It is for Jews in Germany would be safer to not wear kippah? With his statement of anti-Semitism, the Federal government Commissioner Felix Klein has caused a stir. Small Jews is not restricted use.
A kosher supermarket, somewhere in Berlin. Ishmael* comes in, his shift starts in a few minutes. He wears a beige cap. Including a kippah hidden. Ishmael does not want to use his real name, can understand the statement that anti-Semitism commissioned by the German Federal government has made Felix Klein on the weekend. Klein had said that he is recommending Jews, not “anytime, anywhere, in Germany,” the yarmulke, the traditional head-to-wear cover of Jewish men.
“It’s really dangerous for us to wear the yarmulke openly in Berlin at the time. That’s why you hide under a cap, as I do,” says Ismael. To dispense with the Wearing of the kippah, would be for him, and most of the other Jews in question: “devout Jews always wear a kippah, whether something else is recommended. It is a Statement.” Ishmael says, he was lucky. So far happened to him, nothing.
Israel reacts in horror
It is a fact that The number of anti-Semitic incidents is on the rise. According to crime statistics, 1799 anti-Semitic crime took place in the last year. The are almost 20 percent more than in the year 2017. Small explained his statement and the increase in crime with the “increasing social disinhibition and brutalization”, which was a fatal breeding ground for anti-Semitism. “To this end, the Internet and social media have contributed greatly, but also the continued attacks on our culture of remembrance,” said Small.
Anti-Semitism Officer Felix Klein
The President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin reacted in horror to Klein’s warning and criticized a “surrender in the face of anti-Semitism” in Germany. Once again, Jews in Germany were not sure.
Germany has capitulated to anti-Semitism?
Sigmount Königsberg, anti-Semitism officer of the Jewish community in Berlin, a rating of the statement, Klein’s not as capitulation, but as a Wake-up call that was, however, too weak and also very unfortunate choice of words. “I would have expected, that he adds immediately, that he will do everything so that the Jews in Germany, anywhere and at any time of day or night can wear on the street Kippa. Because that would have been Semites, a challenge to the anti -“, as Königsberg.
Sigmount Königsberg, anti-Semitism officer of the Jewish community of Berlin
The Jewish community in Germany, called on the Federal government to Act. “It is a long established fact that Jews in some major cities are potentially exposed to a hazard, if they are recognized as Jews,” said the President of the Central Council of Jews, Josef Schuster. He pointed out “two years ago,” on this circumstance. “It is welcome, therefore, if this Situation is also at the highest political level, more attention,” says Schuster. The fight against anti-Semitism must make the whole of society to own, he said. The aggressive political climate have any effect. “We feel the security agencies, while adequately protected, but it is time that in society, the Wind turns again.”
Government is responsible
Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of the Jews
The policy responded promptly. On Monday, the spokesman of German Chancellor Angela Merkel Steffen Seibert said: “The state has to ensure the free exercise of religion of everyone possible. And so, to say it quite clearly, it is the duty of the state to ensure that everyone can move to any place of our country with a kippah for sure. And this is a responsibility we and this is also true for the carrier of other religious symbols.”
For Königsberg from the Jewish community of Berlin, the open commitment to the Problem of anti-Semitism is an important beginning: “It will not happen from today to tomorrow, that anti-Semitism will disappear from the society. But this open recognition is the first step. In the past, anti-Semitism was often hushed up”
*Name changed by the editors