2023-08-22 17:22:00
On September 19, the Conference of European Rabbis (CER) will open its new headquarters in Munich. Until now, she has been in London – all 67 years since the founding of this organization in Europe, which unites more than 700 leaders of Jewish communities. In addition, a new Center for Jewish Life, financed by the state government, will open in the capital of Bavaria.
The President of the Conference of European Rabbis, Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, explained to DW why the headquarters moved to Munich, and also talked about how the Jewish community lives in Germany today and how anti-Semitism is developed in Germany. He calls the rise of the AfD and other right-wing extremist parties in Europe a “shame”.
DW: Is moving from London to Munich a “giveaway” to London – because of the UK’s exit from the EU?
Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt: No, we didn’t refuse anyone.
– But why did you take this step?
– The center of Europe has shifted. Today Europe is led by two largest countries: France and Germany. Germany is a European country where the Jewish community is growing. The Bavarian government gave us courage and invited us to come to Munich. It is unique that the Jewish organization is invited by the government. This is a great role model and we are very grateful for that.
Photo of the destroyed synagogue in Munich on KristallnachtPhoto: Heinrich Hoffmann/akg-images/picture-alliance
– In Munich until 1933 there was the rise of National Socialism. And now European rabbis open their head office here – not far from the house where the NSDAP party headquarters was located. Large Nazi marches took place in the nearby streets at one time.
– From a historical point of view, Munich is really special. Here began the extermination of the Jews in Europe. Here was planned “Kristallnacht”, the night of Jewish pogroms, organized by the “Third Reich”. Now the historical circle is closing. The Conference of European Rabbis moves here, which since 1956 has supported the rebuilding of Jewish communities after the Holocaust. In both Bavaria and Germany, we see Jewish communities restored and flourishing.
– You yourself lost dozens of relatives in Auschwitz. This also applies to many other participants in the Conference. How symbolic for you is the current decision to move your headquarters to Germany?
– Very symbolic. First of all, it symbolizes hope. It is also a message to all the dark forces that are active today. To all those who believe they can destroy the Jewish people. National Socialism and the Holocaust almost destroyed the Jewish people. Now, almost 80 years after the Holocaust, there is a strong state – Israel. Many Jewish communities re-emerged in Europe. And thanks to the invitation of Bavaria, Munich will become one of the European centers of Jewish life. This shows all anti-Semites that they will not succeed as a result.
– When you leave the building where your headquarters will be located in Munich, you immediately see a police post nearby. Most synagogues in Germany, including in Munich, are always under police protection. There are regular reports of anti-Semitic attacks. What do you expect from Germany, from people in this country?
– Unfortunately, protection is still needed. Think of the attacks on synagogues in Rome, Vienna or Halle. And just a few months ago, a Jewish center in Athens was attacked. But I believe that the day will come when Jewish institutions in Germany will no longer need police protection and will no longer have to look like fortresses.
– The right-wing extremist German party “Alternative for Germany” (AfD) is now on the rise. Many speeches by its leaders contain anti-Semitic slogans. How much does it bother you?
– The rise of the AfD and other far-right parties in Europe is a disgrace and a source of great concern to the Jewish community. The Holocaust is not always directly denied. But we often see the downplaying of the Holocaust. And these are openly racist parties. My message is this: Europe has experienced this before, and the result was World War II, with tens of millions of people torn to pieces and killed. Is this what these forces want? Their populism in the long run never solves any problems, but only exacerbates them.
Jewish Center Munich: New Main Synagogue, Jewish Museum and Community CenterPhoto: Wilfried Wirth/imageBROKER/picture alliance
– Your future headquarters will perform not only administrative functions. Are you sure that interaction with other public institutions and figures will be more active than before?
– Yes. We very much look forward to working with civil society and academic institutions in Munich. We will also train and improve the qualifications of rabbis and female rabbis there. I myself plan to lead a seminar on religion and politics in the new semester.
– What and how do Jewish communities live in Germany and Europe today?
– Once Heinrich Heine suggested that in order to get a pass to the European world and its high society, he needs to renounce Judaism and accept another faith. Many others have taken this step. Full Jewish life today means that Jews in Germany can feel like citizens of Germany, as well as full members of the Jewish people and Jews. They can lead their religious life without pressure, without feeling threatened, without having to hide. A child can go outside with a kippah without being attacked or ridiculed.
– In Germany today there are Orthodox, conservative, liberal Jewish communities. Is it competition or diversity?
– As in many other countries of the world, there are various branches of Judaism in Germany. There are people who go to synagogue, observe Shabbat, while others remember that they are Jews only when the anniversary of Kristallnacht comes. All of them belong to the Jewish community. What is remarkable about Germany is that the Jewish community, with all its various branches, is united under the auspices of the Central Council of Jews. It’s something special. I hope it stays that way. At the same time, it is true that the various branches of Judaism are developing with their own schools and their own councils of rabbis. We will do our best to preserve the unity of the Jewish community in Germany and at the same time strengthen the position of the Orthodox rabbis.
– The next meeting of the Conference of European Rabbis will be held in November in Azerbaijan. Why there?
– Well, for obvious reasons. We can’t go to Russia or Ukraine. If there is a country where all rabbis can meet, it is Azerbaijan. And it is right that we go there. This country was home to a large Jewish community of 150,000 Jews – the so-called Mountain Jews from the north. Today, most of them are scattered around the world. We want to celebrate this wonderful community whose customs date back 1700 years ago.
– And you are welcome there as a rabbi?
– Yes. At the same time, it is very important that Azerbaijan grants freedom of religion to both Jewish and all other religious communities. They live in variety. And for many years we have been cooperating with Azerbaijan – for example, when questions concerning freedom of religion are raised in the Council of Europe. In addition, the government in Baku also takes a very strong stance on Iran and its threat to Jewish life. This threat is always present. Despite this, in countries such as Azerbaijan, in the countries of the Persian Gulf, Jewish life is developing today. And this convincingly proves that coexistence and interaction between religions is possible all over the world.
Pinchas Goldschmidt (60), born in Switzerland, has been President of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER) since 2011. From 1993 until mid-2022, he was the Chief Rabbi of Moscow. Shortly after the Russian attack on Ukraine, he left the Russian Federation and issued a sharp criticism of Russian aggression.
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