A peer-to-peer dialogue program of the Youth Department of the Jewish Community of Vienna (IKG Wien), Likrat fosters direct encounters between Jewish youth and diverse audiences in educational institutions, breaking stereotypes and promoting mutual understanding.
Likrat, a peer-to-peer dialogue program of the Youth Department of the Jewish Community of Vienna (IKG Wien), fosters direct encounters between Jewish youth and diverse audiences in schools and educational institutions. Through open conversations, Likratinos and Likratinas address questions about Jewish life, history, and current issues, including the Middle East conflict, breaking down stereotypes and promoting mutual understanding.
Since 2024, Likrat has expanded its work to the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF), engaging in values courses to strengthen intercultural dialogue. In this setting, a 21-year-old participant had a powerful experience—one that highlights how, especially in these challenging times, open conversations bring people closer together and that what unites us is far stronger than what sets us apart.
“As Likratinos and Likratinas, we step into the unknown when we enter spaces. For me, these moments are filled with curiosity and almost childlike excitement. No matter how a conversation unfolds, I know I will walk away having learned something new and carrying unforgettable memories with me.”
What unites us in difficult times is far stronger than what sets us apart
She particularly remembers one encounter at the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) that began with a sense of unease. There were many questions—about Judaism, the daily life of Jewish communities in Vienna, and the current situation in the Middle East. At first, the tension in the room was almost tangible. But as the discussion continued, something shifted. Minute by minute, the atmosphere grew lighter, and by the end, the initial distance had completely dissolved.
“It was our conversation that brought us closer together, creating a warmth that hadn’t been there before,” she says.
The meeting ended with a deep sense of connection. A Syrian participant later shared that members of the Jewish community were nothing like the image so often portrayed in the media, especially in the Middle East. For many young people today, moments like these prove how powerful human connection can be and how words can build bridges.
“Every time I leave such an encounter, I feel a spark of joy and pride, knowing that Likrat’s work is making the world a little warmer, a little brighter.”
Learn more about Likrat
Likrat uses the “peer to peer” method to facilitate open dialogue between Jewish and non-Jewish community members, enabling stereotypical preconceptions to be broken down and young people to speak openly with one another in educational institutions.
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