Children and adults demonstrate for peace and tolerance on the Kudamm Photo: Ralf Gunther
By Lou Siebert
It is a sign of peace and tolerance in a place steeped in history.
On the occasion of the Jewish holiday Lag BaOmer, the day of togetherness, a festival parade took place on the Kudamm in Berlin-Charlottenburg on Tuesday. With the move, the Jewish community in Chabad sent a signal for peace and tolerance in turbulent times. Jewish refugees from Ukraine also took part.
Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal (51) on the BZ: “Today we celebrate peace and tolerance. It’s about having a positive togetherness in our beautiful city.”
Rabbi Teichtal dances with congregation members at the Lag baBaomer parade Photo: Ralf Gunther
The route of the parade from Adenauerplatz to Münstersche Strasse was deliberately chosen. Adenauerplatz was a focus of Jewish life in Berlin before and during the 1930s, until the Nazis implemented their plan for a “Jew-free Kurfürstendamm”.
Today the Jewish community in Berlin, especially in Charlottenburg, is one of the fastest growing communities in Germany. According to the organizers, the parade should also reduce fears of contact between cultures.
The procession on the Kudamm was fun and in good spirits Photo: Ralf Gunther
“With all the challenges that have unfortunately also been encountered in Berlin recently, with demonstrations and slogans of hate against Jews, our answer is: light over darkness, love over hate,” said Rabbi Teichtal.