Can German Jews ever be part of the “homeland”? – Germany’s desire to protect its Jewish citizens casts them apart from mainstream Germans. This is not what Heimat is meant to be. | Israel National News

The German word “Heimat” loosely means the “homeland,” but in fact encompasses more.

Heimat describes being part of a common national bond, of shared history, trust and nostalgia. It includes a sense of kinship, comfort and common purpose. It represents the physical, emotional and spiritual sanctuary of Germans regardless of status and is a feminine word that suggests nurturing unlike Vaterland which implies masculine power.