A 93-year-old survivor of Auschwitz stunned the viewers of one of Germany’s most popular political talk shows last Sunday when – asked to compare the Nazi era with the situation today – she asserted that the two periods had more in common than many people may care to admit.
“I think that Germany was always anti-Semitic, that has not changed much,” Esther Bejarano – who was enslaved in the infamous “women’s orchestra” of the Auschwitz death camp – told the ARD Network‘s flagship “Anne Will Show.”
Auschwitz survivor Esther Bejarano speaking on German TV.
Bejarano was one of several guests on an International Holocaust Remembrance Day edition of the show that asked the question, “How anti-Semitic is Germany today?” Other guests who participated in the candid and often emotional discussion included two government ministers, a prominent human rights advocate and a leading scholar of modern Jewish history.
Much of the show was dedicated to a harrowing interview with Bejarano about her incarceration in Auschwitz. She began by relating that her father had been a stalwart German patriot, convinced that the German people would reject Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party. But after the Nazis came to power and prevented the family from emigrating to British Mandatory Palestine, Bejarano was imprisoned in a hard labor camp in Germany, before being deported to the Auschwitz death camp in Poland in April 1943.
Initially assigned to a slave labor detail, Bejarano, an accomplished pianist, was selected to play the accordion in the women’s orchestra that performed outside in all weathers as slave laborers toiled under the gaze of gun-wielding camp guards. The first tune she played for her Nazi tormentors, she recalled, was a popular upbeat ballad of the time entitled, “You’re in luck with the women, Bel Ami!”
Esther Bejarano, 1938
It was Bejarano’s status as a Holocaust survivor who has spent decades sharing her experiences with younger Germans that amplified the shocked response to her claim that Germany remains deeply anti-Semitic. The humbled response to Bejarano from Germany’s Minister of the Arts, Monika Grütters – “Five and a half million people visit our memorial sites every year, but it can never be enough” – suggested that the government too has been taken aback by the scale of the problem, even as it embarks on an effort to address it.
Germany, in the year 2018, is still facing a massive problem with hatred toward Jews.
The recent announcement of a federal commissioner to deal with anti-Semitism – as part of a legislative program to deal with anti-Jewish hostility from both the German far right and from within the Muslim immigrant community – is intended to be a major part of the government’s counterattack. Interviewed by The Algemeiner last week, Josef Schuster, the president of the German Jewish community, stated candidly that “Germany, in the year 2018, is still facing a massive problem with hatred toward Jews.”
Several of the other guests on the “Anne Will Show” sounded an equally dark note about the current situation. Wenzel Michalski – the director of global human rights organization Human Rights Watch’s office in Berlin – emphasized the strong showing in last year’s elections by the stridently anti-immigrant AfD Party in making the point, “I think there is a lot of talk about the culture of remembrance, but little is done about it.”
Michalski also illustrated the issue of anti-Semitism among Muslim immigrants with a deeply personal story involving his son, who was badly bullied by his schoolmates of Turkish and Arab descent. After being showered with anti-Semitic insults including “Jewish murderer,” Michalski’s son was eventually beaten up and then subjected to a mock execution. “With one exception, his teachers did nothing,” Michalski disclosed.
41 percent of German children over the age of 14 had not heard of Auschwitz.
Much of the discussion on the show centered on whether visits to the sites of concentration camps should be made compulsory for immigrants who want to acquire German citizenship. “Of course, not every visit to a concentration camp memorial immediately leads to immunization against anti-Semitism,” said Sawsan Chebli, a leading member of the socialist SPD party, and a former Foreign Ministry spokesman. “But it makes a difference if I open a book and read something or go to a memorial,” Chebli, who is the daughter of Palestinian parents, added.
Lack of knowledge and empathy for the victims of the Holocaust remains a serious challenge in German schools as well. A study conducted last year by the Forsa Institute and the Körber Foundation found that 41 percent of German children over the age of 14 had not even heard of Auschwitz.
