Despite dark past, young Israelis seek new lives in German capital

Nearly 70 years after the Holocaust was planned and executed in Berlin, there has been an influx of young Israelis to the city. "In Israel, you must struggle, you struggle every day," one recent arrival says. NBC News' Carlo Angerer reports.

BERLIN, Germany -- Israeli Zeev Avrahami stands in the small kitchen of his restaurant peeling eggs and dripping fresh olive oil on a plate of hummus he is about to serve. The restaurant's name -- 'Sababa,' which is slang for good or fun -- is written proudly in Hebrew letters over its entrance.

Nearly 70 years after the Holocaust was planned and executed in the German capital and Nazi atrocities nearly extinguished Jewish life on the European continent, Avrahami's eatery is a sign of a new chapter of Jewish life in Germany.

Avrahami is at the culinary forefront of an influx of Israelis who have moved Berlin in recent years. Officials at the Israeli Embassy estimate that about 15,000 of its citizens now live in the city, thought to be the highest number in decades.

'They don't know what to say'
Before the Holocaust about 160,000 Jews called Berlin home. By the time the city was liberated by the Red Army in 1945, only 8,000 remained. 

And while Avrahami feels safe in Berlin, his interactions with German citizens are often burdened by the past.

"Once you say you're Israeli, there is silence. They don't know what to say," he told NBC News. "In Germany, it's still hard to be different, a foreigner. It's not an immigration country, it's not America."

What is attracting young Israelis to the former center of Nazi Germany? Even today, synagogues, Jewish schools, and other buildings linked to the community across Germany are under constant police protection amid fears of attacks by right-wing and Islamist groups.

Carlo Angerer / NBC News

The Sababa restaurant in central Berlin is a small sign of a new chapter of Jewish life in Germany.

Israeli insurance salesman Ilan Weiss, who moved to Berlin in 1990, believes the increasing cost of living and cuts to social services in his homeland -- as well as Berlin's image as a hip and multicultural destination -- is behind the trend.

Weiss, who runs the the non-profit IsraelisinBerlin.de website, said that some new arrivals "show up with only a suitcase."

"I get requests from new arrivals or Israelis looking to move to Berlin nearly every week," Weiss added. "It’s hard to live in the country where they come from, so the people come to Germany, where it's better than the rest of Europe, even than the U.S."

Economic woes
Among the incomers is Inbal Mayan, who came to Berlin about 4 months ago. The 31-year-old Tel Aviv native says daily life in her homeland has become difficult to afford for many young Israelis, even if they work two or three jobs.

Mayan says that even though Berlin is famous for its easy-going lifestyle, the economy is a key factor for many Israelis. "It's not about the partying anymore, but it's about life that you can actually live and afford and not to struggle every day to have money, to live a simple life," she said. "In Israel you must struggle, you struggle every day."

More Germany coverage from NBCNews.com

She now takes German courses at the local Jewish community's language school and hopes to attend university and get a Master’s degree.

Fellow language student Bar Ben-Yehuda arrived one-and-a-half years ago from the outskirts of Jerusalem.

"Here we have the opportunity for a better life, we can build something," he said. "The opportunities are better here than in Israel – I’m very sad to say this, because that's my country, but it’s the truth."

But sooner or later, Berlin's dark past creeps in as reminders of Jewish life destroyed by the Holocaust are evident throughout the city, from the massive Holocaust memorial to so called 'Stolpersteine' (stumbling blocks), commemorative metal plaques installed in front of former homes of Jews deported to concentration camps.

'You have to deal with it'
Restaurant owner Avrahami, who has been living in Berlin for four years, says the German capital becomes a spirital place for many Israelis.

"A lot of arrivals, because they're so young, they don't see that but there is something that pulls you down," he told NBC News. "At the beginning you don’t pay attention to the signs, but it creeps in you all the time. At some point you have to deal with it."

More Israel coverage from NBCNews.com

Israeli Nirit Bialer, 34, moved to Berlin six years ago and helped to start the group Habait, 'home' in Hebrew, hopes to bring Germans and Israelis together through cultural events and creating a place for enhanced dialogue between the two groups.

