Friendship and Courage: Israel Day in Berlin

On April 25, 2025, Berlin’s Wittenbergplatz pulsed with a spirit of resilience, pride, and unwavering friendship. Israel Day, organized by the German-Israeli Society Berlin and Brandenburg, unfolded in the very heart of Germany’s capital, and I had the privilege to be there, documenting a day that will remain etched in my memory forever.

Long before the first speeches, Berlin’s police had fortified the area with barriers and security measures, a reminder of the times we live in. And yet, despite the challenges, what we witnessed was nothing less than a miracle: Israeli and German flags dancing together in the spring breeze, hundreds gathering not in fear but in celebration of life, friendship, and hope.

Israeli cuisine filled the air with the rich scents of falafel, sabich, shawarma, and Tel Aviv chicken, while homemade lemonade cooled hands and hearts alike. Stalls brimmed with information about Israel’s educational programs; institutions like the Jewish High School had a proud presence. It was a living testament to the bond between Israel and Germany, a bond sealed through the pain of history and nurtured by the promise of the future, an affirmation that Jewish life is here to stay and will never be silenced again.

Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor made his way through the colorful stands, engaging, listening, and smiling. When I asked him why it was important to be here today, his answer was simple yet powerful:

“First of all, it’s amazing, especially in a time like that, that we have such a thing here in Germany. This shows friendship, friendship in hard times. It’s really nice to see Israel Day in the middle of Berlin. It gives us all good energy, and it’s a good start with 60 years of diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany.”

Prosor’s speech later that day resonated deeply. He reminded us that the foundation of Israeli-German relations must be youth exchange, the younger generation carrying the torch of remembrance and hope. He called on all to come visit Israel and see its vibrancy firsthand.

And then, with the strength that only truth can provide, he said what must be said: that Jews cannot rely on anyone but themselves. That there is only one Jewish state, the State of Israel, and that it must be defended relentlessly, day and night, not just for its people but for the betterment of the world.

While some worry about “humanitarian conditions” in Gaza, no one demands that the Red Cross fulfill its primary obligation.

Prosor spoke passionately about the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas. His voice, usually measured, burned with righteous anger as he called out the world’s silence, the Red Cross, which should be demanding access to the hostages, instead, as he sharply put it, “acting as taxi drivers” for their captors. He made it clear: it is our duty, our sacred obligation, to bring these hostages home.

Prosor’s words echoed a painful reality: after October 7, 2023, antisemitism has erupted from all sides, right-wing, left-wing, Islamist, and even academic institutions. The demonization and delegitimization of Israel seep into daily life, wearing down the spirit of justice, just like water wears down the stone. But we must not allow it. “Silence is not the answer,” he declared.

“I have seen hope in Israel,” he said, “even in all the pain.”

Hope, not as a wish, but as a duty.

Adding a deeply human layer to the day, Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, a beacon of light in Berlin’s Jewish community, shared a story that moved every heart present. He told the story of a wise rabbi and a boy who tried to trick him. The boy caught a butterfly, hid it behind his back, and asked the rabbi whether it was alive or dead. The boy planned to crush the butterfly if the rabbi said it was alive or release it if he said it was dead, ensuring the rabbi would be wrong either way. The rabbi paused, smiled, and replied: “It is all in your hands.”

With this timeless story, Rabbi Teichtal reminded everyone that our future, our hope, lies entirely in our own hands. “Israel is the heart and soul of the Jewish people,” he proclaimed. “We are not victims; we are ambassadors!”

Standing at Wittenbergplatz, hearing these words, surrounded by blue and white flags, it was impossible not to feel the pulse of something far greater than a single event. This was not just a celebration. This was a living, roaring declaration to the world: Am Yisrael Chai, the People of Israel live and will live forever.