German Native Provides Service in the States

, 20, of Hamburg, Germany is living in Regent Square while he completes a year of service to his country through the Action Reconciliation Service for Peace program.

The organization strives to reconcile Germans with Jewish communities and Holocaust survivors through service, compassion and shared stories. Hamm is working at the Holocaust Center in Pittsburgh through the end of August, while also giving talks with survivors throughout Pittsburgh.

Why did you get into the program?

My generation still had to serve in the army and I didn’t want to do that. I decided to do service instead and there are 64 organizations in Germany that offer service abroad and I wanted to come to the United States of America - that was my big goal. So, I applied to the organization and they had a seminar where they selected the people. I was chosen and my journey began.

Why did you choose this organization?

At first it was more about going abroad, getting in touch with a foreign culture, foreign people and a foreign mentality. But the more I dealt with the organization, I could identify myself with their goals and mission, which was the main reason why I chose this organization.

What do you do?

My main work is that I work at the Holocaust Center in Pittsburgh for one year. Meanwhile, I am a volunteer there and other than talking to students about the Holocaust, I help to organize events and we have an exhibition at the Jewish Community Center as well. I also manage the library and do office work, like answering the phone and taking the mail.

I am so glad that I have had the opportunity of going abroad and then especially at this project, being in touch with the Jewish community and Holocaust survivors is so rare and a very unique thing to me, especially as a German. It has taught me so much and I treasure these experiences.

Let’s face it - how many people have a chance to work with Holocaust survivors? How many people even get to talk to them? And they invite me for dinner, they play tennis with me, they are so interested in me and it’s like a friendship has evolved. It’s something I will always carry in my heart.

What have you taken away from those experiences?

I have learned about my own identity as a German. For the first time, I feel like I really know what it means to be a German. It might sound strange because the identity of a person should be clear, but just consider German history and then being in touch with the Jewish community, you get a totally different point of view of your identity.

For the first time, I could grasp history and understand my responsibility to take action. Also, considering reconciliation with the Jewish community and also really learning the consequences of hatred, unfair treatments and bullying of all forms.

The Holocaust is something that is so abstract. Six million Jewish people died - you know the numbers. People were murdered. To a certain degree you can’t grasp it. But after being to Auschwitz and being in touch with so many survivors, it really gives you a chance to learn what history is all about and to learn how important it is. How important it is to learn from the lessons of the Holocaust and to apply these to the time of today.

Also, you gain a new perspective. As soon as you go to another country, it gives you perspective about your own country. You learn so much about it and that’s what you appreciate. It’s a lot of reflection. Especially for a young man like me, it’s so important to go out and encounter different cultures. It expands your horizons.