<p>You’d think if there was one place in Europe these days where Jews would be safe from violence on the basis of their religion it would be Germany.</p>
<p>Ironic? Somewhat; considering the traumatic history of industrial genocide Jews once faced there during the most recent Reich just over half a century in our past. But it’s that very history – and the purported enduring German shame over it – that has been understood to mean Jews would never again face danger under the watch of the modern German democratic state.</p>
<p>It seems such a ‘presumptuous assumption’ was hastily made; and perhaps the murdered millions balk at us for ever considering it in the first place. But for a time, Germany did indeed seem to be a place the few Jews who dared to venture to live there would enjoy almost over-zealous protection from the German people and government.</p>
<p>That time is now over. <em>Fox News</em> <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/german-official-warns-jews-against-wearing-skullcaps-in-public-amid-spike-in-anti-semitism">reports</a>,</p>
<p><em>“A top official in </em><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/world/world-regions/germany"><em>Germany</em></a><em> warned the country&#8217;s </em><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/world/religion/judaism"><em>Jewish community</em></a><em> on Saturday to avoid wearing the traditional skullcap in public places in certain areas amid a rise in </em><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/crime/hate-crime"><em>hate crimes</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<p><em>Commissioner Felix Klein was speaking on the rise in anti-Semitic attacks across the country, and told the Funke media group that his opinion on wearing the skullcap &#8212; also called a yarmulke or kippah &#8212; has &#8220;unfortunately changed compared with what it used to be.&#8221;</em></p>
<p><em>&#8220;I cannot recommend to Jews that they wear the skullcap at all times everywhere in </em><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/world/world-regions/europe"><em>Germany</em></a><em>,&#8221; Klein said in an interview without elaborating on what places and times might be risky.</em></p>
<p><em>Government statistics released earlier this month showed that the number of anti-Semitic and anti-foreigner incidents rose in Germany last year, despite an overall drop in politically motivated crimes. Attacks against </em><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/world/religion"><em>Jews</em></a><em> in Germany were up by 10 percent from 2017 to 2018, with reported violent cases up from 37 to 62 over the same period, according to </em><a href="https://www.dw.com/en/german-official-warns-jews-against-wearing-kippahs-in-public/a-48874433"><em>German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle</em></a><em>.”</em></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Is Germany Victim-Blaming the Jews?</strong></p>
<p> ;</p>
<p>As PBP reported <a href="https://punchingbagpost.com/2019/05/26/when-words-become-actions-the-brutal-murder-of-mireille-knoll/">earlier this month</a> that makes for <strong>a stunning 70% increase in violence against Jews in Germany</strong> over the course of a single year. This violence spike should be spurring Germany to make critical moves to protect Jews (and everyone) against fanatical violence.</p>
<p>Instead, Germany essentially tells Jews to hide their religion for their own good; putting the onus of fixing the issue on the victims and not the perpetrators of the violence. For reference, the ‘skull caps’ the official refers to are known as Yarmulkes and are small little hats worn to show reverence to God. It should be abundantly clear why the German response is problematic if not ridiculous.</p>
<p>But it’s also a complete victory for the assailants, be it resurgent far right neo-Nazis or radical Islamic migrants, both of whom have seen an uptick in violent activity across Europe. Germany has effectively conceded to them that it can’t and/or won’t be able to curtail the violence; instead advising Jews to keep their religion secret or risk facing violent consequences… eerily familiar.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/world/world-regions/israel">Israel&#8217;s</a> president gave a more appropriate response declaring Sunday he was shocked by the German official&#8217;s comment.</p>
<p><em>&#8220;The statement of the German government&#8217;s anti-Semitism commissioner that it would be preferable for Jews not wear a kippa in Germany out of fear for their safety, shocked me deeply,&#8221; Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said in a statement.</em></p>
<p><em>He added that &#8220;we will never submit, will never lower our gaze and will never react to anti-Semitism with defeatism — and expect and demand our allies act in the same way.&#8221;</em></p>
<p><strong>Editor&#8217;s note:</strong> When you blindly allow in refugees who bring this kind of hate to your country (yes, I am talking about Radical Islam here), you can&#8217;t be surprised that they act on that hate within your own borders.</p>