Jusek Adlersztejn belongs to the Jewish community in Berlin and is active in various initiatives and associations as a politically engaged citizen. He observes the impact of October 7, 2023, on Jews in Germany with great concern – and makes an urgent appeal to each and every individual.
A guest commentary by Jusek Adlersztejn
Following the massacre of October 7, 2023, a campaign was immediately launched by all parties on the left of center, as well as by segments of Germany's Arab population, against Israel and those who expressed solidarity with Israel. In Neukölln, sweets were distributed in commemoration of the murders. Universities were occupied and vandalized, without the university administrations immediately intervening. The homes of Jewish citizens were marked with Stars of David, a Jewish student was beaten so badly he required hospitalization, and a Berlin magistrate expressed his respect for the political stance of a pro-Palestinian activist with a history of run-ins with the police, finding no intent to destroy in her exclamation "from the river to the sea.".
But the pinnacle of this campaign is the genocide lie. Genocide involves the systematic registration of all adolescents, children, infants, and pregnant women of a people or group with the sole intention of murdering them without exception, completely annihilating them, and thus denying that community any future.
None of this happened in the Gaza Strip. This lie fits seamlessly into the blood libel and the well poisoning myth. It's medieval and intended to declare Jews morally fair game. It's a pretext to enable worse things, as the attack on the synagogue in Manchester has already demonstrated. Meanwhile, it's become part of the "good form" of political discourse at all levels of society to spread this monstrosity. With each repetition, this falsehood becomes more of a truth.
As a result of this terror, the lives of Jewish citizens have drastically deteriorated. Young people refrain from wearing Jewish symbols, socialize only among themselves, and isolate themselves. Before their children start school, parents analyze not only the quality of the school but also the composition of the student body to prevent their child from being bullied.
The situation is quite similar at the universities, because no one knows whether Jewish students will be left unmolested or forced to recite obsequious pledges to Palestine so that a left-wing Kuffiyah mob will let them into the lecture halls, which hopefully haven't been destroyed. The universities in Berlin are already no-go areas. No mother or father in their right mind would even consider enrolling their child there.
"Levy, Cohen or Goldberg are obsolete"
Many small things in life need to be adapted. Anyone with a recognizably Jewish surname adopts an alias for Uber, Amazon, or, if they don't want to cook, for food deliveries. Levy, Cohen, or Goldberg are outdated – Müller, Meier, and Schmidt are all the rage.
The lowest point for the morale of German Jews can be found in the Berlin Jewish community newsletter. In every issue, members celebrating anniversaries are congratulated, but their surnames are abbreviated to their first initial, out of concern for their safety. A few pages later, however, the full first and last names of members are printed, for they have nothing to fear – these are the deceased. And so everyone contemplates emigration. Parents see no future for their children in Germany. This is the beginning of the end for postwar German Jewry.
But are we alone in this distress? How are our Christian brothers and sisters faring? The approaching Christmas season, with its peace, reflection, and contemplation, has long since become a target of terror. Are there any Christmas markets left that can operate without security measures and barriers against ramming attacks?
How many markets are not opening because the costs of protecting visitors and limiting their numbers are forcing them to close? How low have we sunk when such a visit always involves weighing tradition against threat? Parents go there with their children, grandparents with their grandchildren. That's family life.
This terror is an attack on the family, which is the core of our society, and aims to destroy our society. We cannot stand idly by. The first step: do not give in and speak the truth.
This article first appeared in our newspaper "Israelaktuell," issue 143. You can order the newspaper here . We would also be happy to send you several copies for distribution.
