It’s a powerful step for visibility. But no Yiddish was spoken at the unveiling, it’s barely mentioned on the associated website, and the focus was entirely on the past—revising how prewar Jews are commemorated rather than giving visibility to cultural diversity today. We’re still here, and we’re still marginalized.

This reflects a broader pattern. Yiddish is still not recognized as a minority language in Germany. When it’s not dismissed entirely, it’s treated as a historical or linguistic curiosity rather than a living language and culture.

Meanwhile, just 90 minutes away in Lusatia, Upper and Lower Sorbian are officially recognized: on street signs, in schools, and in cultural life. After centuries of suppression, the German government now provides significant support for efforts to revitalize these languages from the brink.

Germany already recognizes seven minority languages. Yiddish is one in eight European countries.

So why not here?