Closing Events in Jerusalem Mark the Conclusion of Building Bridges 2025

Building Bridges Part II in Israel concluded with a ceremonial closing event held in two stages, honoring the program’s achievements and its participants. The events were attended by the initiators of the program and board members, Elke Büdenbender, judge and wife of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and former Federal Minister Brigitte Zypries.

The first part of the closing events took place at the Leo Baeck Institute Jerusalem, where guests were invited to view the renovated garden and meet several of the program’s participants. Representatives from the Chambers of Skilled Crafts in Cologne, Dresden, and Berlin, as well as the president of the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts, were also in attendance, providing an opportunity for exchange around the work carried out during the program.

The second part was held during the opening of the Leo Baeck Institute’s 70th anniversary conference. Short films summarizing Building Bridges in Germany and Israel were screened, followed by a panel discussion with Elke Büdenbender and two program participants, reflecting on the experiences of the exchange and the collaborative process.