Mit Witz gegen den Hass - Opening of the Jewish Cultural Days at Neuberinhaus

Mit Witz gegen den Hass - Lea Streisand and André Herzberg
Free admission

Antisemitism is no joke, yet humor can be an effective tool to counter it. The opening of the Jewish cultural festival BALAGAN features writer and radio columnist Lea Streisand and André Herzberg, singer of the rock band Pankow and author of numerous books. They read and discuss "Jewish Ossis", the East German label, and the question of what humor can achieve - and where the fun stops.

At the center is the anthology "Sind Antisemitisten anwesend?" (Are Antisemites Present?), which Lea Streisand co-edited in 2024 and to which André Herzberg contributed a text. The volume brings together satires, stories, and cartoons from over 80 authors who counter both old and new antisemitism through comedy. It was published by Satyr Verlag and made the 2025 shortlist of ten best books from independent publishers.

Lea Streisand, born in 1979 in East Berlin, writes novels and essays and is known for her radio column "War schön jewesen" on radioeins (rbb). In 2026, her dictionary "Berlinerisch - Watt denn, icke?" will be published by Duden. André Herzberg, born in 1955, grew up in East Berlin as the child of Jewish communists; his latest book "Keine Stars: Mein Leben mit PANKOW" was published by Aufbau Verlag. He will also perform musically during the evening.

The festival is supported by Demokratie leben, Partnership for Democracy in Vogtlandkreis, as well as the State Prevention Council and the Cultural Foundation Saxony, funded from public budgets.