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GERMANY’S GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONER on anti-Semitism has warned Jews about the potential dangers of wearing the traditional kippah cap in the face of rising anti-Jewish attacks.
“I cannot advise Jews to wear the kippah everywhere all the time in Germany,” Felix Klein said in an interview published yesterday by the Funke regional press group.
In issuing the warning, he said he had “alas, changed my mind (on the subject) compared to previously.”
Klein, whose post was created last year, cited “the lifting of inhibitions and the uncouthness which is on the rise in society” as factors behind a rising incidence of anti-Semitism.
“The internet and social media have largely contributed to this — but so have constant attacks against our culture of remembrance.”
And he suggested police, teachers and lawyers should be better trained to recognise what constitutes “clearly defined” unacceptable behaviour and “what is authorised and what is not”.
His comments came just weeks after Berlin’s top legal expert on anti-semitism said the issue remains entrenched in German society.
“Anti-Semitism has always been here. But I think that recently, it has again become louder, more aggressive and flagrant,” Claudia Vanoni told AFP in an interview, adding the problem was “deeply rooted” in German society.
Anti-Semitic crimes rose by 20% in Germany last year, according to interior ministry data which blamed nine out of ten cases on the extreme right.
Justice Minister Katarina Barley told the Handelsblatt newspaper the increase was “shameful for our country” but added that the police were “vigilant”.
Vanoni also said that the proliferation of online platforms that allow people to express extremist views without inhibition while hiding behind screens had fostered the rise in cases.
The arrival in parliament of the far-right AfD, whose leaders openly question Germany’s culture of atonement for World War II atrocities, has also contributed to the change in atmosphere, as has the arrival of more than a million asylum seekers, many from Muslim countries such as Syria, Afghanistan or Iraq.
Klein said that while the far-right was to blame for the vast majority of anti-Semitic crime, it was apparent that some Muslims were also influenced by watching certain television channels “which transmit a dreadful image of Israel and Jews”.
Merkel’s Germany.
@Windom Earle: She really has fooked her country . And there is some suggestions she is looking for a big job in the Eu so she can fook up everywhere else in the Eu as well .
Is she actually working for Putin ?
@Windom Earle: Most of the antisemitic attacks were carried out by far right perpetrators. The influx of Syrian refugees saw an increase in support for the far right and related increase in anti-Semitic attacks.
“Most anti-Semitic offences were however committed by far-right perpetrators, reported the Berlin daily Tagesspiegel in an article on the new crime statistics.”
“Pau in her statement charged that “we are seeing that militant right-wing extremists can openly call for the desecration of Jewish institutions and attacks against Jewish people”.
“A rising number of people and groups in the “grey zone between conservatism and right-wing extremism are denying the Holocaust and engaging in anti-Semitic agitation,” she said.”
https://www.france24.com/en/20190213-anti-semitism-hate-crime-jews-germany-afd
” Germany anti-Semitic offenses rise sharply in 2018, mostly from far-right”
@David Jordan: The AfD are not “far right”. Many members of the German Jewish community are both members and supporters of the AfD, as they are the only party in Germany pointing out the growing threat of Islam.
@Kurt Huebers: They’re Fascists … how further ‘right’ do you have to go?
“Muslims were also influenced by watching certain television channels”
Talk about making excuses, that’s one of the best and most bizarre yet.
@Candace: TV is making some Muslims Bigots .
Kinda condescending / bigoted to muslims that they are so easily influenced .
Muslims must be treated with kid gloves because they are just silly billies .
@Pl O’neill: ah would you stop, you or/and your buddies will be on about fake news media brainwashing again soon
@Dave O’Keeffe:
Then again, there could be some truth in it..
https://youtu.be/KXcQ892cKso
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But I’m fairly sure that the Koran pre-dates modern TV
@Candace: Most anti-Semitic attacks were carried out by far-right perpetrators, AfD supporters. The rise of the far right in Germany was driven by the influx of Syria refugees.
“Germany anti-Semitic offenses rise sharply in 2018, mostly from far-right”
@David Jordan:
Any links on far right Islamic Jew hatred, maybe s Koranic verse or two?
@Candace: Are there many Islamic AfD supporters?
@David Jordan: to be fair islamis extremists are far right.
Diversity is strength, the EU is great, carry on……..
@dindo nÜfin: Most of the Antisemitic attacks were carried out by far-right perpetrators. Germany has seen a rise in support for the far right e.g. AfD, due to the influx of Syrian refugees.
@David Jordan:
For some reason, just because you have the same comment on standby via paste, doesn’t make it true.