Young Germans tend to be not as preoccupied with the burden of the country's dark past as their parents' generation.

"Berlin is a very cosmopolitan city," Bialer says. "It's not necessarily this gray dark place that we are taught from history." 

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Good for them. Not all Germans were Nazis!

  • 13 votes
#1 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 7:13 AM EDT

Actually I believe just the opposite. This is a bad idea. History repeats itself and Nazi hate groups are on the rise in Germany. There is no love lost between the two and when poor Germans see prosperous Israeli's making it in their own country, the hate will kick in. It's human nature. Good luck to them though.

  • 11 votes
#1.1 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 7:18 AM EDT

By the time the city was liberated by the Red Army...

I think it should read "captured".

  • 13 votes
#1.2 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:07 AM EDT

Marek Edelman, one of the Warsaw Ghetto leaders who fought the Nazis during WW2 and who decided to stay in Poland instead of moving to Israel has always said that Poland was really never an anti-semitic country.

I suppose that's what Israelis moving to Berlin are saying about Germany. At first, the Nazis were able to impress a lot of Germans with their ideology but when Germans saw the result of their behavior they turned against it and now have a very efficient and succesful country.

There's no way the Germans are going to lend themselves to an anti-Semitic ideology again.

  • 7 votes
#1.3 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:17 AM EDT

PeterB, If you were one of the 8000 Jewish slaves kept by Germans in Berlin, Then it was a Liberation. Not to mention the Death camps that the Red Army Liberated across Germany and the rest of Europe.

The US was a little soft on the Nazi swine.

  • 4 votes
#1.4 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:17 AM EDT

I dont know about "soft". We knew very well what the Soviets would do when they took Berlin....and agreed to it anyway....so lots of Nazi scum killed and we didn't lose a single soul for Berlin. Sounds like a good tactic to me!

  • 3 votes
#1.5 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:42 AM EDT

Actually we were trying to get to Berlin before the Russians but didn't quite make it.

  • 2 votes
#1.6 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:19 AM EDT

SpecialED,

I don't want to speak for "the rest of Europe", but my native Poland wasn't "liberated" by the Red Army. Tell it to those tens of thousands of Home Army members who were shot or sent to Gulag. Poland was occupied by the Soviets, via proxy Polish communist government. The real liberation came in 1989.

The US was a little soft on the Nazi swine.

Sure, the American soldiers didn't rape millions of German women and girls.

  • 14 votes
#1.7 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:24 AM EDT

PeterB-778417

Peter...Americans arent taught that...we're taught the biased "american" version.

  • 3 votes
#1.9 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:44 AM EDT

Gee, who filled the mass demonstrations in huge outdoor arenas and other venues? The Germans embraced Hitler to a huge extent. That is until after the War when hardly anybody had been a Nazi.

  • 1 vote
#1.10 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:05 AM EDT

mqira,

I know it also took place in the US, and the French occupation zones (not in the British, though), but not on such a massive scale, way from it.

Don Harris,

I'm not denying that most Germans embraced Hitler, but the mass demonstration in a totalitarian states don't really say anything about popular support.

  • 1 vote
#1.11 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:07 AM EDT

@myspellcheckerisbroken....you have made a very good point. Berlin is the home that I have left 40 years ago for the US. I visit frequently and lived there for three years six years ago. I can attest to the gangs of skinheads roaming around eapecially in the for East Berlin. I have also spoken to many Germans about the sentiments towards Jews, and nothing much has changed. They are still blamed for Germanys plight, whatever that means. Defacing of Jewish memorials, synagoges and cemetaries are happening all of the time. Never the less, I hope that they will be able to find peace and prosperity in Berlin. It's a great city and has become very diverse.

  • 3 votes
#1.12 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:55 AM EDT

6dogs,

Study your WW2 history in more detail. US High Command decided that they had no strategic interest in Berlin and decided they did not want to send US soldiers to their death for it. Stalin however viewed it from a political perspective.

The US was more interested in sniffing out all of the top secret weapons facilities built in the countrysides and mountains to the south.

  • 1 vote
#1.13 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:17 PM EDT

What attracts the Israelis to Berlin is a relatively easy way to make money there. Berlin has an excellent climate for business.

