Certificate in Education on Combating Anti-Semitism in Lower Saxony in the School Context (ZABIN)
Members of the steering committee
Prof. Dr René Dausner (University of Hildesheim foundation)
Ariane Dihle ( University of Oldenburg)
Kathleen Ehrhardt ( Leibniz University Hannover, Leibniz School of Education)
Benjamin Franz ( Lower Saxony Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs)
Prof. Dr Stefan Heuser (Braunschweig University of Technology)
Prof. Dr Anne Levin ( University of Bremen)
Katarzyna Miszkiel-Deppe (RIAS Lower Saxony)
Prof. Dr Jochen Oltmer (University of Osnabrück)
Dr Julia Oppermann (Leuphana University of Lüneburg)
Prof. Dr Marc Partetzke (University of Hildesheim foundation)
Jana Pflughoft (Leibniz University Hannover, Leibniz School of Education)
Prof. Dr Claire Schaub-Moore (Chair of the Jewish Community of Oldenburg)
Prof. Dr Bernd Schröder (Georg-August University of Göttingen)
Dr Rebecca Seidler (Chair of the Regional Association of Jewish Communities in Lower Saxony)
Prof. Dr Margit Stein ( University of Vechta)
Prof. Dr Andrea Strübind ( University of Oldenburg)
Enno Stünkel (Celle Network against Anti-Semitism)
Katrin Unger (Lower Saxony Memorials Foundation, Bergen-Belsen Memorial)
Prof. Dr Gerhard Wegner ( Lower Saxony State Commissioner against Anti-Semitism and for the Protection of Jewish Life)
Dr Ingrid Wiedenroth-Gabler (Braunschweig University of Technology)
Prof. Dr Christoph Wolf (Hannover International University of Applied Sciences)
Certificate in Education on Combating Anti-Semitism in Lower Saxony in the School Context (ZABIN)
The newly launched, state-wide extracurricular programme ‘ „Zertifikat Antisemitismuskritische Bildung in Niedersachsen im Kontext Schule“ ’ (ZABIN), worth 15 KP/CP, will commence in the 2025/26 winter semester and is aimed at teacher training students of all subjects and school types at all higher education institutions throughout Lower Saxony. It is compatible with all intended teaching qualifications and can be studied regardless of the place of study .
This state-wide certificate is a joint project organised by lecturers at the participating teacher-training universities and non-university partners in Lower Saxony, and lays the foundation for a sustainable, anti-Semitism-critical educational programme within teacher training in Lower Saxony.
ZABIN can be studied at all participating higher education institutions in Lower Saxony, as the programme is organised through online courses, face-to-face or hybrid courses, block courses, or summer/winter schools.
Brief profile
Structure of the certificate
The certificate programme begins in winter semester 2025/26 with the compulsory online module „Grundlagen der Antisemitismuskritischen Bildung im Kontext Schule“ (6 CP/CP). Building on this, two courses can then be freely selected from a pool of courses at participating universities and non-school institutions in the further module „Profilbildung in der Antisemitismuskritischen Bildung” (6 CP/CP). There is also the module „Praxisfelder in der Antisemitismuskritischen Bildung” (3 CP/CP), in which an independent project on the topic of anti-Semitism-critical education can be developed or an internship in an institution or with an educational organisation in the field of anti-Semitism prevention/intervention can be completed.
Module structure of ZABIN
Registration
Teacher training students in Lower Saxony enrolled on a BA programme from the second semester onwards and on an M.Ed. programme can use the following registration form to register by 15 September for the winter semester and by 15 March for the summer semester for the ‘Certificate in Anti-Semitism-Critical Education in Lower Saxony in the School Context’ (ZABIN). The number of participants is limited each semester. Immediately after the registration deadline, participants will be selected by lottery to begin the compulsory online module in the following semester.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email Dr Carina Branković and Friederike Henjes at !
Further information on the certificate
A steering committee consisting of representatives from the participating universities and non-university partners in Lower Saxony is responsible for designing the content and developing the framework conditions for the Lower Saxony-wide certificate. Together with all cooperation partners, the range of courses is designed and courses are fed into ZABIN.
