Cologne and Aachen youth groups celebrate victory at Jewrovision 2025!

Cologne and Aachen youth groups celebrate victory at Jewrovision 2025!

The youth group from Cologne and Aachen caused quite a stir at this year's Jewrovision. The competition from Central Council of Jews in Germany announced that a group from both cities took first place. The competition has long been a highlight in the event calendar of the Jewish community in Germany and this year attracted over 1,200 participants.

Under the motto “United in Hearts,” the youth group competed together with many others from 60 Jewish communities. A total of 14 groups took part in the competition. The occasion was a major event that showcased not only talented voices, but also the diversity and vibrancy of Jewish culture. Cathedral radio also reports that the event took place at the Borussia Dortmund stadium, where all participants gathered to celebrate their culture and Shabbat.

A special commitment

In her speech, Federal Minister for Family Affairs Karin Prien (CDU), patron of the event, emphasized how important it is to make Jewish life in Germany visible, especially in times when anti-Semitism is coming to light again. Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council, also emphasized the positive mood and commitment of the young people. These moments are invaluable, especially in the context of the “Bring Them Home” commemoration event, which took place in memory of the victims of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.

Since its founding in 2002, Jewrovision has grown into the largest Jewish singing and dance competition in Europe. The Central Council has been holding this impressive event since 2013, creating a solid foundation on which Jewish youth centers and communities can showcase their talents.

The goal of the competition

The conditions for participation are clear: children and young people between the ages of 10 and 19 are invited to take part in this competition together as part of their Jewish community. The aim is to strengthen the community and raise awareness of cultural diversity. In addition to the artistic performance, there are also prizes for the best video, which this year went to the Chesed Gelsenkirchen youth center.

In order to further shine a spotlight on Jewish life in Germany, the Baden-Württemberg police have launched a school competition entitled “Jewish Life in Germany – A Source of Diversity”. The goal is to sensitize students from eighth grade onwards to the history and diversity of Jewish life. The aim is to specifically counteract anti-Semitism. Information and further details are available on the Tolerance Initiative website online. The competition starts in February 2024 and ends in April 2024.

Initial insights into the winning entries and the joy of the participating young people make it clear that Jewrovision is not just about competition. It is a celebration of community that thrills those watching and taking part. The next Jewrovision is already planned for May 14th to 17th, 2026 in Stuttgart and promises to be a fantastic experience again.