Arts Minister Grütters pledged that the German government would reinvigorate its Holocaust education programs. “At a time when anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli hate speech on social media is increasing, education about National Socialism is more necessary than ever,” she said.
Reprinted with permission from Algemeiner.com
(14) Bobby5000, December 1, 2019 9:47 PM
These analogies do not work with today's Afro-Americans or Jews
Someone talks about the "plantation mentality" or modern day slavery but few mainstream people accept the comparison. What happened to this woman was horrible and it will be a part of our history and conscience. Jews today have full civil rights, are not in concentration camps, and there is no government mechanism of torture and death in Germany.
It may be that today Afro-Americans may encounter discrimination or unequal treatment but that is not slavery or even segregation. Since the analogies are exaggerated and fail to persuade people outside the target group, that are not useful in my opinion. , And no, if your employer wants more information on a project, you're not dealing with the Gestapo.
(13) Chanit Roston, November 14, 2019 3:54 PM
In spite of it all, I am grateful to be Hebrew Speaking,HASHEM loving Jew.
I will never fathom the hatred so many in the world still have for everything Jewish. Being a survivor of the Shoa, I live in constant gratitude.
(12) Judy Wilson, July 14, 2019 3:34 PM
Anti Semitism
Recently, a principal in Florida lied about being required to have the Holocaust taught in classes at his school. Instead he had a survivor speak to a few people who could elect to come. His punishment was to be put at another school. Should he have been fired? After reading the facts, I think definitely because it has become almost acceptable. Well, we need more people to change the status quo both in the U.S. and abroad. If not, the world will accept hate. Not just toward Jews but everyone. It's a cancer.
(11) Anonymous, March 26, 2019 2:04 AM
we in the pacific, wait to see how the government of germany will eradicate hatred in its community against the jew or against anyone for that matter. in the 21st century, it is no excuse for the government of germany or any government to practice hatred against any human race.
(10) Robert Valence, February 18, 2019 5:19 PM
Common misApprehension
" as part of a legislative program to deal with anti-Jewish hostility from both the German far right and from within the Muslim immigrant community".
There is Jewish hatred inherent in the "Far-Right". In real life though, the major feature of Jew hatred in Europe is from the far-Left - who are much more numerous, powerful and fully in cahoots with Muslim antisemitism. Yes - the AfD has had nazis in its ranks but most of their gripes are against the establishment - who have welcomed 1M Muslims into Germany, knowing full well that antisemitism is a bed-rock of Islam.
(9) Anonymous, February 17, 2019 6:53 PM
ati semitism in europe esp Germany
vernments want to combat it why are more and more Moslems allowed to immigrate? Is a Moslem Europe accepted ?
(8) Natan, February 11, 2019 2:48 PM
Think about this
An astute observer will note that as much as they (native germans, belgians, whoever...) hate the muslims, they invariably hate us Jews more and blame us for the problem they themselves created (in this case a massive, belligerent muslim population usurping their culture, government, economy, military, etc.).
Jews of Europe (and America, at some point) are in for large pogroms at the very least (it's just a matter of time), or an all-out holocaust at the most.
I desperately hope I'm wrong.
PLEASE get out and join your brethren in Israel so that we can unite (spiritually, financially and militarily). We've been paying lip-service to this plan for millennia. G-d is waiting for us to implement are part of it (he will help when we do).
This is not Zionism, it is Judaism. We have tons of ancient sources and precedents for this approach (Ezra being the most obvious).
(7) Marvin, February 11, 2018 7:22 PM
Esther Bejarano is right and wrong
Esther Bejarano is definitely right, the situation here in Germany has gotten worse over the last couple of years. Since 2015 the land has to face mass immigration on an unprecedent large scale and the political parties want to expand mass immigration. This means much more people from Muslim countries will journey to Germany. Many Germans feel overwhelmed by this situation, not because they're haters, but because they fear for their lifes and the lifes of their families. But when you as a German voice that fear in public you risk being labeled a Nazi, which serves no other purpose than to end the discussion before it even has begun. During the last months, laws like the Netzwerkdurchsetzungsgesetz have been introduced, which serves the purpose to keep the people in line and suppress deviating views. This is the actual part which is reminiscient of the 3rd Reich, where opposing voices would be silenced.
