Religion - Opening of the synagogue in Potsdam - "happy day"
The opening of the new synagogue in Potsdam marks the end of a lengthy provisional period, according to the President of the Central Welfare Organization of Jews in Germany (ZWST), Abraham Lehrer, in an interview with RBB. Today is a "wonderful, happy day," Lehrer told RBB.
Almost 80 years after the destruction of the old synagogue in Potsdam, Jewish women and men once again have a religious and cultural center in the state capital. Steinmeier, the Federal President, is expected to attend the opening today. This is an "extremely important sign," Lehrer told RBB. The fact that the Federal President is coming shows that Jewish people are an essential part of society.
The visibility in the center of town gives the non-Jewish majority society the opportunity to participate in Jewish life. At the same time, the synagogue offers a protected space to exchange ideas and share fears and concerns, which has become even more important since the attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the since then "explosively increased antisemitism," Lehrer said.
The Central Welfare Organization of Jews in Germany is the project's sponsor. The Land Brandenburg is the builder of the new synagogue center, which provides 17.5 million Euros for the project. The synagogue center is intended to be used by four Jewish communities with approximately 800 members in common. The project was difficult and was accompanied by much controversy among the Jewish communities, which represent different religious streams.
- The new synagogue in Potsdam, set to open today, is located in the heart of the city, providing a visible presence for the Jewish community, as highlighted by Abraham Lehrer in an interview with RBB, a German broadcaster.
- Abraham Lehrer, the President of the Central Welfare Organization of Jews in Germany (ZWST), believes that the opening of the synagogue in Brandenburg's state capital is a significant step for the integration of Judaism into German society.
- In the interview with RBB, Lehrer noted that the Federal President's attendance at the opening is a testament to the importance of religion and cultural diversity within German society, emphasizing the inclusion of Jewish people as an integral part of this society.
- The renovation of the synagogue in Potsdam, destroyed nearly 80 years ago, has been made possible through the financial support of the Land Brandenburg and the Central Welfare Organization of Jews in Germany, providing a sacred space for the local Jewish community and visiting Rabbis from around Germany.
- RBB reported that the new synagogue will serve four Jewish communities in Potsdam, fostering dialogue, understanding, and unity among different religious streams within Judaism, promoting mutual respect and harmony within German society.
