Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal (51) inaugurated the mitzvah mobile on Sunday. It will initially be in Berlin, but will then be on the road throughout Germany Photo: Siegfried Purschke
By Andreas Vollbrechtshausen
Most know little about Jewish life in Germany. To change that, a mobile synagogue, the so-called Mitzvah Mobil, is now rolling through the country.
On Sunday, the 3.5-ton truck was inaugurated by Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal (51) in the Chabad community at Münstersche Straße 6 and made its first official trip to the Brandenburg Gate. “We want to make Jewish life visible in this way,” said Teichtal at the presentation of the mitzvah mobile. The goals are to break down prejudices and promote tolerance, Teichtal continued.
The synagogue on wheels will tour throughout Germany providing information about Jewish culture, faith and the holidays. Church services can also be celebrated in the mobile home. For security reasons, the locations to be visited are not announced in advance.
The mobile was made possible by three Berlin families – the small truck cost around 100,000 euros. Actress Susan Sideropoulos (42) was also present at the inauguration. She said: “We want to show the beautiful sides of Jewish life and not just talk about anti-Semitism.”