Shadows over the Festival of Lights: many fears and worries

Hanukkah - Shadows over the Festival of Lights: many fears and worries

For Yehuda Teichtal, it's all about lighting a light, coming together and setting an example. "The message of Hanukkah is: light over darkness, love over hate," says the rabbi of the Jewish community Chabad Berlin. Despite all the gloomy news of recent weeks, Teichtal emphasized his optimism at the ceremony to light the Hanukkah candle at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. "More light, more joy, more Jewish awareness, that is our answer," he called out to the invited guests.

Among them was German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who lit the first fire on the ten-meter-high candelabrum on a lifting platform next to Teichtal. For Scholz, it was a gesture of solidarity - and that is exactly what the Chancellor demanded from everyone else in the country. "We do not accept it when Jewish fellow citizens have to be afraid to openly live their religion, their culture, their everyday lives, when they exercise their fundamental right to be visible, a right that all people in our society have, without distinction," said the SPD politician.

Enormous number of anti-Semitic incidents since the beginning of October

After the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, the Rias network's reporting offices registered almost 1,000 anti-Semitic incidents in just over four weeks. In Berlin alone, there were 282 such acts. Jews report that they hide their symbols, the Star of David or the kippah. Jewish daycare groups no longer travel on the subway because the children there might speak Hebrew. Jews who still dare to go on buses and trains overhear their fellow citizens fantasizing about killing Jews or Israelis. All of this affected Rias.

But the biggest shock was the so-called markings - the Star of David on houses where Jews live - and a near-attack on a Berlin synagogue in October. "This attempted arson attack led to an enormous shake-up in the sense of security in the Jewish and Israeli communities," reports Rias. Former Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer confessed on "Zeit Online" that he would not have thought possible what had happened in Germany since October 7. "I am ashamed of our country."

"Light that dispels the darkness"

That sounds grim at the start of what is actually a joyous festival, which this year lasts until December 15. The background to Hanukkah is very different to that of Christmas - it commemorates the rededication of the second temple in Jerusalem after a revolt against the Greeks in 164 BC and the "miracle of light" of a candelabrum burning for eight days. Traditional foods are not stollen and gingerbread, but doughnuts fried in oil and potato pancakes. But the symbols and message are similar: light in the dark season, family celebrations, gifts.

"Hanukkah is one of my favorite festivals in the Jewish liturgy," says Felix Klein, the Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life and the Fight against Anti-Semitism. "It celebrates the light that dispels the darkness." Figuratively, this stands for the fear that is to be chased away. Since October 7, this fear has not completely left many members of the Jewish community. The threat is real and will not change overnight, says Klein. "But what Jews keep telling me is that fear is easier to bear when you know you're not alone."

A light in the window, standing up against hate

Many Jews in Germany would like to see a sign of support beyond the dispute over the Middle East conflict. The majority of non-Jews are not anti-Semitic, but many do not care about the fears of Jews, Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews, told Die Zeit. "They think nothing. They say nothing. The hatred towards us doesn't touch them. This silence is bitter."

There is solidarity, said Rabbi Teichtal a few days before the Hanukkah ceremony. But it is not enough. "We wish that more would stand up. One person puts a light in the window, another gets involved in the neighborhood, there are many ways and many signs. Everyone can do what they can. The main thing is that people stand up and show: We will not allow hate."

An alliance led by Bundestag President Bärbel Bas is planning a large rally in Berlin on Sunday under the title "Never again is now - Germany stands up". Chancellor Scholz also backed the call for the rally. At the ceremony at the Brandenburg Gate, he said: "Showing compassion and solidarity with our Jewish neighbors, friends and colleagues is particularly important these days. In this way, each and every one of us can give strength to the words 'Never again'."

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1. Despite the recent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in Germany, particularly in Berlin, where over 280 incidents were reported, Felix Klein, the Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life and the Fight against Anti-Semitism, expresses hope for the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah.
2. During the Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed solidarity with the Jewish community, condemning any act of fear or intimidation against those who openly practice their religion or culture.
3. Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, the leader of the Chabad Berlin community, emphasized the message of Hanukkah - light over darkness and love over hate - which he believes is especially relevant in times of fear and uncertainty.
4. At the Hanukkah ceremony, Chancellor Scholz lit the first candle on the ten-meter-high candelabrum, joining hundreds of other guests in celebrating the Festival of Lights.
5. The Jewish community in Germany is seeking signs of support beyond the Middle East conflict, with many non-Jews remaining silent despite the fears and hatred that Jews face.
6. Rabbi Teichtal called for more people to stand up against hate, suggesting that small acts of solidarity, such as placing a light in the window or getting involved in the neighborhood, can make a significant impact.
7. An alliance led by Bundestag President Bärbel Bas is planning a large rally in Berlin under the title "Never again is now - Germany stands up," with Chancellor Scholz also backing the call for solidarity with the Jewish community.
8. The festival of Hanukkah, which commemorates the Rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, is an important time for the Jewish community in Germany and around the world, providing a message of hope and unity in the face of adversity.
9. The terror threat in Germany, as demonstrated by recent precautionary arrests, serves as a reminder that unity and solidarity are essential in the fight against hate and extremism, especially during the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah.

Source: www.stern.de