Decision Wittenberg definitive: Judensau stays
The so-called Jew's Sow in Wittenburg. Photo Facebook, Klaus Reichelt
Central Europe
The so-called Judensau has caused much upheaval in Wittenberg. Should the anti-Semitic sculpture stay or be removed? That was the question. Now, the town church has decided to keep the artwork.
The Judensau, translated as Jew's sow, should stay as a warning against anti-Semitism, the chairman of the parish church council, Jörg Bielig said on Wednesday, as reported by Katholisch.de. The medieval sculpture shows Jews sucking the teats of a sow. It was intended to humiliate the Jews.
Because of its anti-Semitic connotation, the Judensau caused much upheaval. The case was even taken to court. Judges then ruled that the sculpture was allowed to stay. Yet, critics argued that the parish should distance itself more explicitly from anti-Semitism.
In reaction, the parish decided to add an information board to the sculpture, which asked the Jews for forgiveness.
Even though an Advisory board recommended the church council to remove the sculpture, the parish decided to leave it as a warning and make the place a memorial. It will now function as a warning to "those who caused all forms of anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism" The parish will add a "lasting contextualisation" to the Judensau. For this, it will revise the information board and provide further information on anti-Semitism in the church.
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