  • 3 votes
#1.14 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:32 PM EDT

Last night, as our Ambassador's lifeless nude body was being PASSED around the streets overhead like a drunk sorority girl at a Florida State University football game, our President was apologizing for this film having angered Muslims. I REALLY hope that Obozo is enjoying his "Arab Spring". If anyone has ANY doubts about Obama being our most incompetent President ever, this should be the clear answer! I imagine his solution will, once again, be to pass around free iPods to world leaders pre-recorded with his favorite tunes.

  • 6 votes
#1.15 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 2:23 PM EDT

The Germans are fools to let this happen again. Haven't they learned from America's mistakes with "multiculturalism"?

It sounds all warm and fuzzy, but in reality, once you let foreigners in in great numbers, you lose your culture, language, way of life, heritage and...everything that matters. People lose their nation and become a mongrel society only held together under the brutal force of law rather than brotherhood and blood. The foreigners still have their land...and they now have YOURS too, only it isn't yours anymore.

Once your country is gone, you NEVER get it back.

  • 4 votes
#1.16 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 2:56 PM EDT

The Germans are really going to regret this. They will do just what the Muslims do in Germany, rape the country for all they can get. Soon, it will be just like the US, with a small minority of the population (Jews), having far, far too much power.

  • 2 votes
#1.17 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 6:21 PM EDT
Reply

We are all each other's brothers and sisters. All of life is connected. Let's move forward and be optimistic.

  • 8 votes
Reply#2 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 7:47 AM EDT

Optimistic, a word for those that follow or stand to the side.

  • 3 votes
#2.1 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:21 AM EDT

Great, but optimism must be realistic if not downright cautious.

    #2.3 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:07 AM EDT

    uhm.. no. You have to be realistic. Right wing and nationalistic attitudes are on the rise in Germany, just check out their various neo nazi marches and crimes against immigrants. It is not a multi-cultural country like the US - if your different in Germany, especially different looking, it would be extremely hard to blend in and be included in society.

    As the Euro crisis takes a bigger toll on Germany and theyre forced to contribute more, I can only predict that antisemitism and xenophobic attitudes will only grow. These are people that regard themselves as being the most civilized and evolved, as you can clearly tell by their attitudes toward immigrants that are pretty much forced to live on the fringe of society, and dare I say the previous attempt to purify the gene pool. These Israelis are idiots and a safer bet would be giving Iran or Libya a try, at least there wont be any surprises.

    • 2 votes
    #2.4 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:02 PM EDT

    I noticed you made no mention of the rise of socialism in Europe. One only needs to look towards Asia and the former Soviet Union to see how that worked out for the people.

    • 1 vote
    #2.5 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:11 PM EDT

    you're smokin' a lefty right now aren't you wilie?....lol.

    If I was Jewish, I'd never go anywhere near Germany.

    • 2 votes
    #2.6 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 1:00 PM EDT
    Reply

    There is an admirable 200 years of German history that the world, and especially the US (whose largest ancestry group is German), has benefitted from. There were six bad years of war and camps; no excuses for that, but no other nation in history has apologized and made as many reparations for any crime as Germany has (also, more non-Jews were killed in those camps than Jews), and the victors all set up their own camps where they made sure that POWs, etc. died after the war, not to mention the Russian ethnic cleansing of Silesia and Pomerania (eastern Germany for centuries) that drove 12-15 Million from their homes and many to their deaths, including my relatives.

    • 8 votes
    Reply#3 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:01 AM EDT

    Ethnic cleansing is nothing in compare to what SS committed. 12-15 million is probably inflated number, now, compare it to the number of victims who died from hands of SS. Oh, wait, there are no such numbers speculated on the news as Russians don't speculate on the deaths of their relatives and not asking for any reparations.

    • 1 vote
    #3.1 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:59 AM EDT

    The Russians didn't have to ask they just took.

    • 2 votes
    #3.2 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:22 AM EDT

    The number of jews that perished in WWII is of much dispute. But even the jews cannot document the six million figure that is so commonly quoted.

      #3.4 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 8:00 PM EDT

      --the russians killed over 60 million people, many were smart, beautiful, out spoken, leaders, the elite genetics like the polish military leaders they killed and blamed the germans. the russians wanted followers not thinkers, not rebels etc.

