A Continuation of the Holocaust: The Jewish Community of Wuppertal Confronts the Legacy of Anti-Semitism

A Continuation of the Holocaust: The Jewish Community of Wuppertal Confronts the Legacy of Anti-Semitism

Blog Article

In Wuppertal, Germany, Leonid Goldberg, head of the Jewish community, is grappling with an overwhelming and tragic connection between past and present. In the city's synagogue, he contemplates a harrowing thought: "We shouldn't miss the moment when we have to leave." The thought resonates with a disturbing parallel to the horrors faced by Jews during the Holocaust. Over 80 years ago, in 1943, former Wuppertal Rabbi Joseph Norden met his demise in the Theresienstadt concentration camp at the hands of the Nazis. Today, his grandson, Jochanaan Meinrath, and great-grandson, Manny, are feared to have become victims of Hamas terrorists during the October 7 massacre in Israel.

This grim connection, which links the rise of anti-Semitism under the Nazis to the anti-Semitic violence witnessed in Israel, deeply affects Goldberg and the Jewish community of Wuppertal. The massacre in Israel has hit with an overwhelming sense of deja vu. For the community in Wuppertal, it feels as though the ghosts of the past have come alive once again.

The connection is not merely historical. Rabbi Joseph Norden's sermons, delivered in the 1930s, are hauntingly relevant today. In 1933, as Adolf Hitler ascended to power, Rabbi Norden delivered a powerful sermon during Passover, urging his congregation to find hope in the bitter and sweet moments of life. He reflected on the symbolism of maror and charoset (the bitter herb and the sweet paste) during Passover, questioning if there could be sweetness in the face of so much suffering. Rabbi Norden’s message, framed by his congregation’s own dire circumstances, was one of resilience and hope in the midst of bitterness.

However, for those connected to the Jewish community today, this hope is increasingly difficult to hold on to. Ulrike Schrader, who oversees the Old Synagogue Memorial in Wuppertal, has recently received tragic news about the fate of Rabbi Norden’s descendants. After the October 7 attack, Jochanaan Meinrath and his son Manny have been missing. Their family had escaped Nazi persecution, with Jochanaan’s parents managing to reach Palestine before the Holocaust’s darkest days. Now, it is feared that this family, too, has been lost to the horrors of anti-Semitic violence once again. Schrader reflects that it is "terrible how the hatred of Jews by the National Socialists and today's anti-Semitism intersect in this family history."

This tragic intersection of the past and present has left Leonid Goldberg uncertain. He acknowledges that the rise of anti-Semitism within certain immigrant circles has created a significant strain on Jewish communities across Germany. The proliferation of pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the aftermath of the Hamas attacks has only added fuel to the fire, further complicating the already volatile climate.

Despite these challenges, Goldberg takes solace in the acts of solidarity shown by non-Jewish citizens. In the aftermath of the massacre, over a hundred people gathered at the synagogue for a service, offering a moment of unity and comfort. Demonstrations of solidarity have also taken place in local towns such as Wuppertal, Solingen, and Remscheid. However, Goldberg has noted the absence of outreach from the Muslim communities in the neighborhood, further fueling his doubts about the current climate of safety for Jews in Germany.

In a moment of reflection, Goldberg shares his feelings of despair about the future, stating that he no longer believes that Germany is a safe place for Jews. He speaks grimly of the possibility that the Jewish community may one day be forced to leave. “The suitcases are packed and ready,” he says, half-joking yet deeply sincere, illustrating his profound fear for the future.

As Goldberg stands in his office, facing the New Synagogue in Wuppertal, the weight of history presses heavily on him. The synagogue, a place of refuge and worship, stands in stark contrast to the Old Synagogue, which was desecrated and destroyed during the Kristallnacht pogrom of 1938. Goldberg’s concern now is not just for his community’s survival, but for the preservation of Jewish identity in a world where such hatred continues to persist.

For Goldberg and many others in the Jewish community of Wuppertal, the October 7 massacre is not just a tragic event; it is a painful reminder of a history that refuses to be forgotten. It is a reminder that the struggle against anti-Semitism, and the fight for safety and security, is far from over. The future of the Jewish community remains uncertain, but Goldberg’s vigilance and his readiness to act reflect the resilience that has characterized the Jewish people for centuries.

https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/jewish-life-in-germany-a-sudden-ominous-sense-of-insecurity-a-e21696e4-35f8-4c32-9300-f875885ef638