Holocaust survivor suggests Jews maintain a low profile.
A Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, Carola Knobloch, has expressed concern over the increasing antisemitism in Germany. Many in the Jewish community are considering leaving the country, but Knobloch cautions against this, stating that it's "tough even in New York." Instead, she advises Jews to blend in and not draw attention to themselves.
In Knobloch's opinion, visibility is key for Jewish people during these trying times. She dissuades the display of flashy jewelry, unconventional clothing, or wearing a Star of David pendant. "It doesn't end well," she warned in an interview with the Munich newspaper, Abendzeitung.
Knobloch, the President of the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria, commented on the rising unrest and protests at German universities against Israel's actions in the Gaza war. What initially saw an outpouring of support for the Jewish community following the massacre of over 1,200 people by Hamas and related terror groups in Israel has now shifted to a bleak atmosphere. "Everything Israel does is immediately viewed in a highly negative light," she said. "We feel that too."
Born as Charlotte Neuland on October 29, 1932, Knobloch observed the deterioration of her family's life as Adolf Hitler rose to power and the Third Reich took control. Her father, a lawyer, was forced to surrender his profession. Knobloch lived with her mother, who converted to Judaism, until the Nazis pressured her to leave. She and her daughter spent the war years with her grandmother. At the age of nine, Knobloch watched her grandmother be taken away to the Theresienstadt concentration camp, where she later perished.
After the war, the pair returned to Munich. Knobloch's father also remained in the city.
Knobloch's Secretion during Nazi Occupation
While many of Knobloch's family members were arrested, she was able to live through the ordeal due to her father's resourcefulness. Fritz Neuland hid her in rural Franconia, convincing a deeply religious Catholic farmer's wife to help shelter his daughter. Knobloch was saved by the farmer's maids who refused to inform the Nazis of her presence. After the war, Knobloch reunited with her father and returned to Munich. Her father, too, remained in the city.
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In light of Carola Knobloch's experiences as a Holocaust survivor, she strongly advocates against the exhibition of distinctly Jewish symbols in public to avoid drawing unwanted attention and potential harm. This caution stems from the alarming rise of Anti-Semitism in Germany, which has led some Jews to consider leaving the country.
Source: www.ntv.de
