Germans stage anti-antisemitism concert
NewsKonzerthaus Dortmund is putting on a December 2 concert as a stand against rising antisemitism. Former Bundestag President Norbert Lammert will be among the speakers.
The concert will feature Pinchas Zukerman in the concerto by Paul Ben-Haim, who fled Germany under the Nazis. Lahav Shani will conduct the Bamberg Symphony.
Konzerthaus director Raphael von Hoensbroech says: ‘The brutal attack by Hamas against civilians in Israel on 7 October and the resulting escalation of the Middle East conflict have deeply shaken us. We cannot be indifferent nor should it be relativised that anti-Semitism has flared up all over the world as a result and that violence against Jews has increased.’
First of all, the Germans are way overcompensating for their past sins by these empty symbolic gestures (for real substance how about crack down on the far right?); second, one is never sure if European hypocrisy now is truly pro-Semitic or disguised anti-Islamic.
I would say that the west’s hypocrisy is too blatant and one is always sure that whatever mantle they are wearing today.
You could probably stand to workshop this headline a bit more
Konzerthaus Dortmund are a very enlightened group of people – have performed there many times and it never ceases to amaze how receptive they are. (Both audience and management!)
Imagine that happening in the UK.
Orchestra of the age of enlightenment, perhaps?
Anti-Semitic behavior has risen 320% in Germany since the Hamas attacks. I assumed that most would be from Germany’s relative large Moslem community, but Islamist attacks account for only 6% of the actions. According to a report by AP, the behavior covers a wide spectrum of groups. Far-right actions were only 2%. 5% were left wing/anti-imperialist. 21% were anti-Israeli activism. The background of 63% of the behavior is unknown, so the above numbers aren’t very definitive. The AP article is here:
https://apnews.com/article/germany-antisemitism-attacks-jews-israel-hamas-berlin-1000dd76d3a4c4fcc75ea28e4bae0b89
My guess is most countries are experiencing similar numbers but that Germany keeps closer records and has to take the matter more seriously.
“Anti-Semitic behavior has risen 320% … 5% were left wing/anti-imperialist. 21% were anti-Israeli activism”
You yourself, in your own formulation, hopelessly confound “anti-semitic” with “anti-imperialist” and “anti-Israeli”.
I am anti-imperialist Putin and anti-Soviet Union, that doesn’t make me anti-Slavic.
My choice of concert tickets is predicated on the quality of musical performance anticipated, not the validity of the cause being supported.