@David Jordan: what happened to that lad from the afd again? Yeah he got butchered by far left extremests…. Don’t let facts get in the way though
The Jewish community also need to consider their own role in this.
The front of the jewish history museum in Berlin is covered in a banner with “welcome to Jerusalem”.
I live amongst an orthodox jew community, they live in their own bubble and ignore non jews.
If your contribution to a community is to ignore or provoke outsiders and yet demand constant protection from police that the whole community pay for then it becomes very easy for right wing groups to mobilise people who otherwise don’t care.
@Wreck Tangle: maybe just maybe they can still remember what happened to their loved ones not so long ago who were murdered by the millions in some of the worst ways possible. Why the hell are you saying they should look at their own role in this?
They stick to themselves, doesn’t give you any reason to attack them in any way.
@Wreck Tangle: wow, do you also blame rape victims for wearing suggestive clothing; short skirts; drinking alcohol; talking to men etc etc etc?
Shameful comment.
@Wreck Tangle: I have to be honest. I don’t feel the least bit provoked by the sentence ‘welcome to Jerusalem’ on a building or the fact that they keep to themselves. Neither of these things make me want to go out and attack Jewish people. I really think the need for self-examination lies with those who are doing the attacking and those who make any attempt to justify it … which is effectively what you have tried to do mate.
@grainne curistan: I don’t think you are the type of person the OP hinted at being offended by “welcome to Jerusalem”. Think that’s more likely to be Palestinian refugees/anyone with a basic respect of international law.
Thought that’d be obvious tbh.
@Nathan Mawhinney: the community are as capable of being toxic as anyone else. “Welcome to Jerusalem” isn’t exactly being inclusive to the society around you, one that demands you protect it at all costs; but what about the provocation behind such a message? It is an internationally illegal occupation of a civilian population, taken, controlled and punished by force for simply being from there.
If a communities attempt at interacting with wider society is through provocative banners, yet still demand disproportionate protection, then I wonder what it is exactly that is expected of the rest of society? Do horrific crimes 80 years ago really excuse racial provocation in a completely different issue now?
Do we really tell a Palestinian that hey, you might have lost your family in the last day/week/month/year, but that Israeli soldier might have lost relatives, they never met, in equally illegal acts of war… 80 years ago. So, you know, get over it because we have to be there for them?
@Artugal: what a load of shite to justify anti-semitism. German jews being attacked and you think a banner about “welcome to Jerusalem” is a just cause for violence? Leave the Israel-Palestine argument out of this. This is about German citizens being attacked for their religion. Israel has nothing got to do with it.
6 million Jews were murdered in the holocaust, they won’t forget that.
They stick to themselves because their grandparents were gassed by people who weren’t Jews. That’s why they don’t trust others. Don’t justify violence.
@Nathan Mawhinney: so wait, a banner which directly addresses a contentious international crime is not to be regarded, yet the holocaust is? Nowhere did I justify violence or anti-semitism. Nor did I condone attacks on anyone. Nice baiting attempt though.
@Artugal: how does it refer to a contentious crime? Jerusalem is central in the Jewish faith… calling Jews relationship to Jerusalem a crime is stupid. you weren’t baited just caught out. Secondly the article was about German jews not Israelis. Get your facts straight.
@Artugal: btw, there’s a restaurant in Dublin city called ‘Jerusalem’. Is that referring to a contentious, international crime?
@Nathan Mawhinney: okay, I was operating under the assumption that you understood the reference of “Welcome to Jerusalem”. It is in reference to the moving of the embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem, a move decried by the international community. It was a move that ended any hope of a two state solution, whilst also ending an international understanding that Jerusalem would remain a city of all faiths (with none a ruling majority/power).
If supporting such a move isn’t a politically motivated form of provocation, in a multinational society, then I give up. It is not becoming of any community to openly flaunt such a ridiculous banner when all European efforts to end the conflict were shattered with one political decision (to move the embassy).
It doesn’t excuse any violence, hatred or ill sentiments but it is not a decision (to display that banner) that should be warmly dismissed as an innocent act, especially in a modern, multicultural society like Germany – when EU peace brokers efforts for the last 50 years have been in vain.
@Artugal: a quick google of that phrase doesn’t show that phrase to be a politically charged sentence. In Judaism, the temple (which has been destroyed) lies in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a major cornerstone of their faith. It’s the equivalent of Muslims facing towards Mecca.
I understand, that Israel is contestable land, but the article is referring to German jews facing a rise in hate crimes. Saying they can be just as toxic is irrelevant. I hear no reports of them attacking anyone.
How does it refer to the move of the capital to Jerusalem? That’s ridiculous lol!
@Nathan Mawhinney: there you go, rehashing what I said to suit your narrative. I was responding to what the post said, not the article. If I was doing that I would have started my own thread.
Jerusalem is also the home of Christianity, and to a great many Muslims is their Holy City too. That is why there is/was an understanding, in an attempt to end thousands of years of conflict over the city. That banner was obviously nothing to do with the embassy move, right? Unless they moved Jerusalem inside the museum I can’t understand what else it would be referring to?
In reference to the article I think it’s terrible that anyone is attacked. There are no justifications for violence. I don’t like having to constantly defend myself in that regard though, I would appreciate if you’d stop assuming I’m an antisemite.
@Artugal: never accused you of being an anti-Semite in my last post. I addressed the issue, you didn’t.
Guess what! Here’s the link referring to the banner! It’s an exhibition, not referring to the moving of Israel’s capital. https://www.jmberlin.de/en/exhibition-welcome-to-jerusalem
Your argument has been completely nullified. Read the article and please respond or please just stop commenting because it’s clear proof that you’re clutching at straws chap.
@Nathan Mawhinney: What, you just casually accused me of excusing violence earlier? Ah no worries man, all good – casually accuse someone of excusing antisemitic attacks and that. And I did address the issue, i.e Jerusalem – being more than one faiths holy city, as per the United Nations Security Council Resolution 478.
Saying that, it does appear I was completely wrong on that exhibits banner. However, unless you go to this exhibit it is an understandable mistake to make considering the tensions around what has been happening in Jerusalem and what they have welcomed. I don’t live in Berlin and have never visited so I could not know what that exhibit contains, or that it is on – all I know is it is a strong political banner, well at least in ignorance.
@Artugal: and provocation is what they caused.
Hey! Guess what! They used a provocative banner to gain publicity!! Netanyahu told Merkel personally to stop funding that specific Museum for that specific exhibit!
Straws clutched.
@Artugal: exactly you’re clutching at straws indeed. My point stands, the use of the term “welcome to Jerusalem” has nothing to do Israel’s capital being moved to Jerusalem so you’re just sprouting drivel. The article goes onto say that the museum had hosted members of BDS. That was why Netanyahu condemned it as he claimed the museum was undermining the nation of Israel. Did you read the article?
Keep digging yourself a bigger hole.
@Nathan Mawhinney: try this then. The same week as the embassy move? Lol. Turns out I was right, it was intentionally provocative and launched simultaneously. Jokes on you pal, wouldn’t have known for sure if you hadn’t linked the museum. Kudos
https://jewishjournal.com/news/nation/nation_world/231364/jerusalem-filtered-german-museum/
Copied and pasted the following directly from your article, probably should of read it.
“The letter singled out several organizations that it said supported the global movement to boycott, divest from and place sanctions on Israel, known as B.D.S., as well as other activities described as “anti-Israel.” The most prominent was the Jewish Museum, which the letter said “often hosts events and discussions with prominent B.D.S. promoters.” It also said its current exhibition about Jerusalem “reflected mainly the Muslim-Palestinian narrative.”
Yep, that’s right. Wrong again. The museum isn’t purely on the side of just jews according to the JEWISH prime minister of Israel. In fact, it’s mainly focused on the Muslim-Palestinian side.
Go to sleep, you’re uneducated in this one.
@Artugal: copied and pasted from your second article
“Jerusalem fits this goal perfectly, but Eldad Beck, the Berlin correspondent for the Israel daily newspaper Israel Hayom, has publicly taken the museum to task for its extensive focus on interreligious themes at the expense of Jewish narratives. He slammed the museum for alleged anti-Israel bias as reflected in city ads featuring the Islamic crescent as the only religious ornament. Schäfer, in defense, told the Journal that the ad was the first of a series.”
You’re arrogance is hilarious. You keep giving me sources that back up my point. You’re claiming that Berlin conspired with trump to open the museum on the same day as trump declared Jerusalem, Israel’s capital even though it would have taken months of planning for the exhibit.
@Nathan Mawhinney: lol, it was a provocative exhibit you clown. Getting people upset was the point. They went with a political banner that played out at the SAME TIME as the embassy move – check out how Netanyahu greets countries moving embassies to Jerusalem. An exhibit so provocative that Netanyahu himself contacted Merkel. Your really gonna keep this up?
I said the banner was provocative, you said how, I said how, you said this is how it isn’t and I showed that to be a joke. A farce. So much so that Israel demanded the exhibit be removed…
I stand by what I said originally and that this provocative banner was not a good way of dealing with the outside community, even Israel has a problem with this specific institution and that !specific exhibition!
To quote you, “My point stands, the use of the term “welcome to Jerusalem” has nothing to do Israel’s capital being moved to Jerusalem”.
The banner had everything to do with politics, my original point was it’s not a good way for a closed even community to communicate with wider society, regardless if they are pro or anti Israel.
Night!
@Artugal: I’m not gonna keep this up because you’re unable to accept facts. I’m used to butt-hurt journal commenters. Sleep well dear one.
@Nathan Mawhinney: “You’re claiming that Berlin conspired with trump to open the museum on the same day as trump declared Jerusalem, Israel’s capital even though it would have taken months of planning for the exhibit.”
??!? I said what, and where?
@Artugal: you said it opened on the same week, implying that it had something to do with the capital move. You being serious now or just joking? Then you sent me the link.
Even the fact that you’ve gone through all the stress over a banner to defend the original comment that Jews have played a role in their own persecution shows where you’re at. Anti-semites will always bend reality to paint jews in a bad light.
@Artugal:
Thanks Artugal.. Least someone sees some sense here. My points were based on observations that I have made and not based on my own opinion and that default outcry is not needed in this case!
And couldn’t agree more with you. Welcome to Jerusalem is a provocation and something that will offend some people. Do I find it offensive? No, it’s pointless! Is this view antisemitic? No, it’s anti-provocation!
@Artugal: it was provocative to Netanyahu because of how it showed so much of the Palestinian side. How dim can you be? You got triggered by 3 words. “Welcome to Jerusalem” it’s sad really. Just because Jerusalem is highly contested doesn’t mean you can’t use the word. Does “welcome to Dublin” trigger you too?
@Wreck Tangle: you too sir are illogical to facts. You probably get triggered by “welcome to Dublin” as well. If it was so offensive link ANY source at all where the name of the exhibit has been criticized? No one but you 2 have an issue with the name. Snowflakes lol
@Wreck Tangle: Those dasterdly German Jews. They have brought this on themselves. Of course the right wing groups wouldn’t exist if the Jews didn’t ignore non Jews and we would all live happily ever after.
@Nathan Mawhinney: sorry let’s go back to where I claimed Germany conspired with Trump, I’m really confused as to how or where I said that…
Also, there you go again casually suggesting I’m an antisemite. You sir are a hypersensitive joke. Everything you’ve claimed since the start of this thread is either an insult, a lie or blatant ignorance.
Cry Trump.
@Nathan Mawhinney: You sir, as we say ‘have been put through the mincer’ but 10/10 for slugging away
The Quakers must be giving them a hard time !
Reality = Its not the quakers !
It’s all part and parcel of the EU’s enrichment program
It’s all part and parcel of the EU enrichment program
This article reads like: FAR RIGHT FAR RIGHT… oh by the way some Muslims too but they can’t help it because they’re being indoctrinated FAR RIGHT.
I had no idea there were so few Jewish people in Germany, I mean, I know why but I had no idea the number was still so low
Microaggressions by the Christian faith normalize antisemitism.
The Jewish people or their stock have to endure being accused of terrible things in the New Testament. That nobody cares about the absence of independent evidence or their side is antisemitism. Every time the New Testament is honoured as God’s word in a Church there is antisemitism at least implicitly. If you respect Jews then you spit on the New Testament. At Easter in particular, the insults delivered to Judaism increase during Christian worship. On Good Friday, Catholics take the role of Jesus murderous Jewish enemies during the gospel reading. That we have Catholics and Protestants claiming to follow Jesus a lifelong Jew is antisemitic and shows no respect for his religious allegiance. Using a Jew, Jesus, to stir up things against the Jews is passive aggressive irony. The answer as to why Christian activists seem immune to information about the falsity of their version of Jesus and faith is that they are using it/him not respecting it/him. That is why they don’t care. They hide any discomfort for that is their way of trying to undermine your confidence in the truth.
Church history is riddled with antisemitism. So accepted was it that the writings of notorious antisemitists were preserved by the Church and distributed as inspirational.
@Test Religion: Whatever about the terrible history between Jews and Christians I don’t think the current rise in anti-semitism in Europe has anything to do with a sudden rise in Christian fundamentalism. It would appear to coincide with a rise in fundamentalism and numbers from another religious grouping whose name I dare not mention for fear of being labelled ‘somethingophobic’. Europe is going to have deal with this problem sooner or later. All of its efforts so far have been rather half-hearted and have clearly failed.
Well that’s what happens when you mass import people from a part of the world that is in a land struggle with Israel. Muslims have always had clashes with Israelis. But ofc it’s blamed on a few “far right” idiots, when far right doesn’t even have a proper definition. It’s whatever the media want!
God I hate this world.
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