Karl-Josef Kuschel reads from his acclaimed book entitled Theodor Heuss. It is a brilliant analysis of the contribution to Judaeo-Christian dialogue made by Theodor Heuss, The former Rexingen synagogue is the ideal venue for this reading, since it was here that the Jewish community in Rexingen bade farewell to the first group of refugees to leave for Palestine on February 6th, 1938.

Theoder Heuss was the first President of the German Federal Republic. He did much to establish a culture of remembering, to stimulate debate on crimes against the Jewish people and to promote reconciliation with Israel. He was a friend of Dr. Manfred Scheuer, first Mayor of Shavei Zion, and he corresponded with Leopold Marx, local chronicler of Shavei Zion.