Germany Tagesschau
Steinmeier on November pogroms: “Reason to open your eyes”
On the anniversary of the November pogroms of 1938, Federal President Steinmeier emphasized Germany's historical responsibility. The fact that more Jews are becoming victims of violence in this country makes him angry
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Steinmeier on growing anti-Semitism “reason to open your eyes” As of: November 9th, 2026 • 4:51 p.m
On the anniversary of the November pogroms of 1938, Federal President Steinmeier emphasized Germany's historical responsibility. The fact that more Jews are becoming victims of violence in this country makes him angry. There is “reason to open your eyes.”
The victims of the Nazi November pogroms were commemorated in several places in Germany today. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier took part in a memorial service at the Buchenwald Memorial near Weimar. There he expressed his dismay at the many anti-Semitic incidents in Germany.
“We must oppose hatred of Jews, regardless of whether it comes from the political fringes on the right and left, from the center of society or from Islamism,” he said. The democratic constitutional state and society are called upon.
The Central Council of Jews warns that anti-Semitism has become normalized in public spaces. more
It is a great gift that Jewish life in Germany has blossomed again, said Steinmeier. "But that's precisely why I'm deeply ashamed that Jewish people are once again being insulted, threatened and even physically attacked on German streets and squares today."
The fact that the number of anti-Semitic crimes has risen to an all-time high since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 and that synagogues need to be protected more makes him “sad, no: angry.” But Steinmeier also said: "We have reason to hope. Because our constitutional state is solid. It does not waver. But there is also reason to open our eyes and sharpen our senses.
Iranian networks are also believed to be behind attack plans in this country. more
The federal government's new anti-Semitism commissioner, Katharina von Schnurbein, also made an appeal in the joint morning program of ARD and ZDF. In the event of anti-Jewish incidents, society must show its flag. Jews in Germany felt increasingly unsafe. “They are considering whether they should wear the Star of David” or “put it under their sweater.”
The fact that Jews in this country are also being blamed for the situation in the Middle East is extremely dangerous, said von Schnurbein. The political scientist, who has been in office since mid-October, emphasized that they had nothing to do with the situation 3,000 kilometers away. Fighting anti-Semitism is therefore not the task of those affected, but of society as a whole.
von Schnurbein expressly considers criticism of the Israeli government to be legitimate. In their view, it becomes anti-Semitic when Israel is demonized or the state's right to exist is denied.
This topic in the program: MDR aktuell - The news radio | News | November 9, 2026 | 3:00 p.m. tagesschau.de | New anti-Semitism commissioner: Society must show its flag | November 9, 2026 | 3:00 p.m