Jewish Scene
Orthodox Jewish community takes hold in Berlin
Associated Press
Published: 22.03.10, 08:09
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11 Talkbacks for this article
1. Fools
Sagi   (03.22.10)
no pride and no common sense.
2. Berlin Jews
nik ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (03.22.10)
They never learn - wanting to live like they did in the Shtetel - in Berlin!! - in Germany where the final solution was planned and after the holocaust. What are they trying to prove? Yes they are fools without anydignity. They prefer to live as Jews in Germany rather than Israel? Too tough for them in Israel .
3. Berlin
Nik ,   Tel Aviv Israel   (03.22.10)
Surprised you did not publish my previous email!!
4. 250,000 Jews, a few hundred observant
Judah ,   Golan Heights,ISRAEL   (03.22.10)
Within two or three generations most of the 250,000 will be assimilated and intermarried away. Germany did not do the Jewish people any favors by allowing in the immigrants from Russia.
5. Measleading title
Hevrat Kadisha   (03.22.10)
There are many Jews and Israelis in German capital as well as in many other vibrant European cities. Many of them are businessmen, hi tech, r&d, academia people and artists. Some relocating temporarily, coming for joint project in research, some stay. This is the real victory over fascism. People with Ghetto psychology would urge others to live exclusively in Israel that disconnected from important communities abroad including reformists, conservators and simply the people that do not tolerate haredisation of Israel.
6. Judah #4 is right
Rina ,   Israel   (03.23.10)
Most of the Jews in Germany are from Russia and mostly from mixed families. Most of the younger ones are not Jewish, nor interested in being Jewish. I am glad that there are some who are returning to their Jewish roots and I hope that they will move to Israel which is the Jewish future, and not stay in Germany. The vast majority will assimilate out of the Jewish People, if they haven't already.
7. Rina 6 / Judah 4
EZ   (03.23.10)
Why can't we build both a strong Israel and a strong diaspora? In fact, these 2 are crucial and interdependent. Diaspora Jews, if strongly affiliated, can support Israel, provide a natural consumer class for Israeli goods, support tourism and, at times, become a demographic pool to draw from. Also, as the world economies open up and people become more migratory, religious/cultural groups that have more ties around the world will benefit more. Look at the Chinese and Indians. Jews should be automatic winners in the global game - turning completely inwards would be a mistake. I agree with you that Israel should be the center of the Jewish people culturally and demographically. But communities that thrive around the world can only help. Finally, it is not clear that all Jews could fit in Israel. There is limited water and the neighbors are rotten. Imagine a world with 40 million Jews. 15 million in Israel, 10 million in Europe, 10 million in N America 5 million in S America. Maybe another couple of million in S. Asia and E Asia. As for the Russian Jews - they had assimilated 2 generations ago - this was done by force in Russia - like Spain converted Jews. Whether they find their way back to Judaism in Germany, Russia or Israel - we should be grateful.
8. EZ now lets get back to the real world
Judah ,   Golan Heights,ISRAEL   (03.24.10)
In the real world there are only 13 million Jews and not 40 million. In the real world the diaspora is disappearing whereas the Jewish population in Israel has increased 10 fold in just 60 years. In the real world 70% of all the world's Jewish children will live in Israel by 2030. I am not saying that every Jew should live in Israel. There are places such as America, France and Canada with large Jewish populations. Yet places such as Russia, Ukraine AND Germany there will very few Jews left within a few generations.
9. Judah
EZ   (03.25.10)
I am thinking real world. Just longer term. Assuming Israel finds some sort of accomodation/peace with the neighbors, then there will be natural limits on the Jewish population in Israel. There will also be the fact that every time an Israeli Jew sneezes in Jerusalem the entire Muslim or Christian world will be upset. To counter this Jews have to be a presence demographically and politically in the diaspora. The US is an ally because of the Jewish presence. A strong Jewish community in Germany could cement long term alliance with Germany. The thinning of the diaspora is a major disaster - I agree. But it is not necessarily irreversible and I don't think it's desirable. Finally, just as there are Christians and Muslims in Israel, there should be Jews in all other tolerant/open societies.
10. To EZ
Israeli Jew ,   Israel   (03.25.10)
The fact is that aside from the Orthodox, Jews in all of the Galut are disappearing quickly through assimilation, intermarriage, and birth control. In Israel the secular almost always marry other Jews and remain within the Jewish People. Open your eyes!!!!!
11. Better if More Jews.
Dave ,   Toronto, Canada   (03.28.10)
EZ, I agree with you 100%. My dream is 200 million Jews worldwide within the next 25 years. This is how we do it-forget about Europe and North America. The growth areas shall be: East Asia, Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. I am very serious about this. If you're interested to help me, please e-mail: superdave8002@hotmail.com
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