And since you brought up the AfD: this political party has formed (not only) as a reaction to the uncontrolled mass immigration which has lead to a rise in crime, violence especially against women and no-go-areas and other negative effects. If you open your eyes you can see that the mainstream policies all over the western world are the same, the arguments and methods are the same and the effects on the nations are also the same.
(6) Joshua, February 9, 2018 5:10 PM
Aren't we in the USA just as confused?
I backpacked in Germany as a secular college student in 1990. I went specifically to find out if I should hate Germans. I cam away with German friends my own age, and the feeling that if I were in their shoes I would feel as they do - that they personally had nothing to do with those atrocities. Later in life I became religious. I studied in a bal teshuvah yeshiva in Monsey, NY where I met Jews from all over the world. Particularly striking was a German Jew who was so proud to be German, so ant-American - even in that environment of Torah in the USA among his Jewish brothers. And it occurred to me that we Jews are confused about our identity no matter where we live. It's been that way since the first exile in Bavel. Most of the Jews didn't return to Eretz Yisroel when the 2nd Temple was built just 70 years after the First was destroyed. We got comfortable in Bavel. Any friendly government owns our allegiance. Until the government changes and then we're surprised that we're not Americans and not Germans. We're Jews and we have only God and Each Other to rely on. And so I ask you all - while you look in wonder and disbelief upon Jews currently living in Germany and France and Russia and Poland and pretty much anywhere outside of Eretz Yisroel - realize you may be looking into a mirror. I live in the USA and I have only my weakness to blame. My family feels comfortable and safe here. But it is an illusion.
Natan, February 11, 2019 2:31 PM
Finally, some sanity
Agree.
Educate our own (Jews) about the holocaust, etc.
The enemy couldn't care less about the facts. They want us dead. That is the reality and we need to face it.
It doesn't matter that there will be a few righteous gentiles, the next version of the holocaust will come.
How many holocausts do there need to be before we learn?
Get out of galut and move to Israel so that we can unite (spiritually, financially and militarily). We've been paying lip-service to this plan for millennia. G-d is waiting for us to implement our part of it (he will help when we do).
This is not Zionism, it is Judaism. We have tons of ancient sources and precedents for this approach (Ezra being the most obvious).
I encourage all to internalize the many, many clear sources about what the ideal situation is for us - it is very clearly NOT dispersion in exile.
We even have an explicit brachah for it in the daily Amidah (the most important part of our prayer next to Shema): the in-gathering of the exiles. It doesn't get much more obvious than that.
Ezra brought a fraction of the Jews back to Israel from Babylonia to build the second temple. Various Talmudic figures bemoan how so many simply ignored the call to return even though they ostensibly did not dispute Ezra's authority as the prophet and decision maker for the nation. This is an old problem of ours. G-d has been waiting for us to rectify it (among others).
And our sources also clearly indicate that a Jew's "natural habitat" for spiritual development is immeasurably improved in Israel (even if we're subjugated there, and how much more so if we're not).
(5) bernhard, February 8, 2018 5:26 PM
leftist anti-Semitism
The article avoided the leftist anti-Semitism, popular example is most of the Linke party in Germany and int'l Roger Waters and accomplices. Now it's BSD and in Germany in regard to Eretz Israel and critics on their politics: Man darf doch noch sagen dürfen .... And then follows the comparison with Nazi Germany and the accusement of apartheid due to the awkward ideolofy of Siggi (Pop) Gabriel (to date the FM) and other morons.
