In his speech at the Jewish Community Day, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the four-day gathering as “an impressive celebration of diversity, community and coexistence”. However, the Federal Chancellor was also aware of concerns regarding an increase in anti-Semitism in Germany, as well as the horrific events in Israel of 7 October. His thoughts were with all those whose family members and friends were murdered by the Hamas terrorists, he said, and with the countless families that continued to worry for their loved ones.

Federal Chancellor Scholz pledged to fight all forms of anti-Semitism, terrorist propaganda and hate. He pointed out that this required “more than criminal law, the police and the judicial system”: “empathy, solidarity and the concern of all citizens” were also needed.

Compassion with the worries of Jews in Germany

The Federal Chancellor believes that education is one of the most important factors for increasing compassion with Jews. Sharing knowledge about the genocide committed against European Jews under the National Socialist tyranny was the top priority here, Scholz said. In addition to teaching facts, he went on, it was also important to continue to inspire a sense of responsibility based on Germany’s history.

Federal Chancellor Scholz also stressed that knowledge about the state of Israel, the Middle East conflict and the different forms of anti-Semitism had to be part of the syllabus, too. This knowledge could give rise to empathy, he said, and more particularly to “solidarity and compassion without restrictions, relativations or ‘ifs and buts’”.

Meeting Jews in everyday life

At the end of the day, we should all have the desire to learn more about the life of Jewish communities in our country, Scholz said: “We are citizens of the same country. It should be part of our emotional education to show compassion when our neighbours and colleagues are mourning and living in fear. This also requires visibility.”

The Jewish community in Germany makes quite a few efforts to support this mutual concern. As part of a project called “Meet a Jew”, Jewish teenagers and adults have been visiting schools, universities and sports clubs for a number of years now to give an insight into their everyday lives and answer questions. The goal of the initiative is to present the diversity of Jewish faith and culture. During the Community Day, Federal Chancellor Scholz spoke to volunteers from the “Meet a Jew” project and thanked them for their commitment to emotional education.

The Jewish Community Day is the biggest Jewish event in Germany and this year’s motto is: “Living Together”. The programme includes discussions with guests from the areas of politics, academia, religion and culture, as well as religious services and cultural events. The Jewish Community Day was opened by the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany Josef Schuster, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the Israeli ambassador Ron Prosor. In addition to Federal Chancellor Scholz, the event was also attended by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann.