Occasional, largely regional professional programmes have taken place in Israel since 1962, and there have been individual youth group visits to Germany since around 1968. The exchange partnership on a national level began in 1975 with a first dsj study and information programme in Germany encompassing all Israeli sports organisations. The formal beginning of the central youth sports exchange programme with Israel can be traced back to this programme. Right from the start, a key focus was on both countries acknowledging the significance that the regulated collaboration has for youth policy in view of the burden that the Holocaust has placed on the shared history of Jews and Germans. Subsequently, other elements of the policy of reconciliation and understanding were incorporated, including intercultural education. Since then, the German-Israeli exchange partnership has become one of dsj’s most important international partnerships – not only politically, but also in terms of numbers – and is a priority for international youth work.

As a central office of ConAct, the Coordination Centre for German-Israeli Youth Exchange, dsj is available to provide advice, find partner organisations and explain funding options.

dsj represents the interests of youth sport on the Joint Technical Committee of the two youth ministries.