Jewish community in Bonn Jews in Bonn are afraid, says Margaret Traub
Bonn · The head of the Jewish community speaks in an interview about fears and verbal abuse in daily life.
People of the Jewish faith do not feel safe in Bonn. This is the assessment of Margaret Traub, the long-standing head of the Jewish synagogue community, which has around 1000 members. Jews in Bonn would not dare to go out onto the streets wearing their traditional head covering, the kippah, said Traub in an interview with the General Anzeiger.
In recent years there has been anti-Semitic graffiti at the synagogue in Bonn and at the Jewish Cemetery. However, Traub also reports of daily verbal abuse. “Previously it was right wing extremists; now the attacks are coming from the mainstream of society,” emphasises the community leader. The situation has worsened over the last three or four years, as a result of which she has asked the police for increased protection. Today, officers are regularly present during events at the synagogue.
Traub is demanding that society talk more about the “anti-Semitism virus.” The community has had positive experiences with school classes who came for guided tours of the synagogue and are often very well informed and interested.
Margaret Traub is sceptical about the new federal government’s plans to appoint an anti-Semitism commissioner. “I don’t believe that will change anything,” says the community leader.
(Original text: bau. Translation: kc)
