BERLIN – Karin Prien’s journey to becoming Germany’s first Jewish federal cabinet member since World War II is marked by a history of silence and fear. When her mother brought her to Germany in the late 1960s, she was warned: “Don’t tell anyone you’re Jewish.”

Today,as the Minister for Education,Family Affairs,Senior Citizens,Women and Youth,Prien intends to use her platform to address the rise of antisemitism in Germany and beyond,as well as the challenges facing democracy.

“Well, in a way, I’m proud,” Minister Prien said. “Proud to be a minister in the federal government, but also that I’m recognized as jewish and that German society is now so far [advanced] as to accept that Jewish people have a right to be a self-conscious part of this society.”

Prien’s career reflects the complex path of post-Holocaust Germany, characterized by conflict, tension, and reconciliation.

Taking Duty

Born in the Netherlands to Holocaust survivors, Prien moved to Germany at the age of 4.She grew up acutely aware of the silence surrounding her family’s identity. Her mother’s warning shaped her early years,instilling a sense of danger in openly discussing her Jewish heritage.

“there was always fear. my mother was afraid that there were too many Nazis still around,” Prien said.”It wasn’t taken for granted that you could talk about being Jewish. It was somthing you kept inside the home.”

As a teenager, Prien realized that democratic values like freedom, human dignity, and anti-discrimination required active defence.

“I decided, ‘I have to do something about it. Democracy is not something you can take for granted,'” she said.

Though, Prien waited several years before publicly acknowledging her Jewish identity.

The turning point came in the early 2010s, as a member of state parliament in Hamburg, when Prien advocated for documenting antisemitic incidents in schools. When asked about her motivation, she revealed: “Because I’m Jewish.”

“That was the moment I realized I had a political voice,” she recalled. “I had some kind of influence. And for me, it was a question of responsibility.”

“That was the moment I realized I had a political voice… And for me, it was a question of responsibility.”

Addressing Modern Threats with Lessons from the Past

Prien believes antisemitism is no longer limited to the fringes of German society.

“We see rising antisemitism all over the world,” Prien said. “They dare to be openly antisemitic.I think it’s now more than after the end of World War II… and that’s also in Germany getting stronger and stronger. That has changed. And so we have antisemitic tendencies on the margins, but we also have it in the middle of society.”

She fears that Germany,once a model for reckoning with its history,is becoming complacent.

After some “honest decades,” Prien says, “now, people are dying. And now we have to find new ways to talk about that.”

Prien advocates for a shift in Holocaust education, expanding beyond the atrocities of World War II to include the history of Israel, the cultural contributions of Jewish Germans, and the origins of antisemitism.

“Jewish identity is part of German identity,” she said. “Young people need to know that Jews are not only victims. Jewish people are diverse. They have a voice. They are part of this society.”

Prien draws inspiration from figures like Margot Friedländer, a Holocaust survivor who coined the phrase: “Be Human.”

She believes empathy and human dignity should be the foundation of any education system in a democracy.

Prien also emphasizes the importance of defending Germany’s democratic values.

“We are an immigration society,” Prien said. “But we’re not very good at having fair and equal chances for children who start with more difficult conditions.”

She views educational equity and national democratic resilience as interconnected.

Prien is leading efforts to limit mobile phone use in German elementary schools, citing concerns about the risks of digital exposure for young children.

“We are anxious about the real world… but we are not anxious about the stuff online,” she said. “That has to change.”

When asked what message she has for young Jews with political ambitions in Germany today, Prien said: “Stay. Don’t pack your luggage. This is a different Germany. this is a country where you can live safely.And it’s our job to make that promise true every day.”