Superjews

Whether on the pitch or in the stands, football captivates hundreds of millions worldwide. Historic victories and bitter defeats shape the self-image of clubs and remain part of national identities. Football brings people together, sparks passions, and expresses personal belonging. Yet the sport is more than goals, points, and tables; it mirrors social conditions. Inside stadiums, communities with shared values and stories arise - along with sharp lines defining who belongs and who is left out.  

The exhibition “Superjews. Jewish Identity in the Football Stadium” explores the weight of Jewish history and identity around football. It asks how clubs and fan communities invoke Jewish references - often out of admiration, sometimes for self-assertion, and not seldom in contradictory ways. Fan blocs such as Ajax Amsterdam’s “Superjoden” [Superjews] or Tottenham Hotspur’s “Yid Army” [Jewish Army] adopt Jewish terms and symbols and weave them into their fan identity.  

The show guides visitors through terraces, club archives, and cultures of remembrance. It tells stories from Amsterdam, London, Munich, and Vienna. In Rendsburg, an additional viewpoint enters the picture: we bring the ball to northern Germany.  

Holstein Kiel, HSV, Werder Bremen, and FC St. Pauli also belong to this story. Many people in the North grow up with these clubs. But what do we know of their past? What traces do Jewish players, officials, or fans leave? How do the clubs face their roles during National Socialism? And how do they handle that legacy today?  

The Rendsburg section of the exhibition tackles exactly these questions. It shows how the named clubs now champion diversity and openness and how they position themselves toward their own history. Thus a dialogue emerges between local narratives and international currents in football.  

“Superjews” invites visitors to view football anew - as an expression of social dynamism, a site of memory and responsibility, of appropriation and exclusion. Football is never just a game; it is part of our culture, our history, and sometimes even a game with history itself.  

An exhibition for everyone who loves football.