Serge Dahan, President of B’nai B’rith Europe, joins the call for a solidarity gathering of the Jewish community in Berlin, which invited Jews and non-Jews to wear a kippah today, the 25th of April 2018.  

Following the aggression of two young Jews wearing a kippah in Berlin, the Jewish community advised its fellow-believers not to wear a kippah, in certain neighbourhoods in Berlin but also in other cities.

Radical islam and active anti-zionism daily contribute to Jewish hatred with its consequences. The last example of an antisemitic barbarous act of a great violence against two young Jews wearing kippas in a neighbourhood in Berlin is equally intolerable and unacceptable.

However, having to arbitrate between one’s security and one’s religious freedom is a false debate. The German government must, like all European governments, guarantee both rights with the same rigour and intransigeance.

The security of German Jews, like the security of all Germans,, is non negotiable. To renounce one’s identity and values cannot be the answer to hatred.

Judaism cannot be hidden, otherwise it would mean to accept the victory of the enemies of democracy, Germany, freedom and brotherhood, and Jews.

The recent story of attacks against Jews reminds us that if needed, the Jewish people will not give up anymore. The pride of being European and Jewish will remain intact and indisputable to say no to hatred, no to antisemitism, yes to live together, yes to freely and safely practice one’s religion in Germany, as well as in the rest of Europe.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the attack. “This is absolutely a terrible incident and we must act,” she said.

For Serge Dahan Président of B’ nai B’ rith Europe, the Jews of Germany and the Jews in Europe must continue to carry the Kippah and to practice their Judaism in full safety.