Against the escalating tide of anti-Semitic sentiments in Eastern Germany, experts are calling upon the community to take a stand. Dervis Hizarci, an anti-Semitism specialist, addressing a conference in Potsdam, declared, "The responsibility to combat anti-Semitism should not fall on Jewish individuals alone." The horrific synagogue attack in Halle in October 2019 served as a grim reminder of the lethal nature of anti-Semitism, Hizarci stated.
Anti-Semitic sentiments were also evident during coronavirus demonstrations, where participants donned Jewish stars, Hizarci added. Since the Hamas-led terror attack on Israel and other extremist groups on October 7, there have been escalating anti-Israel demonstrations in public spaces.
Olaf Glöckner from the Moses Mendelssohn Center at the University of Potsdam reported that many Jews who migrated from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union have faced hostility in certain German communities, making integration a challenging task. The hostility often manifests when these immigrants speak Russian publicly, as reported by Glöckner.
Conference
According to the conference, the fight against anti-Semitism is crucial, and everyone must contribute. The German government is taking steps to counter this issue, including legislative measures, increased funding for research, enhanced security measures, police reforms, addressing hate speech, and community engagement. These actions reflect a comprehensive approach to combat anti-Semitism in civil society.
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