided by just 18 Jewish volunteers.
When did you emigrate to Berlin? Why?
Ten years ago, I moved here for the best reasons of all: Love. I met my Polish wife when she went to “Yad Vashem” in order to honour her Polish grandparents who were “Righteous Among the Nations”. Funnily enough, I also have Polish roots.
You also live in the Rollberg neighbourhood? What is so unique about it?
Rollberg neighbourhood is primarily built out of social public housing. So the people who live here are chosen according to social-economic criteria. It started back in the seventies. Over the years, the government has put refugees from Lebanon, then Palestinian refugees, Balkan refugees and later, refugees from the Syrian and Afghanistan wars.
The result is that you have a population that is very homogeneous with similar faiths and languages. But there are also downsides: For instance, I heard kids from the neighbourhood saying that “we don’t like any gays in our neighbourhood”.
Why do Israeli Jews want to teach Muslim children in Neukölln?
