To mark the fifth anniversary of the attack on the synagogue this Wednesday, several events will take place in Halle. The central act of commemoration begins at 5 p.m. in the Ulrichskirche. At the time of the first shot, at 12:03 p.m., all the church bells in the city were ringing. A commemoration with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will also take place in the synagogue at midday. Afterwards, the Jewish community ceremoniously receives a new Torah scroll, the last letter of which is then written.

»The assassin wanted to destroy Jewish life in Halle. He didn’t succeed. The new Torah is now also a sign of new life for us,” says community chairman Max Privorozki when asked. When asked to what extent his community of around 500 members can ever calm down again, he replies with a shrug: “We’re continuing to work. The entire world cannot calm down. The solidarity after the attack was incredibly great at the time. »But that’s not automatically the case. Now, in the wake of the war against Israel, I miss her a little. I would like to see even clearer statements on that.”

Steinmeier: Valve opened for hatred of Jews

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that the attack on October 9, 2019 had forever changed the lives of those involved: “Those who survived the terror in Halle bear the heavy burden of that terrible day. For all of you there is an irrevocable before and an after.”

Since Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel a year ago, an outlet for unbridled hatred of Jews seems to have opened, said Steinmeier: “Too often the Internet becomes a hate filling station where people – often young men – recharge themselves. «

In the afternoon, Steinmeier visited the “Tekiez” memorial site, which is run by the Friedenskreis Halle eV. It is located on the site of the former “Kiez-Keber” where the assassin murdered 20-year-old Kevin S. The Federal President then visited the synagogue, where a silent remembrance had already taken place at 12 p.m. at the time of the assassination attempt five years ago.

On October 9, 2019, the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur, the right-wing terrorist Stephan B. carried out an attack on the synagogue in Halle, killing two uninvolved passers-by. He seriously injured two other people. His attempt to enter the synagogue failed at the door. The Naumburg Higher Regional Court sentenced B. to life imprisonment followed by preventive detention in December 2020.

Prime Minister Haselhoff calls for responsibility

Watching or looking away are not options when hatred happens, said Saxony-Anhalt’s Prime Minister. Reiner Haseloff (CDU) called for shared responsibility in the fight against hatred of Jews and extremism. “Remembrance also means responsibility: Be it in schools, on social media or in public discourse, we must make a clear commitment everywhere that anti-Semitism, racism and right-wing extremism find no room.”

A commemoration is also planned in the evening at the second crime scene, the kebab snack bar. The former “KiezDöner” is now called “Tekiez” and is now just a memorial room where the doors are open twice a week in the afternoon to drink coffee, cook together, exchange ideas, mourn and remember. There are also events such as readings and workshops. The initiative came from the operators Ismet and Rifat Tekin, who saw the attacker shoot a man in their shop.

Döner snack bar now a memorial

There are flyers and posters hanging in the “Tekiez” that are intended to show that the attack in Halle is part of a long series of right-wing extremist acts of violence. »The memory is very present for us, but keeping it alive in public is very difficult. “The interest is very much focused on specific occasions like right now,” reports project coordinator Yamin Hamid when asked.

In their opinion, the city does not really recognize the “Tekiez” as a memorial site. Although financing is secured until the end of 2025, the future remains open. »This place is still important for many survivors, they tell us that again and again. Just knowing that this memorial even exists gives them strength, even if they don’t live anywhere near here,” says Hamid.

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The synagogue in Halle had no police protection at the time of the attack. This subsequently led to a nationwide review of security precautions for Jewish places of worship. The federal and state governments promised to better protect synagogues. Research by the “Media Service Integration” showed that most federal states have since paid money to Jewish institutions for additional protective measures. Previously, many Jewish communities had to finance measures such as bollards, entry gates, video surveillance and security personnel themselves. / with kna/ epd

On the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel with more than 1,200 deaths, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) expressed his solidarity with the citizens of Israel and the relatives of the victims.

A year ago, Hamas attacked Israel, killed, humiliated and raped more than a thousand Israeli people, and documented and filmed it all, said Scholz on the sidelines of a memorial ceremony in a synagogue in Hamburg-Eimsbüttel. »We are still shocked. And that’s why it’s so depressing to know that countless Israeli citizens, including many of them German citizens, are still being imprisoned in Gaza and are being held hostage.”

Scholz visited the Hohe Weide Synagogue, the synagogue of the Jewish Community of Hamburg, where he and around 500 guests remembered the victims of the attack on Israel.

Growing anti-Semitism “bad and depressing”

It is now necessary that there is a ceasefire soon, which is linked to the release of the hostages – “and that we assume our responsibility.” This also applies to Germany and to the situation here. “It is depressing to see that anti-Semitism is playing a larger role than in recent years and that has always been bad and depressing,” said the Chancellor.

Therefore, everything must be done to counteract and ensure that the Jewish citizens of Germany can live safely. »We will do this with all the options that our constitutional state provides us, but we will also do it as citizens and clearly side with our Jewish fellow citizens, who must be able to rely on us and rely on us can.”

Mr. Haran, how do you feel about the fact that your brother-in-law Tal Shoham has been held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip for almost a year now?
It’s unbelievable. Our world cannot function like this. Tal was abducted from a kibbutz while visiting family with his children. How can it be that a completely innocent father is held captive by a terrorist organization for so long? The news from Gaza is terrible; we constantly hear about the deaths of more people who have been abducted. My basic trust in the world is lost at the moment.

When was the last time you heard from him?
A neighbor saw terrorists drag Tal into a car and drive him towards Gaza on the evening of October 7th. He walked upright and appeared uninjured. That’s the only sign of life we ​​have of him. Otherwise we know absolutely nothing.

Her father was murdered, Tal’s wife, two children and her mother were taken hostage and later released. How are you doing?
I don’t like talking about personal things. Just this much: For us, October 7th continues to this day. We can only heal when Tal is back home with us.

What kind of person is Tal and what do you miss most?
He is a very gentle man and a family man through and through. Tal is also always curious and loves to learn things which he then shares with us. I miss the good conversations with him. But what I miss most is seeing him with his children and family.

How does the family deal with this tragedy?
We are currently fully focused on freeing Tal and all other hostages. It’s terrible that we have to say it, but it’s the reality: we no longer have trust in our government. So we have to do everything we can ourselves. For me, that means shouting Tal’s name to the world and ensuring that the fate of the hostages Hamas still holds in Gaza is not forgotten.

What would you like to share with the world?
That all countries, all governments must put pressure on Hamas and make it clear again and again: It is inhumane to hold civilians hostage. They must be freed!

You say you have lost faith in the world. Do you still have hope?
I – and my whole family – have huge hope! We are often surprised by bad news. But we are sure that Tal is alive and that at some point we will get the call: “He’s free, come hug him!”

Sabine Brandes spoke to the brother-in-law of the hostage Tal Shoham.