Religion - Potsdam has a synagogue again - Steinmeier at ceremony
Since the Hamas attack on Israel, hostilities against Jews in the Federal Republic have reached a new dimension. Many Jewish women and men no longer feel safe. In light of the growing antisemitism, it is considered an important sign that the new synagogue is being inaugurated today in Potsdam. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) will be present.
Almost 80 years after the destruction of the old Potsdam Synagogue, Jewish women and men have a religious and cultural center in the state capital once again. The project was difficult and marked by much controversy among the Jewish communities, which represent various religious streams.
Woidke: A sign against resurging hate and hate speech
The builder of the new synagogue complex is the state of Brandenburg, which is providing 17.5 million Euros for it. Brandenburg's Minister-President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) said: "We have done this in recognition of our historical responsibility, which obliges us to contribute to the creation and maintenance of a diverse Jewish life." It is also an important sign against resurging hate and hate speech, to which Jewish women and men are exposed.
The New: The synagogue complex will be used by four Jewish communities with approximately 800 members in common. The Central Welfare Organization of Jews in Germany (ZWST) is the trustee, which also decides on the allocation of spaces. In addition to prayer rooms, there is a conference room, a visitor café, a library, office spaces, as well as music and art rooms. On the roof terrace, religious festivals can be celebrated.
The synagogue room, according to the trustee, can accommodate 199 people simultaneously. There is also the ark, in which the Torah scrolls are kept. The Torah is the Hebrew Bible and the spiritual center of Judaism. In the basement of the building, there is also a mikveh, a ritual bath for religious purposes.
The building, which was built according to the design of architect Jost Haberland, is also secured in view of the increased threat since the Hamas attack on Israel and the Gaza War - for example, with bulletproof glass and a security turnstile at the entrance. There are personnel and luggage checks.
- Annalena Baerbock, the Green Party's foreign minister, will attend the ceremony for the inauguration of the new synagogue in Potsdam.
- Dietmar Woidke, the minister-president of Brandenburg and a representative of the SPD, considers the inauguration of the new synagogue complex a significant sign against the resurgence of hostility and hate speech towards Jews.
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany's federal president, and Olaf Scholz, the federal chancellor, will also participate in the ceremony, showing Germany's solidarity with Israel and support for Jewish communities facing antisemitism.
- Located in Brandenburg's state capital, the new synagogue replaces the old Potsdam Synagogue destroyed 80 years ago and serves as a religious and cultural center for various Jewish communities in Germany.
- While the synagogue complex will be used by four Jewish communities with about 800 members in total, the Central Welfare Organization of Jews in Germany oversees its management and decides on space allocation.
- The complex features a conference room, visitor café, library, office spaces, art and music rooms, and even a roof terrace suitable for hosting religious festivals.
- Following the Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent increase in anti-Jewish hostility, security measures have been implemented in the new synagogue, such as bulletproof glass, security turnstiles, and personnel checks.
