German Chancellor Merz: “Jewish Life in Germany More Threatened Than Ever”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned on Monday that Jewish life in Germany is under growing threat, as he addressed leaders of his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party and members of the local Jewish community at a meeting held inside a Chabad synagogue and educational campus in Berlin.

The remarks came as Germany’s Jewish leadership reports rising security concerns and a retreat from public life, with officials urging the protection of Jewish communities as a central national responsibility rooted in the country’s post-Holocaust identity.

“Jewish life in Germany is more threatened than it has been in a long time,” Merz said. “We are seeing a sharp rise in criminal offenses, assaults, and anti-Semitic graffiti.” He added, “We stand fully and without any restriction behind the Jewish women and men living in Germany.”

The CDU, a center-right political party led by Merz, chose to hold its executive meeting at the Chabad site as a public show of support. Party officials said the move was intended to signal that Jewish life “belongs to Germany” and must be actively protected.

Alongside his remarks, Merz backed a series of policy steps aimed at addressing antisemitism. These include expanding prevention programs, setting national standards for teacher training, and increasing classroom education about Jewish life, the founding of Israel, and Middle East history. The proposals also call for stricter penalties for antisemitic acts, closer monitoring of antisemitism both online and offline, and denying public funding to organizations that oppose Jewish life or the State of Israel.

The statement follows a recent report by the Central Council of Jews in Germany, the main representative body for Jewish communities in the country. In a survey of 102 communities, 68% said Jewish life is less safe than it was before October 7. The report also found that 21% of communities have canceled events due to security concerns, while only 13% expressed a positive outlook for the future of Jewish life in Germany.

Separate data from RIAS, Germany’s antisemitism monitoring network, recorded 8,627 antisemitic incidents in 2024, marking a 77% increase compared to the previous year. In the same period, 46 of the 102 surveyed communities reported experiencing incidents directly, many involving property damage or graffiti.

Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, who hosted the CDU meeting at the Berlin Chabad campus, described the visit as a “day of confidence” and “a clear commitment and sign of encouragement for Jewish life in Germany and for the whole world.”

Speaking directly to Jewish schoolchildren during the visit, Merz said, “We protect you. We stand by your side,” emphasizing the government’s stated commitment to ensuring the safety and continuity of Jewish life in the country.