November commemoration at Westbahnhof

Greeting from Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche

Dear fellow citizens, ladies and gentlemen, dear participants,

An extremely turbulent week in German and international politics lies behind us. New federal elections are imminent. The outcome of the elections in the USA makes it clear that the familiar constants of international cooperation and interaction are continuing to change and are very likely to become more difficult.

The results of this year's elections, especially in Thuringia, have once again shown that our fundamental consensus on social coexistence, human rights and human dignity is increasingly in crisis.

At the same time, even after more than a year in the Middle East, no peace is within reach following the massacre of over 1,000 Jews by Hamas, the unabated attacks on Israel and its belligerent self-defense. Russia's war against Ukraine also continues unabated.

So it is good that so many people have gathered here again today to commemorate the November pogroms of 1938. The November pogroms symbolize the beginning of the physical, systematically planned extermination of the Jewish people during the National Socialist era.

What happened back then should not and must not be forgotten; no one should trivialize or even deny it. And under no circumstances should anything of this kind ever be repeated, neither here nor anywhere else.

We consistently reject any form of anti-Semitism, the poison that ultimately led to the worst atrocities of humanity.

In the turbulence of the last three days, it was almost lost in the shuffle that the Bundestag passed a resolution against anti-Semitism with a very large majority on Thursday after a year of preparation. It shows that even after almost 80 years since the end of National Socialism, there is a special German responsibility to protect Jewish life, especially in Germany.

Unfortunately, there is cause for great concern. Since the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, hatred of Jews has risen to a level not seen for decades. More than 3,200 anti-Semitically motivated crimes have already been registered in Germany this year alone - double the number in the same period last year.

The large number of people present here this evening and the large number of participants in the "Sound of the Stumbling Stones" show that the horrors of the Reichspogromnacht in 1938 and the crimes of the National Socialist regime have not been forgotten.

Jews are once again the targets of hidden and open attacks and face attacks on their dignity. This must not be allowed to happen! You, who are here today, show that we are many when it comes to standing up for our fellow Jews with civil courage.

Thank you very much for coming here to take a stand against this. You are most welcome!

I would especially like to welcome Mr. Milan Andics, Cantor of the Jewish Community of Thuringia, to our commemoration today. You will be reciting the prayer for the dead, the "Kaddish". Thank you very much for being here today. It is a special honor for us in these difficult times!

I would like to extend a warm welcome to the members of Jena's Jewish community who are with us today. You are especially welcome!

I warmly welcome the members of the Jena Working Group on Judaism and their spokesperson, Mr. Sebastian Neuß. Thank you very much for preparing today's event together again!

After she fell ill at short notice last year and was unable to attend our commemoration, Prof. Dr. Anke John is with us today and will give the commemorative speech. I am very pleased about this, you are very welcome!

Our event will again be accompanied by flute music conducted by Ms. Ilga Herzog. As in previous years, our commemoration will be framed by joint music-making and singing by the "Klang der Stolpersteine" campaign under the direction of Klaus Wegener.

It's great that, as in previous years, the "Sound of the Stumbling Stones" has invited people to commemorate the victims of National Socialism in Jena with a number of small concerts throughout the city! The commemoration shines with music and candlelight throughout the city, in the residential areas where Jewish fellow citizens lived until they were expelled and many were even killed. Dear musicians, this form of commemoration is always very touching, thank you for your commitment!

Ladies and gentlemen,

A very warm welcome to you all!

Thank you all for coming.