      --the germans wanted to preserve good genetics, wanted to get rid of the gypsies, the bernie madof's, preserve their heritage, history, people, country etc. many more germans died then jews, and the 6 million number is a fabrication of the truth, it was created for the retribution pay back money 2 billion deutch marks a year, the wanted to get rid of the ""pawn shops, loan today on your next weeks pay check, "" etc. money, control, manipulation of the media, the truth etc. like weapons of mass destruction. at the end of the war the allies punished germany by opening their borders to the mulsims etc, inders,

      --i am an american, how can i just move to german and live there. if i claim to be part jew on my mom's side will i get tons of money and not have to pay taxes etc. the germans paid israel over 2 billion deutch marks a year starting after the war. where does all that money go, along with the billions america gives israel. are there a few bernies madof's hiding in israel?

      --so this influx of israel's into germany is kinda like how israel got started. thousands move in, start killing and then take over. along with the usa's help

        #3.5 - Fri Sep 14, 2012 12:02 AM EDT
        Reply

        As an American of German descent who was shunned and called nazi (the other "N-word") by ignorant folks (including many young Jews; funny, how their parents' generation understood better) just for being of German heritage in a NY suburb in NJ, we all have to grow up and know that Jewish and German culture are intrinsically linked and very similar. The most highly decorated German WWI soldier was Jewish. Hews were welcomed to Germany centuries ago and granted full citizenship there before other European nations. Yiddish is a German dialect. Please teach young Jews that there are many young Germsn and Americans of German descent who like them and expect reciprocity...we weren'tn alive in WWII and most of us have relatives who suffered greatly from WWII, in many ways.

        • 7 votes
        Reply#4 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:07 AM EDT

        I too am an American of German descent. My father was German who immigrated to the U.S. before the war. Although my father and uncle served and supported the U.S. forces during WWII against our family in Germany, we were looked down upon, called names, discriminated against. Dad could only find work as a common laborer with a County Road Department to support our family in the 50's and 60's. Yes, we too lived in Northern NJ suburbs. I served over 20 years in the U.S. military and am currently in Germany working for the Dept of Defense. What isn't told in this story is that more and more Germans are resenting the continuing reparations they are being forced to pay and the preferential treatment of anyone who comes and declares themselves Jewish or from Israel. They don't pay any income taxes and get a monthly check from the German Government. This is whether they had any relatives affected during the Holacost or not. That's not good.

        • 7 votes
        #4.1 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:31 AM EDT

        You forgot Eisenhauer,a second generation American of German decent!His mother was actually from Germany!

          #4.3 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 2:11 PM EDT
          Reply

          According to a recent Deutsche Welle article, 2012, the authorities in Germany have estimated that there are more Left-wing extremists in Germany today, than right-wing...not that either is any good, but the threat from the Left is even larger.

          • 2 votes
          Reply#5 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:08 AM EDT

          ...correction...2000 years.

            Reply#6 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:12 AM EDT

            It is a sad fact that the killing if so many people took place ,just because of one nut the thought he could create the perfect race,which Adolf was not even part of. Germany has helped to stop this with it's allies and reformed itself and progressed. Though it is true that Germany had it's share of extremists as does the Israeli community . That said this does not mean Germany will allow this to come back to their country. Along with the fact that the United States would gladly come to the aid of Germany again if need be. We helped to free them more than once and will do again as long as we are allies. Islam will not be allowed to spread anywhere here. They would not have a chance or prayer to do what they do elsewhere . This is why we need to bear arms. We can protect our country from our own back yards. I live in the U.P. of Michigan and NO ONE knows the woods better than the ones that live there. The same all over our country. Maybe the city slickers would run scared but not us in the wooded areas.

              Reply#7 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:20 AM EDT

              In Berlin there are blocks and blocks a really huge area that you almost cannot see across, Square Miles of a place where the Jews lived that are now flat areas. The German Government is holding this area for the Jewish people and decendents to claim, and it will do so til about 2045. If they can show they are decended from the original families they can have their location back.

