Politics · Germany · 5 hrs ago
Klöckner says defending Jewish life is a responsibility for all
Bundestag President Julia Klöckner called for everyone to defend Jewish life at the opening of Munich’s 40th Jewish Cultural Days.
The event took place at the Cuvilliés Theatre in Munich, Germany.
Klöckner recalled the Hamas attack on Israel’s Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, and a visit to the site.
She said the words “We will dance again” expressed a refusal to let terrorists have the last word.
She described Jewish culture as an essential part of shared culture and said its protection was not only the Jewish community’s duty.
Klöckner also condemned antisemitic incidents in Berlin, while former Bavarian justice minister Georg Eisenreich said antisemitism was at its worst level since the Second World War.
Charlotte Knobloch, head of Munich’s Jewish community, could not attend because she had to cancel at short notice on her 94th birthday.
Bundestag President Julia Klöckner said defending Jewish life is a responsibility shared by everyone.
She made the remarks at the opening of the 40th Jewish Cultural Days in Munich.
The event took place amid concerns about rising antisemitism in Germany and around the world.
Klöckner recalled Hamas’s attack on the Nova Festival site in Israel on October 7, 2023, which she had visited.
She said Jewish culture is an essential part of shared culture and belongs at the centre of society.
- Who
- Julia Klöckner, president of the German Bundestag, and other speakers including former Bavarian justice minister Georg Eisenreich.
- What
- Klöckner said defending Jewish life is a responsibility for everyone. She also spoke about antisemitism and the place of Jewish culture in society.
- When
- October 30, 2026, at the opening of the 40th Jewish Cultural Days.
- Where
- Cuvilliés Theatre, Munich, Germany.
- Why
- The event addressed Jewish culture and the growth of antisemitism in Germany and worldwide.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Hamas attacked the Nova Festival site in Israel, which Klöckner later visited.
Markus Söder and Charlotte Knobloch unveiled her star on the new Bavarian Path of Honour.
The 40th Jewish Cultural Days opened in Munich; Knobloch cancelled her attendance and celebrated her 94th birthday.
- Event
- 40th Jewish Cultural Days
- Venue
- Cuvilliés Theatre, Munich
- Main speaker
- Julia Klöckner, president of the German Bundestag
- Nova Festival attack
- October 7, 2023
- Absent guest
- Charlotte Knobloch, who turned 94 on October 30, 2026
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What people are saying
The defense of Jewish life is not a task for the Jewish community alone. It concerns us all.
Jewish culture is an ancient, self-evident and indispensable part of our shared culture.
We owe Jewish life not only remembrance. We owe it a present.
We are currently experiencing the worst wave of antisemitism since the Second World War in Germany and around the world.