The central coordination centre of „Zertifikats Antisemitismuskritische Bildung in Niedersachsen im Kontext Schule" (ZABIN) is located at the University of Oldenburg. The contact persons at the central coordination centre are Dr Carina Branković and Friederike Henjes.
Further expansion of the certificate programme as an offer for the second and third phase of teacher training is planned.
Competences and learning objectives of anti-Semitism-critical teacher training
Competence area I: Forms and functions of anti-Semitism and ways of dealing with it within a school and subject culture that is critical of anti-Semitism
Competence area II: Communicating a differentiated, complex, diverse image of Jewish life with a focus on Germany
Competence area III: Culture of remembrance in relation to the Shoah
Events with a thematic focus
Lecture
„Kinder des Schattens – Gewalt, Trauma, Theater”
- Speaker: Matthias Naumann
- Monday, 9 November 2026, 7.00 pm
- Venue: Celle Synagogue (Im Kreise 24, 29221 Celle)
- The lecture provides an insight into the history of how the Shoah has been portrayed in Israeli theatre. It demonstrates that these theatrical texts offer important insights into Israeli cultural and social history. The plays reveal how the portrayal of the Shoah, the debates surrounding remembrance and the trauma have changed over time and across generations.
- This free event, organised by the Jewish Community of Celle e.V., is taking place in co-operation with the ‘Societal Perspectives against Anti-Semitism’ project, the Society for Christian-Jewish Cooperation in Celle e.V. and vhs Celle.
Book launch
„Ausnahmezustand. Hochschulen im deutschsprachigen Raum seit dem 7. Oktober – Zeugnisse von Betroffenen”
- Book launch with Prof. Dr Julia Bernstein
- Thursday, 12 November 2026, 7.00 pm (online)
- The anthology *Ausnahmezustand* brings together over 60 personal accounts and academic reflections from members of the academic community in German-speaking countries. The authors recount their experiences of antisemitism, institutional failure and a lack of solidarity, but also of resistance and self-assertion. The book highlights Jewish perspectives that are often marginalised in public and higher education policy debates.
- Please register by email, stating your real name, to – the venue will be announced once you have registered.
Open digital training series: ‘Dealing with Anti-Semitism’
- Dates:
- 1. Training session on 3 November, 4.30 pm – 7.30 pm
‘How do I recognise antisemitism?’ - 2. Training session on 10 November, 4.30 pm – 7.30 pm
“Continuities in anti-Semitism: the case of Israel-related anti-Semitism” - 3rd training session on 17 November, 4.30 pm – 7.30 pm
“Possible courses of action in dealing with anti-Semitism”
- 1. Training session on 3 November, 4.30 pm – 7.30 pm
- The number of participants is limited to a maximum of 20. To register for this free course, please send a brief email by 26 October 2026 to: vhs@ba-ts.berlin.de, providing the following details: first name and surname, address, email address, course number.
Symposium
„Soziale (Bildungs-)Arbeit, Kulturpädagogik und Antisemitismus”
- Tuesday, 10 November 2026, 9.30 am to 5.00 pm
- Venue: Liberal Jewish Community of Hanover (Fuhsestraße 6, 30419 Hanover)
- Organiser: Lower Saxony Regional Association of Jewish Communities (K.d.ö.R.) in co-operation with the Agency for Adult and Further Education (AEWB)
- The symposium is dedicated to the current challenges and areas of action in education and social work that address anti-Semitism, and offers a space for academic exchange, practical reflection and networking between education professionals, cultural practitioners and civil society.
- Registration by email and is required. Please indicate your workshop preferences when registering.
conference
„Queere Theologien antisemitismuskritisch gelesen”
- 26–27 November 2026
- Venue: Leuphana University of Lüneburg
The aim of this inaugural conference is to outline more clearly the tasks of a queer theology informed by a critical perspective on antisemitism and to develop these further for contexts in religious education. To this end, two strands will be explored: firstly, the body as an object of and a point of access to queer theologies will be examined from theological and religious education perspectives and analysed through a critical lens regarding anti-Semitism. Secondly, there will be a theological and religious education-based reflection on the epistemological positions of queer theologies and theologians. Initial illustrative examples will also be provided based on key themes and areas of action.
