He is a reform rabbi, he is afraid people will make fun of him.

I have heard that even untill today, the birds have NOT returned to the area around aushwitz. Must be the stench. Well, for all those Jews who have returned to Germany or for that fact to all those Jews who have returned to European nations, YOU GUYS GIVE NEW MEANING TO THE TERM BIRDBRAIN!!!!!

Reform today is not identical with that of the "treif banquet, shul on Sunday" 19th century. In 1971 I encountered a Reform rabbinic student in Jerusalem who was studying Talmud, and I know today a Reform rabbi who wears a kippah and used to attend our traditional minyan. As to Germany, I was there in 1998. The main synagogue in Cologne was behind a secured gate, while in Berlin every institution connected with Jews - a modest synagogue, the Jewish center, even a small kosher eatery, had German guards in front. Whether the threat is coming from the right wing extremists or from the growing Muslim population, the sense of being under threat has nothing to do with being Reform.

I am sorry but I think this i a complete exaggeration.Germany has unfortunately like all European countries right wing and Muslim fundamentalists who would pose a difficulty to a kippa wearing Jew.But this is by no means wide spread and common.I think it is unfair to paint Germany and Austria for that matter in this light.Germany especially is a good friend to israel and the Germans have worked very hard on their past. I went to a German kindergarden and learned about the Holocaust at the age of 6. I think walking around Paris is a much more worrying thought.

please,may our people learn from the past. Wake up Jewish people, and come home!

in Germany are not afraid to wear their yarmulkes in the street. This man may be the first rabbi ordained in Germany since the war, but there are many Chabad rabbis there today. This story is a lot of hoopla over nothing.

Jews in the USA or Israel have no right to tell Jews not to live in Europe. The standard of living is still high and social benefits are a zillion times better than in the USA. My family in Europe live well and are happy.

Foolish Rabbi; stop whinning, Know that you are living in the lowest place in exile,and it's time you and all Jews realise that the ingathering of exiles began 58 years ago -at God,s will-All you are doing in exile (especially) Germany is a desecration of God,s name. COME HOME TO THE ONLY LAND YOU HAVE. ERETZ YISRAEL. P.S. This message applies to all Jews who still persist in choosing to be ruled by Gentiles. After nearly 2000 years Jews have regained sovereignty over all of Israel. That,s a long time.

Please consider that the majority of the anti-semitic offences happens in east germany.

... I experience nothing but courtesy and kindness from Germans, whether coworkers or strangers, whether in Berlin or in Munich or in Heidelberg. Nor have I experienced any anti-Semitism at the hands of Turks living in Germany. Sadly, I canNOT say the same about the UK or about parts of the USA, where I have been subjected to anti-Semitic name-calling in the street, and in some cases to aggressive and physical confrontation.

Finally someone is telling the whole truth about present day Germany. Recent studies have revealed that anti-Semitism and xenophobia are the strongest in the rich and well-educated regions of Western Germany. Anti-Semitism is again en vogue right in the centre of German society. Neo-Nazis are marching through the streets of Germany on a weekly basis, protected by the police, violence is growing. Germany’s purely racial anti-Semitism is second only to the one in Austria.

We certainly have not regained sovereignity ofver all of Israel. More than half of Israel is ruled by Jordan, Egypt, and Syria, and much of the rest of the land by the Palestinian Authority. I guess that you do not know of the geographics of the land that G-d commanded us to return to in the Torah...much bigger than what the current map holds. In addition, there barely are any Jewish laws in Israel, otherwise the Sanhedrin would be making decisions, and all of Aza would still be populated with many Shuls and Bnai Yisrael.

My dream in the long run is to live in Jerusalem." I would feel the same way if i was in your position

Thanks for reading my comment. The area you refer to is only applicable in the time of Mashiach. For now the map in the Artscroll Chumash (Num34; 1-15) is under Jewish sovereignty- albeit the impoverished Israeli govt, does not excersise it's power. Anyway the way events are unfolding, it seems that very soon God will intervene and Israel will be ruled by the true Sanhedrin. Mashiach Now!!

I grew up in the Netherlands, 30 km (20 miles or so) away from Germany. I have spent a lot of time in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Only positive things to say. Have to say that Eastern Germany and Austria are probably way more anti-Semitic than Western Germany. France is also MUCH worse. Belgium is also pretty bad. Same for the Netherlands. However, it all depends on where you are. I have also faced an anti-Semitic attack by Russian youth in 'Israel'. The so-called 'safe place where Jews are free from anti-Semitism'. Ha-ha.

The author and perhaps the "Rabbi:" should read the many magazine articles about the growth in Orthodox programs, where young Jewish people (and of course their teachers/Rabbis) are proudly wearing distinctly Jewish clothing in the streets of Germany and Eastern Europe. Poor guy - he needs an Analyst

to wear a kippah is because Germany is really not a pluralistic society. It is a mono-society that does not encourage individualism, but rather, it encourages every person to conform to the norms of the group and to assimilate therein. So, if we are talking about Jewish survival, Germany may not be the best place. Many Jews there are marrying Germans and assimilating, and their level of Judaism is watered down at best.

Germany is not the only place where Jews are afraid to wear kippah. Try living in Stockholm. And the ones making you feel afraid are not the Muslims.

germany is one of the most open socities but we have a lot of nazis and racists especially in eastern germany if id be a rabbi id be afraid too

Kyle, you are simply NASTY !! Wonder if you are even Jewish

Angela Merkel is doing a great job, but it takes millions and millions of Merkels to change the German people.

This term is much more accurate. Jews, Arabs, and yes Joes (Hebraic non-Jews) are all Semites from the line of Shem.

I was just in Osnabruck, Germany, and in the public square of Osnabruck, we lit a chanukiya. We were surrounded by Jews and Gentiles alike, and the atmosphere was great. The scared Rabbi is probably leading a reform congregation, which does not require wearing kippas. If he is scared, maybe he should consider going someplace where he won't be scared.

German's probably don't feel safe in Israel either. But they won't turn away Jewish investors for their business enterprises.

Prussia, now known as Germany and Poland (or at least most parts are originally Prussian) and the people of Israel (ethnic Jewish people) are one in the same. The holocaust was more like a German civil war with one countryman murdering another. It was sadness. The amount of partly ethnic Jewish people who were nazis was terrible(i.e. "half-Jew" Werner Goldberg who was consitered to be the "Ideal German Solder" by a nazi newspaper had his Jewish father removed supposedly from a concentration camp only due to the fact that he was a soldier in the nazi run military. Some people who claim to be neo-nazis are probably part Jewish and do not even know it. They should all be ashamed. We are all one people, and someday that will come to light for all to see. Shalom meinen broder (I believe that is how one sais brother, if I am wrong, please forgive me.