Dear concertgoers,

The Louis Lewandowski Festival is celebrating an anniversary this year. It is taking place for the 15th time in Brandenburg and Berlin. It has long since established itself, celebrates the diversity of Jewish soundscapes and is now regarded as the most important series of events for Jewish religious choral music in Europe.

The organizing team is giving visitors a gift for the anniversary and inviting them to rediscover musical highlights from recent years. Once again, top-class artists will be performing: the “Hidden Voices” from Philadelphia, the Adi Choir from Tel Aviv, the Leipzig Synagogal Choir and the Synagogal Ensemble Berlin.

15 years of the Louis Lewandowski Festival are a lasting sign that diversity and tolerance enrich us all. They also emphasize that Jewish life belongs to Brandenburg and Berlin, belongs to Germany! Unfortunately, this is not a matter of course for everyone. I see with great concern that anti-Semitic incidents have also increased considerably in our country since the terrible massacre by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023.

At the same time, I am glad that all the hostages who survived these terrible two years are back with their families. I very much hope for peace for Israel and also for Gaza. We will always do our utmost to combat anti-Semitism and racism. And we will continue to celebrate Jewish life in Brandenburg.

I wish you wonderful concerts as part of the 15th Louis Lewandowski Festival. Let yourself be moved by the music.

Dr. Dietmar Woidke
Minister President of the State of Brandenburg