Jewish Couple Weds In Berlin Square to Protest Anti-Semitism
A couple wed under a chuppah at one of Berlin’s central squares as a rejoinder to a spike in expressions of anti-Semitism.
The ceremony, held last week at Potsdamer Platz, follows a an increase over the summer in anti-Semitic incidents in Berlin and elsewhere, most of them linked to tensions in the Middle East.
Rabbi Yehudah Teichtal, the director of the Chabad Lubavitch Jewish Educational Center in Berlin, identified the couple as Igor and Elina, immigrants from the former Soviet Union. He did not give a family name.
One hundred guests were invited to the an open-air wedding ceremony at this main traffic and pedestrian junction and countless passersby took note. An estimated 70,000 people cross the plaza on a daily basis.
Teichtal said he convinced the couple not to have the ceremony at a hotel or in the enclosed Jewish center but on the street, in the heart of Berlin, as a “demonstration” against recent anti-Semitic incidents.
He said passersby took photos of the unprecedented event.
“We should not hide as in the past, stash our identifying characteristics or avoid speaking in Hebrew as some parts of the Jewish Berliner street claim,” said Teichtal, who conducted the ceremony.
“Our answer to anti-Semitism should be elevating Jewish pride, externalizing of our Jewish characteristics and deepening our connection to our magnificent tradition,” he said.
A more formal demonstration against anti-Semitism is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 14, at the nearby Brandenburg Gate.
Organized by the Central Council of Jews in Germany, the rally is expected to draw a broad spectrum of political and religious leaders. The event will be live-streamed.
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
