It sounds straight out of “The Onion,” but the article, which appears in DW, seems kosher. After noting in its teaser that “Germany is home to the world’s fastest-growing Jewish community” (that is true of Muslims as well, but that’s another story), the piece explains that Project Rent-a-Jew provides an opportunity for German non-Jews to interface with Jews and presumably discover that they do not have horns growing out of their heads.
There is a self-standing Rent-a-Jew website that shouts in 80-point type, “Kennen Sie einen Juden? Nein?! Mieten Sie einen!” (Do you know a Jew? No?! Rent one!).
What Project Rent-a-Jew entails ultimately (according to the FAQ) is arranging for a real flesh-and-blood Jew to speak to educational institutions or groups of any size.
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The idea behind Rent-a-Jew is not as novel (or potentially offensive) as you might think. In 2013, the Jewish Museum in Berlin featured an exhibit in which a live Jew was seated in a glass enclosure where he could field questions from curious “art lovers.” Nicknamed “Jew in a Box,” the installation was formally titled “The Whole Truth, everything you wanted to know about Jews.”
Certainly, the growth of anti-Semitism in recent years should make sure admittedly heavy-handed educational endeavors welcome, both here and abroad. Because Jews are not one of liberals’ protected classes, don’t expect support or compassion from the Left.