(4) david frankel, February 8, 2018 4:08 PM
i totally agree i spend 4 months in Germany last year i was very surprised how much they still hate Jews till today
(3) Rafael, February 8, 2018 3:16 PM
.? Merkel is half Jewish with a family history of fighting against Hitler . Germany is excepting Middle Eastern refugees which will eventually " assimilate " into German society and further compromise white Christian ethnic purity . Germany under Merkel apologized to Innocent Jews caught in the Hollacaust .
There is world wide opposition to Israel's ( and US) policies however that is not antisemitic . It is political
(2) Bobby5000, February 6, 2018 4:20 PM
problems with comparisons
First, I am sorry this woman had to experience these horrors, but I disagree with the post.
Some Afro-American have suggested the same type of racism that created slavery and segregation still exists today, but that is obviously incorrect. We do not have slavery or segregation and while there are undoubtedly pockets of discrimination or unfair treatment, analogies are misplaced.
So too with this post. There are no death camps and comparisons to 1943 are misplaced. Some Germans do not like Arabs or Jews but to compare these pockets of discrimination or anti-Semitism with the Holocaust is likewise misplaced. Indeed there are too many such comparisons, Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats are trying to stop free speech, they're fascists, Trump is a fascist, the Republicans, Democrats are fascist, these requirements are like the Gestapo, and these analogies tend to trivialize the holocaust.
Some comparisons are fair, 100,000's of thousands of North Koreans have died of malnutrition while imprisoned, perceived opponents have been murdered and comparisons to the Holocaust are fair.
Germany may need improvement and some like Angela Merkel and some don't but comparisons to Hitler are misplaced.
Andre, February 8, 2018 9:19 PM
exaggarated analogies trivialize Nazism and the holocaust
Yes, cheap exaggarated analogies trivialize Nazism and the holocaust
Elliott, February 9, 2018 5:16 PM
missing the point
You're missing the point Bobby5000. She is saying that the conditions that lead to the Holocaust (ie more widespread acceptance and/or support of anti-semitism) are similar. The death camps happened because Germans allowed it to happen, because they (of course not all) mostly accepted that as a proper course of action at that time. It would be naive to think it couldn't happen again under the right conditions.
(1) Micha, February 4, 2018 7:28 AM
What is Anti-Semitic
Hey,
what ist Anti-Semitic? Tell me.
Alan S., February 5, 2018 11:58 PM
Hey Micha, do you read?
Then if you do, even a casual reading of many of the articles on Aish.com will explain to you what constitutes senseless hatred of Jews or Israel.
Yidith, February 6, 2018 4:45 PM
What is Anti-Semitism
I prefer the term Jew-Hatred.
Anti-Semitism is the irrational hatred of Jews, Judaism and the Jewish Homeland.
Jew-Haters exist on every single side of the political, cultural and religious spectrum.
There are many explanations for why people hate Jews.
Personally I believe they hate us because we tend to loudly exclaim that "the emperor has no clothes on"; very disconcerting if one is trying to rule.
Also our survival as a people against all odds through-out history is very disconcerting because it can't be explained other than miraculous.
Sue, February 8, 2018 3:13 PM
Jew Hatred
You are correct; Jew Hatred is more apt. I have always found it uttererly baffling that so many people are anti Jew. Could it be simple jealousy?
Esther, July 15, 2019 7:54 AM
It's much more than that
Our sages tell us that from the time we received the Torah then hatred against us started as well. This is a fact since ancient times, and we won't be able to eradicate it until Mashiach comes. This in now way absolves us of combating antisemitism in any form. (And this includes us watching our behavior as well) However, it does helps us to realize this fact, and not to despair when antisemitism seems to always come alive in another form.
Anonymous, February 8, 2018 9:32 PM
Any of Discrimination, Demonization or Delegitimization is Antisemitism
Any of the infamous 3D-s: Discrimination, Demonization, Delegitimization against the Jews or against Israel - is Antisemitism (or, if against another ethnic group, then it is another racism).
I add to this definition a 4th D: Defamation. Systematic defamation of any group is also a hate crime, Antisemitism or other racism.
Criticism, without prejudice or inherent hate, is not Antisemitism.