February 2021 – L`Chaim

2021 marks a very special anniversary: Jews have demonstrably lived on the territory of present-day Germany for at least 1700 years. The anniversary dates back to the year 321 when the Roman emperor Constantine issued a decree allowing Jews to be appointed to offices in the curia and city administration. The document, now preserved in the Vatican, is considered the earliest surviving written source on the existence of Jews north of the Alps and is evidence that Jews have lived on the territory of present-day Germany for at least 1700 years.
To mark the occasion, the Federal Ministry of Finance issued a stamp in February 2021. This depicts the symbol and the Hebrew lettering “Chai,” which means “life.” The word is also frequently used in everyday Jewish life in Germany: “L’Chaim” – “To life” is accordingly also the name of a classic toast symbolizing joie de vivre. The stamp was designed by Detlef Behr from Cologne. It has a postage value of 80 cents. The special postage stamp will be available from February 4 at post offices, in the online store, or by phone from Deutsche Post’s order service (tel.: 0961 – 3818 – 3818).
A nationwide German-Jewish year of festivities will also be celebrated on this occasion under the name #2021JLID, under the patronage of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. With over 1000 events from Schleswig-Holstein to Bavaria, Jewish life will be made visible and tangible.