The fact that many of the refugees seeking asylum in Germany come from countries hostile to Israel might strengthen anti-Semitic views among the Arab community, the leader of the Jewish community in Germany said.
Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, expressed his concern at a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
He told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that his words, directed at Merkel and her staff, created an awkward silence in the room, after which the Chancellor took notes and promised: “We must address that.”
He noted that this concern is common among German Jews, “and I share this feeling and therefore see a need to integrate the refugees in our community of values as soon as possible.”
Schuster, who supported Germany's open-door policy since the start of the immigration wave, reiterated his concerns in a series of interviews since his meeting with Merkel.
Talking to the Juedische Allgemeine, he stated that those brought up in such an environment tend to “transfer their resentment to Jews in general,” as was seen in the demonstrations which broke out in Germany during Israel's 2014 Gaza offensive "Protective Edge." In many of these demonstrations, protesters chanted “Hamas, Hamas, Juden in's gas!” (“Hamas, Hamas, Jews to the gas!”).
“Many Syrians and immigrants of Arab descent have grown up in an environment in which hostility towards Israel and anti-Semitism are a common practice,” he said.
“Our communities are concerned that we might see such anti-Semitic riots more often,” Schuster added.
“I see the rejection of all forms of anti-Semitism and the solidarity with Israel as the basic consensus of the Federal Republic.”
Schuster stressed that the Jewish community in Germany stands behind Germany's decision to open its doors to those in need, and also condemned the xenophobia reflected in the repeated attacks against refugee shelters.
The Central Council of Jews has announced that Germany's Mitzvah Day, an annual day of faith-based social action, will be dedicated to aiding the thousands of refugees, whose arrival “has increased significantly the number of those in need in our country.”
Thousands of volunteers are expected to take part in Day on November 15th.