Registration by 16 November at
2nd Lower Saxony Conference on Criticism of Anti-Semitism
- Monday, 30 November 2026 at the Pavillon Hannover (Lister Meile 4, 30161 Hannover)
- The 2nd Lower Saxony Conference on Critiques of Anti-Semitism examines the significance of anti-Semitism as an ideology and as a socially shared resentment. It explores the role that anti-Semitic patterns of interpretation currently play and what their spread reveals about the state and development of society. The conference examines right-wing anti-Semitism in relation to the dwindling awareness of the Shoah, to current debates on the role and function of remembrance, and to the emotional and political consequences of violent anti-Semitism, which, since 7 October 2023, has been threatening the very existence of Jewish people in Israel, Germany and worldwide.
- We seek dialogue with stakeholders from civil society, memorial work, political education, democracy education in schools, as well as with universities, public authorities and associations in Lower Saxony. The event is open to all interested parties.
- The conference is organised by the ‘Societal Perspectives against Anti-Semitism’ project, which is funded by the Lower Saxony State Centre for Democracy.
- Please register by 20 November at the latest at
„Antisemitismus – Eine Rebellion gegen Transzendenz”
- Speaker: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Hans Joas
- Thursday, 3 December 2026, 7.00 pm
- Venue: Schoss Herrenhausen Conference Centre (Herrenhäuser Straße 5, 30419 Hanover)
- Anti-Semitism is one of the oldest and, at the same time, most adaptable forms of hatred in Europe. In a new book, the sociologist Hans Joas has highlighted a distinctive feature of ethnic and racist anti-Semitism which appears to be obvious but whose profound significance is rarely recognised.
- Admission is free; no registration is required
Series of talks: ‘Anti-Semitism today – contentious issues in a vulnerable democracy’
„Warum Antisemitismus heute so schwer zu erkennen ist.”
- Wednesday, 13 January 2027, 6.00 pm
- Speaker: Prof. Dr Stefan Müller (Professorship for Education and Socialisation in the Context of Social Inequalities, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences)
- Moderator: Mark Blessing (Vicar of the Marktkirche parish, Hanover)
- Venue: Marktkirche, Hanover (Hans-Lilje-Platz, 30519 Hanover)
Series of talks: ‘Anti-Semitism today – contentious issues in a vulnerable democracy’
„Hat die autoritäre Linke ein Israelproblem? Umstrittene Positionen in Politik, Wissenschaft und Öffentlichkeit”
- Wednesday, 20 January 2027, 6.00 pm
- Speaker: Bodo Ramelow (Vice-President of the German Bundestag, former Minister-President of Thuringia)
- Moderator: Prof. Dr Gerhard Wegner (State Commissioner against Anti-Semitism and for the Protection of Jewish Life in Lower Saxony)
- Venue: Liberal Jewish Community Etz Chaim K.d.ö.R. (Fuhsestraße 6, 30419 Hanover)
Series of talks: ‘Anti-Semitism today – contentious issues in a vulnerable democracy’
„Bedrohte Erinnerung? Zwischen Schlussstrich-Rhetorik und Schuldabwehr”
- Thursday, 4 February 2027, 6.00 pm
- Speaker: Prof. Dr Jens-Christian Wagner (Director of the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorials Foundation, Weimar)
- Moderator: Dr Annette Schmidt-Klügmann (Deputy Director of the Catholic Academy of the Diocese of Hildesheim, Hanover)
- Venue: Conference Centre of the Catholic Academy (Platz an der Basilika 3, 30619 Hanover)
Series of talks: ‘Anti-Semitism today – contentious issues in a vulnerable democracy’
„Streit um die Kunstfreiheit: Antisemitismus im Kulturbetrieb”
- Wednesday, 10 February 2027, 6.00 pm
- Advisor: Prof. Dr Lea Wohl-von-Haselberg (media studies scholar, Konrad Wolf Film University Babelsberg, Potsdam)
- Moderator: Prof. Dr Ursula Rudnick (Commissioner for Church and Judaism of the Evangelical Lutheran Regional Church of Hanover)
- Venue: Jewish Community of Hanover (Haeckelstraße 10, 30173 Hanover)
