Who Will Light the Menorah at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate this Year?

Anyone without the experience of an American Jew living in Berlin would be convinced of a new reality. The Left (Die Linke) party has won the September 20th Berlin state election and will now bring its antisemitic views and policies to the governing halls of the German capital. Wouldn’t you be inclined to believe the unified judgment of the head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, the head of the Jewish Community of Berlin, and the embattled Chancellor Merz himself?

This obsession with the impending doom that awaits Berlin’s Jews comes mainly from those who equate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Hateful acts against Germany’s Jews are on the rise, but are the haters anti-Semites, anti-Zionists, or anti-Israelis? It’s a debate that’s become more inflamed as Germans increasingly condemn Israel’s actions in the West Bank and Gaza. The loudest voices in these arguments do not always represent majority viewpoints. They often come from entrenched interests such as the official Jewish Community of Berlin, which represents a fraction of the city-state’s Jewish population.

Given the Left Party’s emphasis on a Berlin for Everyone and protecting all minority groups that face discrimination, one wonders if this unity theme rubs some Jewish interest groups the wrong way. Could some of the special protections and resources that benefit Jewish Berliners be reallocated if a Leftist mayor takes office? Where will Jewish interests fit into a broader social justice-oriented coalition? 

The Left Party’s broad-based approach to fighting hatred and bigotry echoes the views of some antisemitism experts. In a recent article for The Atlantic, James Loeffler, Jewish History Professor at Johns Hopkins, wrote about the need to “de-exceptionalize antisemitism.” While he was writing about the US context, which does not account for Germany’s unique history, he makes a strong case that we need a new model, one that will require Jewish leaders to resist the politicization of Jewish fear.

Holocaust legacy remains a defining aspect of German democracy. The importance of “never forgetting” and addressing contemporary hatred towards Jews can’t be underestimated. But as numerous prominent Jewish and non-Jewish community members have stated, antisemitism is a problem throughout society and throughout all German political parties. Some, such as the Director of the Center for Research on Anti-Semitism at the Technical University of Berlin, claim that the issue of antisemitism is being exploited to influence the formation of Berlin’s next government.

The fear-mongering began on the morning after the election. Yet how many dismissers of The Left have read the party’s 5-point plan to strengthen and support Jewish life in Berlin? Plans are just that, words not yet backed by actions. But The Left’s in depth plan is well-crafted, giving special attention to supporting the many diverse ways “of defining and living Jewish identity” (jüdische Identität zu definieren und zu leben). This is a refreshing note for those pockets of Jews whose voices and interests are under-represented in the public discourse.

Take for example the annual lighting of the Hanukkah menorah at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate. For the past 22 years, this ritual has been carried out by Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, an Orthodox rabbi who is president of Berlin’s Chabad Jewish Education Center. Would a more progressive state government consider giving this honor to a female, Reform, or, hold your breath, an LGBTQ rabbi?

The predominant image of a Jew in Germany is repeatedly portrayed as an Orthodox in full traditional regalia. Orthodox Judaism is thriving in Berlin and that’s great, but so are other branches and movements that cover the spectrum from highly conservative to liberal and egalitarian. Repeatedly presenting the same image of the ultra religious Jew contributes to stereotyping a community that is highly diverse. Shaking up the mainstream political party dominance is needed to elevate new voices and help shed more light on the myriad ways of being Jewish in Germany.

I was recently interviewed for an article about the Berlin election results and was disappointed to see the usual slant towards presenting a deepening shadow that’s been cast upon Berlin Jews. The article, among others, ultimately claimed that despite taking first place in the Berlin election, the Left Party was unlikely to become part of a new governing coalition. This prediction may well be off the mark. 

This week The Left has begun talks with the Greens and the Social Democrats to form a new governing coalition. The government that will eventually emerge from these talks remains to be seen. I voted for the Greens and hope the moderating influences of the two centrist parties will help alleviate all the Angst in the air. This tri-party coalition may bring the leadership needed to foster a more positive environment for all Berlin minorities who face discrimination.