Friederike Lorenz-Sinai and Marina Chernivsky explore the consequences of October 7 for the Jewish community. Many denounce relativizing actions and harassment.

The Israeli flag at a protest for the safety of Jewish students at the Free University of Berlin in February. Photo: Christoph Soeder/dpa

wochentaz: Ms. Chernivsky, Ms. Lorenz-Sinai, you are examining the experiences of Jews in Germany since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. How are the people you spoke to?

small port Chernivsky: We are currently still in the middle of the survey phase and can only describe first impressions. People who followed the call to study share the experience of a profound turning point caused by the worst terrorist attack in Jewish history after the Shoah and the founding of Israel. The processing is made difficult by the paradoxical situation in which the interviewees find themselves: they are trying to process the impact of the massacre, while in the reactions in Germany the attackers and the attacked are often mixed. Acts of violence recorded by perpetrators on body cameras and distributed online affect Jews around the world. At the same time, the interviewees experience how actions are relativized, denied or justified.

Friederike Lorenz Sinai: Study participants report relationship breakups, harassment at work, close quarters, and future prospects. Many report an increased or, for the first time, restrictive fear of being recognized as Jewish or Israeli in everyday life. The majority of those interviewed have suffered attacks, mainly in close proximity, at work or in public spaces. Some interviewees summarize that they feel that they are no longer allowed to exist as Jews.

Who are the people who share that personal data with you?

Chernivsky: We published our call for research in four languages ​​in February and were overwhelmed by the tremendous response. Among those interviewed are Jews from Germany, Ukraine, Israel and other countries.

How did your interviewees experience the reaction of their non-Jewish environment?

Lorenz Sinai: Our interlocutors do not feel seen. You have to justify yourself; Their safety needs and real threat situations are ignored. What many find drastic is when they are harassed with harsh statements, monologues and accusations about Israel in private chats, in banal and intimate everyday situations immediately after October 7, or when their pain is simply ignored by people close to them.

Chernivsky: They are met with emotional coldness when it comes to recognizing the impact of terror and the unsettling presence of the threat. The interviewees also perceive the stark contrast with the solidarity they experience with Ukraine. Some have families affected by two wars in Ukraine and Israel at the same time. Some are concerned about the denial of sexual violence following the attack and hostage taking. Indifference to the point of tolerating violence against Jews shakes basic trust in social networks and reactivates the historical and existential experience of withdrawal of solidarity.

What do you mean?

Chernivsky: The anti-Semitic positions and attacks reinforce the importance of the massacre. But others act as if nothing had happened. Almost no one intervenes. Interviewees recognize parallels with history: persecution was possible because there was often no criticism. For her, this look at the past has a lot to do with the future. One interviewee, for example, goes back to her grandparents: they had to flee as Jews, and then to her parents. And now she fears having to flee himself. He and many others are increasingly wondering where they can live as Jews.

What behavior would your interlocutors have desired in their non-Jewish environment?

Lorenz Sinai: Many express their understanding that it is difficult to find the right words after events like the October 7 attack. It emphasizes how important it is to ensure that your partners, friends and colleagues support you. An example: if someone wants his Israeli name to be abbreviated in his professional email address because he fears anti-Semitic violence, then the employer should take this seriously.

How does the current situation affect Jewish children?

Lorenz Sinai: We have not yet interviewed children, but interviews with children and interviews between children and young people are planned. All the parents interviewed express concern about not fulfilling their role, not responding adequately to the needs of their children and not being able to protect them. October 7 influences your decisions, safety considerations, and parenting styles.

Chernivsky: One pregnant interviewee cried during the interview and said she doesn't know how to raise a Jewish child in this society. Another mother describes how her son is terrified by the anti-Israel demonstrations.

Universities have always been the center of attention. Are there students among your interview partners?

Lorenz Sinai: Jewish students discuss restrictions on their participation in university spaces and recount experiences of discrimination in seminars. One interviewee abandoned her doctoral project after October 7 because she, as an Israeli researcher, saw no prospects in the humanities.

How has the view of Jews in Germany towards Israel changed?

Lorenz Sinai: Almost everyone we spoke to has family in Israel that they are worried about. It seems that many are reexamining their relationship with Israel: the country is getting closer. Family visits to Israel are described as a stark contrast to the situation in Germany: the hostage posters are not torn down, the pain is shared. At the same time, those interviewed criticize the current government. In reaction to the delegitimization of Israel, some engage intensely with history and try to be as informed as possible in the role of mediators; others withdraw from social contacts and social networks.

Can therapy help relieve stress?

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Chernivsky: A terrorist attack has a traumatizing effect: it is an expected reaction to an extreme event. However, not everyone affected develops severe post-traumatic stress disorder. The attack reminds people of their vulnerability and that they need a supportive environment to cope with such drastic experiences. Personalized psychological support can help. However, some interviewees discuss negative experiences with non-Jewish therapists. The fear of being recognized and approached as Jewish or Israeli when seeking medical or nursing care is described several times.

Where have Jews found strength and support since October 7?

Lorenz Sinai: Many people especially mention contact with other Jews and Jewish initiatives. Family and friends are mentioned, as well as community-oriented support formats such as safer spaces or counseling. Those interviewed observe that the community is coming together.