Religion - Potsdam Synagogue opens - with Steinmeier and Scholz
This milestone for the Jewish community is significant, even in times of increasing antisemitism. A new synagogue is being dedicated in Potsdam on Thursday. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) are expected to attend the dedication ceremony. Brandenburg's Minister-President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) called the construction "an important symbol against the resurging hatred and hate speech to which Jewish women and men are exposed."
Plans for such a project in the Brandenburg state capital date back almost 20 years, but were put on ice due to disputes within the Jewish communities. Now, Jewish women and men, almost eight decades after the destruction of the synagogue in 1945, have their own house for religious services and community life.
"The Jewish communities in Potsdam now have a heart," said the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, speaking to dpa just before the dedication. "A sufficient religious infrastructure is lacking in many places in Eastern Germany. The synagogue will make Jewish community life more audible and visible."
The approximately 17.5 million euro building, located in sight of the state parliament in the city center, will be shared by four Jewish communities with around 800 members. The strictly orthodox Jewish Land Community of Brandenburg is not involved. The Central Welfare Organization of Jews in Germany is the owner of the synagogue center, as there were disputes among the communities. The state of Brandenburg built and financed it.
Culture Minister: It is right and necessary for the state to support synagogues
Culture Minister Manja Schüle (SPD) told the "Tagesspiegel," it is "completely right and even necessary" for the state to take care of ensuring that Jewish women and men in this country have synagogues again. Mayor Mike Schubert (SPD) said, "The synagogue has now found its permanent place in our city – where it belongs: in the heart of Potsdam."
In the face of increasing antisemitism, it is considered an important symbol to give Jewish women and men their own place for their religious and cultural life once again. The conflict in the Middle East has now reached German universities. There have been protests against Israel's actions in the Gaza War and actions by students for solidarity with the Palestinians.
Novelty: A center for four Jewish communities
The synagogue project was long overshadowed by disputes. It is now also remarkable that several communities will be housed together in one building. They will celebrate the Sabbath together approximately. The owner, the Central Welfare Organization of Jews in Germany, decides on the allocation of rooms and the structuring of the offerings.
The building has prayer rooms, a conference room, a visitor café, office rooms, a library, as well as music and art rooms. On the rooftop terrace, religious festivals can be celebrated. The Jewish synagogue center is also strongly secured against the increased threat since the Hamas attack on Israel - for example, with bulletproof glass and a security entrance.
The old Synagogue in Potsdam was damaged during the November Pogroms in 1938 and destroyed by a air raid in April 1945. In the past year, new Synagogues were opened in Dessau and in the center of Magdeburg. In Brandenburg, there is still a Synagogue in Cottbus and Oranienburg, as well as one at the University of Potsdam, which is mainly used for training.
- Dietmar Woidke, the SPD's Minister-President of Brandenburg, views the construction of the new synagogue as an important symbol against the rising hatred and hate speech towards Jewish individuals.
- The President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, mentioned that the new synagogue in Potsdam would make Jewish community life more audible and visible in Eastern Germany.
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Olaf Scholz, both leaders from the SPD, are expected to attend the dedication ceremony of the new synagogue in Potsdam, marking a significant milestone for the Jewish community.
- The new synagogue, valued at approximately 17.5 million euros, will be shared by four Jewish communities with around 800 members in Brandenburg.
- Culture Minister Manja Schüle from the SPD believes it is necessary for the state to support synagogues, ensuring Jewish women and men have places for religious and cultural life in Germany.
- The Central Welfare Organization of Jews in Germany is the owner of the new synagogue center due to disputes among the communities, with the state of Brandenburg building and financing it.
- The new synagogue in Potsdam will have various facilities, including prayer rooms, a visitor café, a library, and a rooftop terrace, all while being strongly secured against increased threats due to the Hamas attack on Israel.