              • 2 votes
              #7.1 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:35 AM EDT

              Thats a good reason to leave in the wooded areas. You can preserve some ignorance, cling to your guns and feel safe. You can proudly speak of your liberty and declare the liberty of others like muslim not allowed...very ignorant!

                #7.2 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:46 AM EDT

                As far as Europeans are concerned, Jews are in the same category as Gypsies. There's a laundry list of reasons Jews are despised in Europe. It goes back centuries. If you don't understand the culture, you won't understand why the hatred of Jews will never go away. You won't find the answer in history books either. Talk to Europeans who live and work among Jews.

                • 3 votes
                #7.3 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:24 AM EDT

                Not just hatred of Jews. The French hate the Germans, the Germans hate the Austrians, the Austrians hate the Swiss, the Swiss hate the Italians, and so on and so on.

                • 1 vote
                #7.4 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:48 PM EDT
                Reply

                It always starts by, "we are poor, cold, and hungry, please let us into your city." Then at the demands of "some" women, who cant see past their noses, the men open the gates of the city.

                  Reply#8 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:24 AM EDT

                  those poor men, so superior yet led astray by their inferiors (those tricky women and barbarians at the gate). it's the same, tired bullsh!t story "some" men cling to when their little ego implodes. ou are not noble, heroic or superior when you blame women for your own inadequacies. you're just another sick b!tch.

                  • 4 votes
                  #8.1 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:40 AM EDT

                  Talk about an absurdly sexist and ignorant statement. Care to name these "women"? Considering America hasn't had women in government until very recently, you must be describing another country.

                  • 2 votes
                  #8.2 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:17 PM EDT
                  Reply

                  Yeah. I'm not so sure I would move there if I were Jewish...

                  • 3 votes
                  Reply#9 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:44 AM EDT

                  I'd move there too, rather than stay in my little country that may be vaporized by Iran.

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#10 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:56 AM EDT

                  Dale, You may want to study up on Israel's nuclear history and deployment abilities. Iran has nothing to compare.

                  • 1 vote
                  #10.1 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:22 AM EDT

                  It doesn't matter. I believe that Imanutjob will nuke Israel as soon as he can. He won't worry about retaliation. With prior knowledge, he will be able to get himself and "his" to safety. He won't care about anyone else, Jewish or Muslim or any other ethnic group..

                    #10.2 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:09 PM EDT
                    Reply

                    time for another Hitler,ha ha ,,,, just kidding

                      Reply#11 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:59 AM EDT

                      We still have a few Hitlers on the planet! People who would destroy another people just for religious reasons.The Imans that run Iran are no different from Hitler.In fact ,Iran was a stunch supporter of Hitler in WW2. Very close ally.Their views haven't changed.There are others i'm sure you know by name!

                      • 3 votes
                      #11.1 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 2:20 PM EDT
                      Reply

                      better a Jew then a Muslim if you simply MUST view people by their religion, even more so if you are talking about their culture.

                      • 1 vote
                      Reply#12 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:03 AM EDT

                      Is that supposed to be a compliment to Jews? As a representative of the Tribe, let me tell you, it isn't.

                        #12.1 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 4:29 PM EDT
                        Reply

                        I grew up in Israel in the 60s and 70s and people there had already been purchasing Volkswagens, Mercedes and other German products and had been traveling to and living in Germany for quite a number of years, not too long after WWII. Despite, and perhaps because of the holocaust, there is some fascination that Israeli's have with Germany, probably in line with the shared cultural heritage that PassionatelyCurious alluded to. There are other prosperous countries in Europe that Israelis have gone to and that the Israelis in this report could have gone to but I beleive that the majority have always gravitated to Germany. Go figure...

                        • 4 votes
                        Reply#13 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:05 AM EDT

                        Well probably because Germany is a great country. Think of all the famous Jewish scientists, Freud,

                        Einsteen, etc. all came from Germany, because Germany was the center of science and

                        western civilization. Even now, such a small country, yet their economy is a powerhouse,

                        third or fourth biggest in the world.

                        Me, I would go to Germany for the beer (Weihenstephan) , the cars (bmw) the motorcycles (bmw),

                        etc etc. their engineering and manufacturing are superior, the best in the world.

