Hello and Shalom,

Welcome! Thank you for your interest in my website, where you will find current updates and background information on the fight against antisemitism, on Jewish life in Germany, and on my work as Federal Government Commissioner. In this capacity, I am pleased and grateful that, 75 years after the Shoah and the crimes of National Socialism, vibrant and self-confident Jewish life in all its diversity has developed in our country. This also bears witness to the strength of our living democracy.

At the same time, however, the effects of National Socialism continue to resonate and to influence the present; they are still part of our reality today. Everyone living in Germany bears responsibility for remembering this. History demands it of us. A society is strong only if it faces every aspect of its past honestly and unflinchingly. Combating antisemitism is an ongoing task, requiring steadily renewed effort. Antisemitism, that is, hatred of Jews, is not directed only at Jewish people; it is an expression of a deeply anti-democratic mindset and rejects the achievements of our modern, free society. The people of Germany are responsible for upholding the fundamental rights guaranteed in our Constitution, regardless of religion, origin, nationality and political convictions. These rights ensure that the dignity of every individual is inviolable. In this society, we all have the responsibility to oppose antisemitism in all its forms. Fighting antisemitism means defending the values which constitute the foundation of our peaceful and prosperous life together as a society.

My primary aim – and fortunately I am finding growing support for it – is to raise awareness among the public and to encourage them to get involved in combating antisemitism, while also encouraging those who have so far remained silent to speak up when that is called for. The minority who engage in antisemitic behaviour must know that they cannot count on the silence of the majority. They must be made to feel that their actions are contemptible and that inciting hatred of Jews, like other forms of group-focused enmity, is not freedom of expression.

Antisemitism today has returned with renewed strength. In Germany, Jews and people thought to be Jews are insulted, spit on and threatened in public; on social media, they face an absolute barrage of abuse. Antisemitism has become so obvious and visible that we need new strategies to fight it.

The creation of my office marks a turning point. On 18 January 2018, the German Bundestag voted by a large majority to adopt a resolution calling for decisive action to combat antisemitism and condemning hatred of Jews in all its forms.

Since this office was established, we have achieved a great deal. But the horrific attack on the synagogue in Halle in October 2019 shows that we must do even more. It is important to find the right combination of preventive and punitive measures.

I am working to further improve the coordination of activities to fight antisemitic developments. Many people in our country are involved in these activities. An important step in the effort to coordinate activities was the founding last year of the Joint Federal and State Commission to fight antisemitism and protect Jewish life. The federal states are represented in the joint commission by their antisemitism commissioners. I co-chair the commission together with one of the state commissioners in rotation. Fifteen federal states have already appointed an antisemitism commissioner or have announced their intention to do so. I am very pleased about this, because the fight against antisemitism requires establishing a common front with the federal states, which are responsible for around 80 percent of measures to combat antisemitism. Education, police, criminal prosecution and sentencing: all are the responsibility of the federal states, which now make up a strong network to oppose antisemitism.

I also believe it is important to increase public awareness of Jewish life in Germany, which has been firmly rooted here for some 1700 years. The impressive Jewish contributions in the fields of science, medicine, literature, music and art in Germany are too often forgotten or overlooked. So I hope you will view this website as encouragement: encouragement to become interested in Jewish life. To make contact. To read up. To speak out against hatred of Jews – and to speak up for our democratic society.
Yours sincerely,