Merz visibly Moved to Tears During Munich synagogue Reopening Speech
MUNICH – Chancellor Friedrich Merz became visibly emotional during the reopening of the Reichenbachstrasse synagogue in Munich, pausing adn appearing to fight back tears as he spoke about the Holocaust and the resurgence of antisemitism in Germany.A video of the moment has quickly circulated,drawing attention to the Chancellor’s powerful address.
Merz’s emotional response comes at a time of heightened concern over rising antisemitism in Germany and across Europe, fueled in part by increased immigration from countries were anti-Jewish sentiment remains prevalent. The reopening of the Munich synagogue, destroyed during Kristallnacht in 1938 and rebuilt in recent years, symbolizes both the resilience of the Jewish community and the ongoing need for vigilance against hate. The speech underscores the German government’s commitment to protecting Jewish life and combating all forms of antisemitism.
During his speech,Merz expressed his shame that antisemitism continues to exist in Germany. “I would like to tell you how much this is ashamed of me: as a Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, but also as a German, as a child of post-war generation, as a child who grew up with the ‘never again’ as an order as a duty, as a promise,” he stated.
He further criticized a perceived complacency regarding antisemitism brought to Germany by recent immigrants. “We have closed our eyes in politics and society for too long that the people who have come to Germany in recent decades have been socialized in countries in origin in which anti-Semitism is almost state doctrine, Israelhass has already been taught to children.”
Merz pledged to prioritize the safety and security of Jewish life in Germany, stating, “I would like that Jewish life in Germany can be done again without police protection in Germany. We must not get used to the fact that this has been apparently necessary for decades.” He affirmed the federal government’s commitment to fighting “every form of old and new anti-Semitism” in the country.
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