                        Israel is like a third world country compared to places like Germany and Norway.

                        • 3 votes
                        #13.1 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:48 AM EDT

                        You know, Chupacabra, for a moment there I thought your response would be intelligent but, in keeping with your other posts, your hatred of Jews/Israel is getting in the way of reason and facts. Please view the following. If the link does not work go to You Tune and type in "Israeli Inventions" and get back to all of us with your response about Israel being a third world country.

                        Israeli
                        Inventions

                        • 2 votes
                        #13.2 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:38 AM EDT

                        I'll try the link again: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhtJxC6NwFw

                        • 1 vote
                        #13.3 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:54 AM EDT

                        BTW: Freud was born in Austria.

                        • 3 votes
                        #13.4 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:13 PM EDT

                        Funny, i knew i would upset some Israeli with the third world statement.

                        I know i know you guys invented the blue touth technology, I apologize.

                        I hate Israel no doubt, I have met some nasty Jews here in America but

                        Ive known nice ones too. People who critisze Israel dont hate all Jews my friend,

                        grow up. YOu Tune? What did the Jews invent music now too?

                        • 2 votes
                        #13.5 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:39 PM EDT

                        Austria, Germany, same thing.

                        Ok, maybe Israel is a second world.

                        Can you deny Germany makes the best cars, the best beer, the best guns,

                        the best of just about everything. My facts and reason are sound.

                          #13.6 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:49 PM EDT

                          thechupacabra says

                          I hate Israel no doubt, I have met some nasty Jews here in America but

                          Ive known nice ones too.

                          Really? Really? Do you know how ignorant that sounds? Why don't you just say you've met some nasty people here in American but have known some nice ones, too, because that's what you are saying. I've been told that I'm a 'good Jew' by people who think that's a compliment. It isn't. Or people that say they don't like Jews, but some are ok. I've known some nasty PEOPLE of all religions, but some nice ones too. You are not even a good bigot. Go work on that, some, ok?

                          • 1 vote
                          #13.7 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 4:28 PM EDT

                          the jews bread and mixed genetically with the germans for centuries. so would a german jew rather live in israel with a bunch of 99 percent jews which are basically genetically arabic like their neighbors, or would rather live in germany with their genetic similar people???

                          --those great jews from germany have no doubt german genes in them too. jews are not great scientists, builders of planes, jets, rockets, guns etc. unless they have mixed genetics... i am sure there are some rare exceptions but africans are not great scientis either. do we have to pretend that everyone is just as smart? with the same abilities?

                          • 1 vote
                          #13.8 - Fri Sep 14, 2012 12:15 AM EDT

                          Basil <><><> Hitler was also born in Austria.

                            #13.9 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:15 PM EDT
                            Reply

                            Here's another news flash: Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all basically the same religion. Same God, same law against murder. All 3 promote helping the less fortunate.

                            • 1 vote
                            Reply#14 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:33 AM EDT

                            All killing each other for the same God.

                            Thank God our founding fathers separated the church and state.

                            • 2 votes
                            #14.2 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:51 AM EDT

                            Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are so NOT basically the same religion. Judaism and Islam promote war for the purpose of peace or morality, while Christianity's core rule is to 1) love God above all others, and in doing so 2) love others as much as you do yourself. If you love someone as much as yourself, chances are you're not gonna cut their head off with a scimitar, or tank their country cuz you want the land. War is sometimes necessary, that's a given. But war is NOT necessary in the event that someone disagrees with your religion or disrespects your god. Christianity obviously falls short in the area of helping the less fortunate because some people (mostly Americans and Europeans), regardless of religion, rely on their cushy lifestyle to save them from even noticing that less fortunate exist. Allah is the name for God in Arabic, but the Muslim idea of God is far, far off that of the Jews and Christians. Christians believe in the same YHWH God of the Jews, but they also believe in His Son, being Jesus, and his ability to bring humanity to complete salvation by His death and resurrection. If you think about it, true Christians (meaning those that practice, in their daily life, the two greatest laws mentioned above) are safer in terms of heaven. If the Jews are right about their God, then both Jews and Christians go to heaven for their faith in YHWH. If Christians are right and the only way to Heaven is through Jesus, then Jews are left behind to Sheol/Hell. With all due respect: there's a news flash. I hope you consider what is said here and really think about it, so you don't end up in Sheol/Hell. Yeah, it's real.

