MDR to Document Görlitz's Jewish History and Remembrance Year

MDR Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk is launching an extensive program series focusing on the Jewish history and present of the city of Görlitz. As part of the "Tacheles 2026" theme year, the documentaries and programs will delve into the city's Jewish roots and its international connections.

The initiative is driven by American Lauren Leiderman, who has gathered over 130 descendants of former Jewish residents of Görlitz from around the world. This "Görlitz Family" network is currently convening in the city for memorial events. MDR will present a new documentary following German and Polish youth as they explore the life stories of former Jewish inhabitants.

The premiere of "Wir sind hier! Auf den Spuren der jüdischen Einwohner von Görlitz" (We Are Here! In the Footsteps of Görlitz's Jewish Residents) will take place on June 23, 2026, at the Görlitz Synagogue Cultural Forum. It will be broadcast on MDR Fernsehen on July 16. The documentary "Lauren Leiderman and the Görlitz Family," originally shown in 2023, will be rebroadcast on July 9.

MDR Sachsen and MDR Kultur will also cover the theme year through current reporting. Programs will explore topics such as the fate of Jewish refugees during the Holocaust and the Jewish history of football in Zwickau. The aim is to connect the past with the present and reinforce the presence of Jewish life in the cities' societal discourse.