German Chancellor Expresses 'Shame and Anger' Over Antisemitism During Commemoration of Jewish Massacre Anniversary

Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, expressed 'shame and anger' at a ceremony in a synagogue in Berlin on Thursday, November 9, regarding the recent wave of antisemitic incidents in the country. He warned that Germany will not tolerate antisemitism. Scholz stated, 'Any form of antisemitism poisons our society. We will not tolerate such a thing.' These remarks came after a surge of antisemitic incidents in Germany following Hamas's attacks on Israel on October 7 and Israel's retaliatory strikes. According to Reuters, several synagogues in Germany were targeted, resulting in damages, and multiple attacks on Jewish individuals were reported. Scholz noted that the synagogue where the ceremony took place was one of the thousands that were damaged or destroyed during the 'Kristallnacht' in 1938, a nationwide pogrom against Jews in Germany and Austria that occurred on November 9, 1938. During this pogrom, at least 91 Jews were killed, about 7,500 Jewish businesses were vandalized, and nearly 30,000 Jewish men and boys were arrested. Scholz stated that these attacks are reminiscent of the Holocaust, during which approximately six million Jews were killed by Nazi Germany. He also mentioned that Germany has taken measures to combat antisemitism, such as new citizenship laws that clarify that anyone who is antisemitic cannot obtain German citizenship. Scholz emphasized the importance of education about the Holocaust, stating that with Germany now being a major destination for immigrants, understanding the Holocaust is crucial. He added, 'Generations who experienced it firsthand are no longer with us to share their observations. Therefore, we have a responsibility to educate future generations about the Holocaust.'