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Central Council of Jews in Germany

A man holds up a placard reading “FCK AFD” as he gathers with others in front of Saxony-Anhalt’s state parliament to demonstrate for an open society based on solidarity during a festival of democracy in Magdeburg, eastern Germany, on September 5, 2026, one day before regional elections in the eastern federal state of Saxony-Anhalt. (John MACDOUGALL/AFP)
September 8, 2026, 6:53 pm
‘Immense damage’: German Jewish leaders alarmed by election win of far-right AfD
Alternative for Germany’s plurality in Saxony-Anhalt election leads some of nation’s 200,000 Jews to fear throwback to fascism, amid backlash against culture of Holocaust memory
By Toby Axelrod
Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany (Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland), addresses guests during the Council's New Year's reception on the occasion of its 75th anniversary, on September 17, 2025 at the Jewish Museum in Berlin. (John MACDOUGALL / AFP)
June 26, 2026, 7:21 pm
2 men go on trial in Germany over alleged Iran-backed plots targeting Jews
Both exercise right to remain silent; prosecutors have said one of the suspects took orders from IRGC’s Quds Force
By AFP
From left to right, Minister President of Saxony-Anhalt Reiner Haseloff, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany Josef Schuster, and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier attend a memorial for the victims of the 2019 shooting at the synagogue in Halle, Germany, on October 9, 2024. (Ronny HARTMANN / AFP)
March 6, 2026, 10:41 pm
German Jewish community hits back at op-ed telling leader to ‘shut up’ about Iran strikes
After leftist newspaper Die Tageszeitung published an article Wednesday criticizing Zentralrat head Josef Schuster, local leadership blasts ‘antisemitic’ attempts to silence Jews
By Joshua Schultheis
An election poster of the far-right anti-immigrant party Alternative For Germany, with the slogan reading "It's time for free opinion, is displayed in a street, in Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. (AP/Ebrahim Noroozi)
November 9, 2025, 4:54 pm
German Jewish leader raises alarm as far-right AfD surges in eastern states
After polls show anti-migrant party could take unprecedented power in two states next year, council president Josef Schuster warns prospect would be ‘real danger to Jewish life’
By Joshua Schultheis
Supporters of the far-right AfD party sing the national anthem as they attend an election campaign rally of the party for the upcoming state elections in Suhl, Germany, August 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)
February 23, 2025, 2:33 pm
Germany’s rising far-right AfD is split over Israel. Jews call party ‘a danger’ either way
With the party deeply divided over support of the Jewish state and poised to take 20% of the national vote Sunday, its past — and ongoing — record of antisemitism looms largest
By Bart Schut
Illustrative: Cantors and rabbis are ordained at a ceremony at Berlin’s Rykestrasse synagogue, September 5, 2024. In all, 55 candidates have been ordained since Geiger College opened in 1999. (Toby Axelrod/ JTA)
September 13, 2024, 8:15 am
Riven by scandal and uncertainty, a German Jewish community welcomes moment to celebrate
As Abraham Geiger College marks the graduation of 8 rabbis and cantors, its future remains precarious following its founder’s departure after accusations of misconduct
By Toby Axelrod
A new synagogue and community center in Potsdam, Germany, dedicated on July 5, 2024, is home to four congregations. (Monika Skolimowska/picture alliance via Getty Images via JTA)
July 10, 2024, 2:31 pm
Four German congregations to share new synagogue in heart of Potsdam
Congregations will take turns using multi-denominational facility, which took some 20 years to build; synagogue is ‘a gift to us all,’ says German president
By Toby Axelrod
A police vehicle stands in front of the synagogue in the city center of Oldenburg, Germany, after an incendiary device was thrown at its door. (Hauke-Christian Dittrich/dpa via Getty Images via JTA
June 25, 2024, 5:39 pm
Report shows 80% rise in antisemitic cases in Germany, with sharp increase after Oct. 7
Communal leader says last year’s jump from 2022 figures makes many Jews in Germany worry about whether they can live safely there in the future
By Canaan Lidor
Rabbi Walter Homolka, rector of the Abraham Geiger College, in the Liberal Jewish community's synagogue in Hanover, Germany, in December 2016. (Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images/JTA)
September 21, 2023, 11:51 am
Final probe into prominent German Reform rabbi affirms abuse of power allegations
Investigation centers on actions by Rabbi Walter Homolka and his partner; the pair deny all allegations, including of sexual harassment
By Toby Axelrod
Anti Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt speaks at a press conference announcing the Jewish Security Alliance at the ADL's investigative research lab. Behind him is Scott Richman, the regional director of ADL’s New York-New Jersey Office, CSS CEO Evan Bernstein and CSI Executive Director Mitch Silber. (Jacob Henry via JTA)
July 25, 2023, 10:15 am
ADL sets up a 7-country international task force on antisemitism
The American group’s partners in the J7 initiative are major Jewish communal organizations in Britain, France, Germany, Argentina, Canada and Australia
By ToI Staff
Far-right German lawmaker Robert Sesselmann, center, visits a butcher shop in Sonneberg, Germany on April 27, 2023. (Robert Sesselmann)
June 25, 2023, 11:46 pm
German far-right party wins its first county leadership post, rising in polls
Victory of AfD’s candidate in rural Sonneberg area reflects rising popularity of anti-immigration party; Jewish group says party’s surge is something we ‘cannot simply accept’
By AP and ToI Staff
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (C) and President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany Josef Schuster (2nd-L) attend a commemoration service on the first anniversary of the antisemitic attack on the synagogue in Halle, Germany, on October 9, 2020. (Ronny Hartmann/AFP)
April 27, 2023, 9:26 pm
Germany boosts annual funding for Jewish umbrella group by 70%
Increased budget for Central Council of Jews in Germany is meant to increase security and help support new Jewish Academy in Frankfurt
By Toby Axelrod
Illustrative: A service at the Abraham Geiger College in Potsdam near Berlin. (photo credit: Margrit Schmidt)
March 9, 2023, 2:26 pm
10 months into leadership crisis, more strife over German rabbinical schools’ future
After scandal-ridden Rabbi Walter Homolka left the schools he founded and led, the community that bought him out is sparring with Germany’s biggest Jewish group over funding
By Toby Axelrod
Rabbi Walter Homolka, rector of the Abraham Geiger College, in the Liberal Jewish community's synagogue in Hanover, Germany, in December 2016. (Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images/JTA)
January 30, 2023, 4:36 am
Germany’s liberal rabbinical association expels rabbi at center of sweeping scandal
Decision comes amid investigation into abuse of power, sexual harassment at rabbinical seminary under Rabbi Walter Homolka
By Toby Axelrod
Rabbi Walter Homolka (2-R), Rector of the Abraham Geiger College, rabbi Walter Jacob (R), President of the Abraham Geiger College, and rabbi Denise L. Eger (2-L), President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), in the Liberal Jewish community’s synagogue in Hanover, Germany, in 2016. (Photo by Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images)
January 14, 2023, 4:04 am
In twist, scandal-plagued German rabbi cedes rabbinical schools to Berlin Jews
Walter Homolka suddenly sells stake in two institutions housed in the University of Potsdam after sexual harassment investigation against his husband reveals a wider abuse of power
By Toby Axelrod
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