Racism and nationalism are rising in Europe, antisemitism and Islamophobia are thriving. In 2016, a far-right party entered the German parliament for the first-time since the 1930s. There is, however, an alternative to fear and hate: Solidarity. The Salaam-Shalom Initiative, which started in Berlin in 2013 and has now chapters in seven other European cities, stands for a joint struggle of Jews, Muslims, and allies for an open society. In his presentation, Armin Langer will share his story in the service of this message of peaceful coexistence in Germany and Europe.

Armin Langer studied Philosophy and Jewish Theology in Budapest, Jerusalem and Potsdam and is doing his PhD in Sociology at Humboldt University in Berlin. A freelance author writing for German and international outlets like "Die ZEIT", "SPIEGEL Online", "Deutsche Welle" or "JEU - European Jewish Magazine", he published his book "Ein Jude in Neukolln" (A Jew in Neukolln) and the anthology "Fremdgemacht & Reorientiert" (Alianated & Reoriented). He is the coordinator of the Jewish-Muslim activist group Salaam-Shalom Initiative. You will find a selection of his op-eds in German and English on arminlanger.net.