2023-10-25 09:14:01
Ármin Langer was born in Munich in 1990. His parents immigrated from Hungary and he grew up in both countries. He received his first name from his great-grandfather, who was murdered by the Nazis in Auschwitz. Langer’s grandparents were deported to Auschwitz and Dachau and were the only paternal family members to survive the Holocaust.
In addition to studying Jewish theology and philosophy in Potsdam and Budapest, Langer was a rabbinical student at the Abraham Geiger College in Berlin between 2013 and 2016. In Neukölln he founded the Salaam Shalom initiative for interreligious exchange in the district. He wrote the book “A Jew in Neukölln”, which Aufbau-Verlag published in 2016, about their work and his personal experiences in Berlin. When Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews, warned against wearing a kippah in neighborhoods with many Muslim immigrants at the height of the migration movement at the time in 2015, Langer, among other things, accused him of one Contribution to the taz accused of fomenting anti-Muslim prejudices. Subsequently Langer flew out of rabbinical school. In 2019 he moved to Philadelphia, where he completed his rabbinical studies. In 2022 he received his doctorate in sociology from the Humboldt University of Berlin; today he works as an assistant professor at the Center for European Studies at the University of Florida.
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Seven years ago, Ármin Langer designed in his book “A Jew in Neukölln“his vision for good coexistence between religions. How does he view the events in his former homeland after the escalation of the Middle East conflict? The Berliner Zeitung spoke to him via video call – Langer now lives in the USA, but visits Berlin regularly. The 33-year-old repeatedly toyed with the idea of returning completely, but what happened in Germany after the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel gave him pause. His biggest concern is a division in society: “If SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz is now calling for faster deportations, using rhetoric that only the AfD usually uses, then that worries me,” he says.
Berliner Zeitung: Mr. Langer, after the terrorist attacks by Hamas and Israel’s military reaction, anti-Semitic violence is erupting in Germany, especially in your former home of Berlin-Neukölln. Did you expect this when the news came out of the Middle East?
Neukölln is home to many Palestinians and Germans of Palestinian origin. Of course there is also anti-Semitism among them. However, politicians and the police must not automatically assume that anti-Semitic incidents will occur at every pro-Palestinian demonstration. I think it is wrong to suspect the events in advance and therefore ban them. There is no question that freedom of speech ends with anti-Semitic hate speech. But not all support for Palestinians glorifies Hamas’ terror.
Private Ármin Langer
Molotov cocktails were thrown at the synagogue on Brunnenstrasse. Is it not understandable if Jews currently doubt whether Berlin is a good place for them?
Even though I am several thousand miles away, I can sense the fears of community members. All solidarity belongs to the victims of such crimes. However, I do not believe that Jewish life in Berlin has no future. The Jewish population in the city is growing, which is really not common outside of Israel. Anti-Semitism will remain a challenge every single day. However, we are experiencing that the number of anti-Semitic crimes in Germany is increasing and decreasing parallel to the violence between Palestinians and Israel. In response to this problem, we should increasingly promote education and intercultural dialogue in order to create a better understanding of the diversity of Judaism.
When Central Council President Josef Schuster spoke about no-go areas for Jews a few years ago and warned against wearing kippahs in public, you sharply criticized it. How do you view it from today’s perspective?
What bothered me back then unfortunately remains the same today: Neukölln and other supposed no-go areas have lively Jewish communities – but such discussions are held without asking the local Jews.
Would you show up in Berlin today wearing a yarmulke?
I’ve done this several times and nothing has ever happened. But in this tense situation, it is probably not advisable to stroll through Neukölln with a yarmulke. No, I wouldn’t do that at the moment.
The political debate revolves around “imported anti-Semitism” originating from Muslim immigrants – at the same time, one in five voters in surveys support a partially right-wing extremist party, the AfD. Are we making it too easy for ourselves by focusing on Muslims?
Blaming the problems on migrants is a political strategy: it is easier to talk about other people’s anti-Semitism than about your own anti-Semitism. The whole thing takes place in the context of a large and populist debate about migration. Anti-migrant slogans are very well received by part of the population, and the AfD is building an entire program around them. So pointing at immigrants is convenient in every way.
What is your answer?
Anti-Semitism is not an imported product, but rather an export product. Europe has spread its hatred of Jews all over the world. Of course, anti-Semitism also exists in Islamic countries, but the anti-Semitic conspiracy myths that are so widespread in these countries today came from Europe. So many statistics prove that more than 20 percent of the German population believe such conspiracies and that less than half can imagine perceiving Jews as Germans. There is definitely very widespread anti-Semitism in Germany, even among people without a migration background. You just don’t want to believe it so much.
When the philosopher Richard David Precht presents false stereotypes about alleged financial Judaism as facts or when climate activist Greta Thunberg poses with a stuffed toy octopus to express her support for Palestine, there are certainly sharp reactions.
It’s good when they are criticized for such anti-Semitic codes and conspiracy myths. But it’s not just about a few celebrities. Anti-Jewish ideas are deeply rooted in society, which is why they must not be treated as a fringe phenomenon.
Last Sunday, numerous institutions called for a solidarity rally with Israel in front of the Brandenburg Gate – in the end, the Jewish community was disappointed that only 10,000 to 25,000 people came. Is there a lack of solidarity?
The political and cultural elite have taken a very clear position against terror and in solidarity with Israeli victims. It’s great that there was such a rally. I would have liked the same elite and participants in the rally to also declare their solidarity with the Palestinian victims. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. When innocent people die, empathy must extend to everyone. The lives of Palestinian civilians are worth just as much as the lives of Israeli civilians.
Only 10,000-25,000 people came to the solidarity demonstration for Israel at the Brandenburg Gate last Sunday.Monika Skolimowska/dpa
Isn’t it right that Germany, out of historical responsibility, clearly positions itself on Israel’s side at such a moment?
This is understandable for historical reasons. But today I believe that only non-Jewish Germans benefit from this attitude.
What do you mean?
For Germany, this conflict is also about a way to deal with its historical guilt. But that is not in the interests of Israeli democracy and certainly not of the Palestinians. It would be best for the civilian population on both sides if there was a ceasefire as quickly as possible. As the largest country in the EU, which is also an extremely important partner for Israel, Germany should influence the unnecessary deaths of people, including the Israeli government.
Israel’s Ambassador Ron Prosor, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender in front of the Brandenburg Gate in BerlinEmmanuele Contini
Significantly more people were at the Brandenburg Gate on Sunday than at previous solidarity rallies for Israel.Emmanuele Contini
People take part in a demonstration against anti-Semitism and in solidarity with Israel in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on October 22, 2023.Emmanuele Contini
People take part in a demonstration against anti-Semitism and in solidarity with Israel in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on October 22, 2023.Emmanuele Contini
In your opinion, is it not possible enough to see people on both sides?
Yes. You can condemn terror and still see the situation of civilians in Gaza. Wanting to help them does not mean being against Israel. Anyone who is a keffiyeh [ein so genanntes Palästinensertuch] Wearing a Palestinian flag doesn’t mean you’re a Hamas supporter, and a Palestinian flag isn’t a symbol of anti-Semitism. After all, we want the two-state solution and the keffiyeh and the flag are national symbols of the Palestinians. And of course I can show solidarity with Israel and still be critical of the Netanyahu government. It would be desirable if no one was forced to take one side unconditionally, but rather if we cared about the people on both sides. There are so many non-governmental organizations and activist groups in Israel and the Palestinian territories working for exchange and peace. Unfortunately, they are seen far too little. These are the initiatives that need much more support. There is no other way than that of a just reconciliation.
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