                              #14.3 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:04 AM EDT

                              Spare me your fairytales. All three of these religions are very similar, especially Judiasm

                              and Islam. YOur childish reasonings on Christianity are amusing. Lets face it, Christians have

                              started more wars that led to deaths of more people than any religion before or since its beginning.

                              • 4 votes
                              #14.4 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:05 PM EDT
                              Reply

                              better a Jew then a Muslim if you simply MUST view people by their religion, even more so if you are talking about their culture.

                              so much hate, must you make such cruel comments, this article is about Jews living in Germany, why do you always bring the Muslims into it. Even when an article isn't about them you have to pull them in somehow don't you.

                              • 3 votes
                              Reply#15 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:41 AM EDT

                              better a Jew then a Muslim if you simply MUST view people by their religion, even more so if you are talking about their culture.

                              Only if you are ignorant should you make such a statement, it may make you feel a sense of accomplishment...!

                              • 1 vote
                              Reply#16 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:54 AM EDT

                              Vicegerent.....unless you are a native to Berlin or Germany you will not understand. Germany has been overrun by Muslims, especially Turkish people. I have seen my city change tremdeously. Some schools have no more German students. My sister just told me two days ago that the last grocery store in the neighborhood moved and another Turkish store has moved in the already predominently Turkish occupied businesses. Since Germany did not attempt to integrate the Turkish 50 years ago, they chose to establish themselves by opening their own businessess and participating in the community as mostly a community of their own. Now the Germans are suprised at the industriousness of the Turkish population. They are no longer just the street sweeper, garbage collectors, janitors, etc. The last time I rode the subway, there was not one German voice to be heard in the full car. Germans are feeling threatend by Muslims and therefore would probably welcome Jewish people knowing that their culture is closer linked than with Muslims.

                              • 1 vote
                              #16.1 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:12 PM EDT

                              --you are witnessing the planned watering down of the german genes by the allies at the end of world war two. they would have done it with the africans if they had been more motivated, industrious, intelligent etc. lke the turkish. the turks are most like the gypsies germany wanted to rid them selves of. the allies enjoyed using their black soldiers to rape the german women during the war and at the end of it, google it.

                              --church hill wanted to kill the whole german population by fencing it in and starving the whole country. many thousands did die of starvation, hundreds of thousands of children died too just while the women were being raped. the polish people even set up concentration camps and put german civilians in them and killed them. google it.

                                #16.2 - Fri Sep 14, 2012 12:29 AM EDT
                                Reply

                                Save your money and come to Chicago!

                                  Reply#17 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:12 AM EDT

                                  Well, the Jews wanted their own homeland after WWII and they got one. Now they're not happy there, so they're moving out. Surprise, surprise.

                                  • 4 votes
                                  Reply#18 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:12 AM EDT

                                  Yea pretty crazy. All those loudmouth Zionists blabber on about how great living in

                                  Israel is, yea right. Nobody non Jew from a western country like the USA or Germany

                                  would ever want to live in Israel. Their nuts.

                                  • 1 vote
                                  #18.1 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:53 AM EDT

                                  Such an ignorant, hateful posting. So, a small amount of people move to another country - surprise, surprise - such a waste of oxygen!

                                  • 1 vote
                                  #18.2 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 3:42 PM EDT
                                  Reply

                                  Poor Germany.

                                  • 2 votes
                                  Reply#19 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:16 AM EDT

                                  I know the feeling...

                                    #19.1 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 1:46 PM EDT
                                    Reply

                                    The reason Jewish people are moving to Germany is the same reason many people are moving there. The country is well managed, clean, good job situation, excellent education available and the Germans today mind their own business. Do you see any German flags being burned or German ambassadors being killed? We get Obama and Romney, both Harvard lawyers and Germany gets Merkel, with a doctorate in physics. Could this mean something? We have soldiers in over 100 countries and Germany has soldiers in? 1 maybe 2? We spend 7% of our GNP on defense and Germany spends about 1%. We want to defend the whole world and Germany just concentrates on Germany. Just maybe we might learn a few things from the Germans. By the way, when our country when formed a vote was taken on the language to use. German lost by one vote. There were more German speakers in the U.S. than English speakers. German was spoken in many homes in the U.S. up until the 1960's and is still spoken in homes in Texas.

