Central Council of Jews in Germany

Robert Sesselmann, center, visits a butcher shop in Sonneberg, Germany on April 27, 2023. (Robert Sesselmann)

German far-right party wins its first county leadership post, rising in polls

Victory of AfD’s candidate in rural Sonneberg area reflects rising popularity of anti-immigration party; Jewish group says party’s surge is something we ‘cannot simply accept’

June 25, 2023, 11:46 pm

German far-right party wins its first county leadership post, rising in polls

Victory of AfD’s candidate in rural Sonneberg area reflects rising popularity of anti-immigration party; Jewish group says party’s surge is something we ‘cannot simply accept’

By AP and ToI Staff

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (C) and President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany Josef Schuster (2nd-L) attend a commemoration service on the first anniversary of the antisemitic attack on the synagogue in Halle, Germany, on October 9, 2020. (Ronny Hartmann/AFP)

April 27, 2023, 9:26 pm

Germany boosts annual funding for Jewish umbrella group by 70%

Increased budget for Central Council of Jews in Germany is meant to increase security and help support new Jewish Academy in Frankfurt

By Toby Axelrod

Illustrative: A service at the Abraham Geiger College in Potsdam near Berlin. (photo credit: Margrit Schmidt)

March 9, 2023, 2:26 pm

10 months into leadership crisis, more strife over German rabbinical schools’ future

After scandal-ridden Rabbi Walter Homolka left the schools he founded and led, the community that bought him out is sparring with Germany’s biggest Jewish group over funding

By Toby Axelrod

Rabbi Walter Homolka, rector of the Abraham Geiger College, in the Liberal Jewish community's synagogue in Hanover, Germany in December 2016. (Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images/JTA)

January 30, 2023, 4:36 am

Germany’s liberal rabbinical association expels rabbi at center of sweeping scandal

Decision comes amid investigation into abuse of power, sexual harassment at rabbinical seminary under Rabbi Walter Homolka

By Toby Axelrod

Rabbi Walter Homolka (2-R), Rector of the Abraham Geiger College, rabbi Walter Jacob (R), President of the Abraham Geiger College, and rabbi Denise L. Eger (2-L), President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), in the Liberal Jewish community’s synagogue in Hanover, Germany, in 2016. (Photo by Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images)

January 14, 2023, 4:04 am

In twist, scandal-plagued German rabbi cedes rabbinical schools to Berlin Jews

Walter Homolka suddenly sells stake in two institutions housed in the University of Potsdam after sexual harassment investigation against his husband reveals a wider abuse of power

By Toby Axelrod

December 8, 2022, 10:35 pm

German rabbi exits leadership roles as report confirms allegations against him

Investigators commissioned by main Jewish group find that possibly criminal abuse of power and sexual harassment occurred at liberal rabbinical seminary under Rabbi Walter Homolka

By Toby Axelrod

Josef Schuster, the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, attends a press conference in Frankfurt on November 30, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

December 1, 2022, 6:15 pm

Iran said suspected of attacks on German synagogues, threat to local Jewish leader

Report says authorities believe German-Iranian man who fled country has operational command over Revolutionary Guard plots in Germany

By ToI Staff

Rabbi Walter Homolka, former rector of the Abraham Geiger College, in the Liberal Jewish community's synagogue in Hanover, Germany in December 2016. (Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images)

May 9, 2022, 7:50 pm

Head of German rabbinical school takes leave after husband accused of harassment

Rabbi Walter Homolka suspends duties in Jewish community and seminary at University of Potsdam after report detailing student’s sexual harassment complaint and ‘climate of fear’

By Toby Axelrod

People gather in front of the Westin Hotel in Leipzig, Germany, on October 5, 2021, to show solidarity with the musician Gil Ofarim. (Dirk Knofe/dpa via AP)

October 18, 2021, 12:14 am

New video seems to challenge singer’s claim of antisemitism at German hotel

In security footage, Star of David necklace does not appear to be visible around Gil Ofarim’s neck, despite his claims that he was told to remove it if he wanted to check in

By ToI Staff

Bishop Christian Stäblein visits the burial site of Max Friedländer, a Jewish Protestant musicologist.(Evangelical Church in Berlin-Brandenburg and Silesian Upper Lusatia)

October 13, 2021, 11:20 am

Church ‘mistake’ sees German neo-Nazi’s ashes buried in Jewish musician’s plot

Authorities say they are reviewing moving remains of Holocaust-denier Henry Hafenmayer from spot where Max Friedländer had been interred

By Stuart Winer

Screen capture from video of Gil Ofarim, a German-Israeli singer, explaining how he had been denied a hotel room in Leipzig, Germany, because he was wearing a Star of David necklace. (Screenshot from Instagram video via JTA)

October 6, 2021, 8:53 pm

Protests grow after singer says German hotel refused him over Star of David

Hundreds gather at Westin Leipzig following video from Israeli-German dual citizen Gil Ofarim, a local celebrity, who claims check-in manager told him to hide his pendant

By JTA and ToI Staff

A screenshot from video of singer Gil Ofarim posted to his Instagram account, on October 5, 2021. (Screenshot/Instagram)

October 5, 2021, 11:20 pm

German Jewish group condemns hotel for turning away singer wearing Star of David

Central Council of Jews in Germany slams ‘antisemitic hostility’ toward German-Israeli musician Gil Ofarim, who alleges he was told to remove his pendant if he wanted to check in

By Kirsten Grieshaber

Palestinians holding Hamas movement green flags attend a protest in solidarity with Muslim worshipers in Jerusalem, in Gaza City, April 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

June 25, 2021, 3:02 pm

Hamas flag banned in Germany under new terror law

German lawmaker says the move will send ‘a clear signal to our Jewish citizens’ after several antisemitic pro-Palestinian rallies in the country

By AFP

In this file photo, police use water canons to clear a blocked road near the German federal parliament, as people attend a protest rally in Berlin, Germany, against the coronavirus restrictions in Germany in July 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, file)

June 15, 2021, 3:52 pm

German officials, Jewish groups warn far-right extremism on the rise

Head of Jewish umbrella group says report shows ‘shocking extent’ to which threat has grown; authorities say neo-Nazis sought to join protests against virus restrictions

By Frank Jordans

Demonstrators at a pro-Palestinian rally in Berlin, May 12, 2021 (video screenshot)

May 13, 2021, 4:47 pm

Germany vows ‘no tolerance’ after Israel-flag burning outside synagogues

FM Heiko Maas promises ‘unwavering’ protection for Jewish houses of worship, following anti-Israel protests amid fighting in Gaza

By AFP and ToI Staff