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Leo Baeck Institute Jerusalem

The Leo Baeck Institute Jerusalem for the Study of German-Jewish History and Culture is an international academic research institute established to promote research into German and Central European Jewry in the modern era and to further the liberal heritage of German Judaism in contemporary Israeli society. In May 1955, the Leo Baeck Institute (LBI) was founded in Jerusalem by a diverse group of intellectuals and well-known public figures of German-Jewish origin. Among them were Martin Buber, Gershom Scholem, Shmuel Hugo Bergman, and Ernst Simon. The institute was named after the last public representative of German Jewry, Rabbi Leo Baeck (1873-1956), and has centers in Jerusalem, New York/Berlin, and London, and maintains a Scholarly Working Group in Germany. The rich culture of German Jewry played a significant role in the flowering of the various streams of modern Judaism and in the development of modern culture in general. This liberal heritage can serve as an inspiration for the development of Israel’s civil society. The Leo Baeck Institute Jerusalem focuses primarily on its local mission in the belief that the legacy of German Judaism is of critical importance to contemporary Israel. The work of the Leo Baeck Institute Jerusalem is based on three pillars: the promotion of research, an ongoing cultural program, and archival documentation. Through our activities and programs we reach out to students and scholars as well as to the public in Israel and Germany.