                                    • 2 votes
                                    Reply#20 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:23 AM EDT

                                    I agree. Germany has it right now.

                                    They make the best beer.

                                    • 1 vote
                                    #20.1 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:56 AM EDT

                                    The price of imperialism.

                                      #20.2 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:25 AM EDT

                                      WWII (and the treaties and guilt stemming therefrom) is the reason they have shunned investment in the military and military involvement outside their borders. There is also a sizeable contingent of violent neo-nazis that is growing not only in number but also in influence.

                                      • 2 votes
                                      #20.3 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:47 AM EDT
                                      Reply

                                      I guess love and hate are bed mates. Jesus though, why would a Jew move to Germany? Or to Europe? Maybe to take credit for the Euro Crisis? OK, "we did it," as my brother Lenny said. I'd never go back to Germany. Joey said "It's a long way back to Germany. It's a long way back to Germany." Maybe it ain't so long after all?

                                        Reply#21 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:24 AM EDT

                                        The Rhine in Germany is the homeland of the Israeli Ashkenazim. It is the rightful claim of the prodigal Ashkenazim who, globally, make up over 4/5 of the proud Jewish Community. If, for some reason, they can no longer live peacefully enough in Israel, then they shall return to the Rhine and perhaps call it, "New Israel." Wherever else the Jewish Ashkenazim want to move or stay will be up to the Jewish Ashkenazim.

                                        • 2 votes
                                        Reply#22 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:31 AM EDT

                                        Oh God please.

                                        • 1 vote
                                        #22.1 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:52 AM EDT

                                        This is the one and only time that I actually agree with your post, either as a retort to Just Say know or an appeal to take you out of your misery.

                                        • 1 vote
                                        #22.2 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:45 PM EDT
                                        Reply

                                        If, for some reason, they can no longer live peacefully enough in Israel, then they shall return to the Rhine and perhaps call it, "New Israel." Wherever else the Jewish Ashkenazim want to move or stay will be up to the Jewish Ashkenazim.

                                        why don't we just change the word Earth to Israel and get rid of the entire population that is not Jewish and you can have the whole world all to yourselves, well maybe that's the plan...

                                        • 1 vote
                                        Reply#23 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:07 AM EDT

                                        I don't find this that ironic. Though I can't find the citation but, some scholars have noted that Berlin was one of the more cynical places in Germany with regard to the Third Reich that never fully embraced Hitler.

                                        This is a good thing to see this. Hopefully this will go well.

                                        • 1 vote
                                        Reply#24 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:18 AM EDT

                                        My heart and sympathy go out to the Jews. Certianly Obama's objective is to undermine Israel at every turn. I am completely confused as to why any Jew would vote for a Blasphemer that is clearly out to destroy you as a nation.

                                        He is willing to say anything that will get him elected. Do you really put your trust in him? His actions toward your country are clearly contrary to your well being.

                                          Reply#25 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:18 AM EDT

                                          Obviously what you say is a lie. But lets say if Obama in fact does not like

                                          ISrael, so what? Why should we do their dirty work for them? Iran is a civilized

                                          country, if they do get a nuke they wont immediatly nuke Israel, or nuke them at all.

                                          This is about Israels wanting to be the mid east superpower not whether Iran gets nukes.

                                          • 4 votes
                                          #25.1 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:55 AM EDT

                                          BS, how many $$$$$$$$$$ going to Israel has been cut under Obama administration? Obama's chief advisors are Jewish, they make sure pipe line stays open.

                                          • 1 vote
                                          #25.2 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 8:28 AM EDT

                                          Chupa et al <#> <#> <#> Israel has had nukes for decades and has not yet set off bomb one. Maybe Iran wouldn't use the bomb, either, if it had one. But, we don't know that, do we? We DO know Iran does a lot of saber rattling.

                                            #25.3 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:28 PM EDT
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