German Cabinet Approves First National Plan to Combat Antisemitism and Foster Jewish Life

Germany’s Cabinet approved last week the country’s first-ever program directly geared toward combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life.

The 52-page “National Strategy Against Antisemitism and for Jewish Life” — which can be read in full (in German) here —  includes “best practices and recommends new actions to be taken on political and societal levels,” JTA reported.

“We have reached a milestone today,” Dr. Felix Klein —  the Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight against Antisemitism — was quoted by DW as saying.

Five realms of action — “data collection, research and accurate assessment of antisemitism; education as prevention; new approaches to Holocaust remembrance; increasing security; and making current and past Jewish life in Germany visible” — are highlighted in the strategy.

Addressing the 2022 Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism in Athens, Greece, last week, Klein said, “Recognizing antisemitism in both its old and new forms is an important step in tackling it, and our strategy provides help and guidance in doing this.”

Fighting antisemitism is a task for the “whole of society,” Klein added.

“This means that our national strategy is not directed only at state bodies, but also civil society,” he noted.