Berlin Remembers October 7th Terror Against Israel: Candlelight, Silence, and Discord

Cantor Arie Zaloshinsky opened a commemoration at the Chabad synagogue in Berlin-Wilmersdorf with the Hebrew song 'Ani MaAmin,' meaning 'I Believe.' This song, a symbol of the struggle for survival, was also sung by Jews transported to Auschwitz during the Nazi era.

Zaloshinsky, visibly moved, performed the song in memory of the victims of the October 7th, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.

Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal hosted a 'memorial and tolerance prayer' in Berlin to mark the third anniversary of the attack. The area around the synagogue was heavily policed. Teichtal welcomed prominent local SPD, Left Party, and CDU politicians, along with federal officials, community members, and the Israeli ambassador. Left Party politician Elif Eralp was notably absent.

During a quiet hour, Teichtal named victims and recalled the strong solidarity shown in Berlin following the attack. "We will never be defeated. Never ever," he stated, "But we cannot do it alone." He urged for solidarity and demanded action beyond words, emphasizing the need for tangible support.

"This is a day Israelis will never forget," said Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor, beginning his address with "six twenty-eight," the time the attack began in Israel.

Again: 'Don't Buy from Jews'

Prosor also addressed rising antisemitism on German streets. He noted renewed boycott calls reminiscent of the Nazi era's "Don't buy from Jews" slogan. Jewish musicians are being pushed out of ensembles, and Prosor stated, "One must leave their Jewish identity at the coat check to be accepted." Jewish families, fearing for their safety, are sending their children to Jewish schools. The ambassador urged, "The firewall against antisemitism must stand on all sides."

The most impactful moments of the ceremony involved singing, candle lighting, and the recitation of three psalms. A young man whose grandmother survived the terror in a kibbutz read, followed by Ambassador Prosor, and then two young students from a Jewish school. Teichtal concluded, "You are the future."

Meanwhile, members of the 'Jewish Students Union' (JSU) created a memorial on Pariser Platz in front of the Brandenburg Gate, displaying empty chairs and set tables adorned with photos of victims and red paper anemone flowers. A large banner read: "No Forgiveness. No Forgetting."

Passersby paused at the memorial, with many expressing thanks, according to a JSU organizer. There were rare critical remarks. Relatives of victims also visited, which was deeply moving, he reported.

Accusations of Antisemitism and Leftists Showing 'No Empathy'

A young couple with a child laid white roses, expressing their "continued great pain." The man emphasized the importance of Jewish students keeping the memory alive. He then voiced his concern about the "drastic increase in antisemitism from all sides," particularly within the progressive left. He described "progressive forces" who "deny what happened on October 7th and show no empathy," stating he had lost many friendships.

A few minutes away, Bundestag President Julia Klöckner opened the parliamentary week. The CDU politician, dressed in black, remembered the anniversary of the terror, detailing the Hamas atrocities, the murders of children and families, and the fate of the hostages, before turning to the issue of antisemitism in Germany.

Klöckner urged active opposition in daily life, at work, and in leisure. She stressed that Jews must be able to live freely and safely in Germany, contrasting this with the current reality. "Whether right-wing extremist, left-wing extremist, or Islamist motivated: Extremists want us to get used to the stigmatization of Jews." Her brief remarks were somber.

On a bright, warm day in Berlin, several hundred people gathered at Bebelplatz, a site marked by the 1933 book burning, for the official commemoration titled "Never forget. Never be silent." Exhibits included a replica of a destroyed living room and burned books belonging to a hostage.

Bundesinnenminister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) was a key speaker alongside Prosor. He spoke of "the horrific images of terror" and the enduring pain. Recounting his visit to Kibbutz Be'eri, severely hit by Hamas terror, Dobrindt described seeing videos from the murderers' bodycams, his voice breaking as he struggled to hold back tears.

The minister affirmed that Jewish life is integral to Germany, stating, "Anyone who does not accept this cannot be part of Germany." His speech received unusually prolonged applause.

Heated Debate in the Bundestag

About two hours later in the Bundestag, a political commemoration devolved into a heated exchange. CDU politician Jürgen Hardt accused Left Party Member of Parliament Cansin Köktürk of antisemitism for calling Israel a "genocidal apartheid state of Israel" in a recent video, suggesting she belonged with the AfD. Köktürk announced her intention to take legal action against Hardt, reflecting the ongoing intense debate about antisemitism and the Left Party's stance.

This year's Berlin commemorations addressed the terrorist attack, Israel's lasting trauma, the nearly 1200 murdered, and around 250 hostages. However, speakers also repeatedly touched upon Israel's war in Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have died and many more injured due to Israeli attacks.

While the Bundestag was loudly contentious, an interfaith service at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in the evening remained quiet. Two bishops from Berlin, a rabbi, an imam, and the President of the Berlin House of Representatives participated. Elif Eralp, a prominent Left Party politician, also attended.

Berlin police deployed approximately one thousand officers for the day's commemorative events, about 700 more than a typical weekday, according to police spokesman Florian Nath. Thousands attended various locations "without incident."

As evening fell, the image of the Israeli flag was projected onto the Brandenburg Gate, mirroring the night of October 7th, 2023, when Israeli forces were still fighting terrorists, and similar to anniversaries in 2024 and 2025.

It was a rare gesture, as if the city of Berlin was lending its prominent landmark to friends.