Shots Fired at German Rabbi’s Home

Four gunshots were fired at a German rabbi’s home in city of Essen on November 18.

The bullet holes could be found on the outside of the rabbi’s home and two windows were pierced, but no one was injured. The rabbi belongs to the next-door Old Synagogue. The gunman is still at large.

German Justice Minister Marco Bushmann express shock the “latest on attack Jewish life” in a tweet. “Antisemitism must have no place,” he wrote. “It is our duty to protect Jewish life.”

The American Jewish Committee thanked the German police for investigating the matter and increasing security for the Jewish community. “Antisemitism should have no place in Germany,” the Jewish group tweeted.

Bullet holes were found in the rabbi's house at the Old Synagogue in Essen, Germany.

We thank @Polizei_NRW_E for opening an investigation and ramping up protection of the Jewish community.

Antisemitism should have no place in Germany.https://t.co/xs9alDVVvu

— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) November 18, 2022

Former Israeli Knesset Member Michal Cotler-Wunsh tweeted that the targeting of the rabbi doesn’t just threaten the Jewish community but also the “foundations of ALL democracies, [including] Germany.” Cotler-Wunsh added that it’s “imperative to comprehensively identify & combat ‘traditional’ Jew hate & its ‘modern’ mutation Zionophobia.”

Shots fired at Essen synagogue may target Jews, but threaten foundations of ALL democracies, inc Germany. They sound an emergency call & imperative to comprehensively identify & combat ‘traditional’ Jew hate & its ‘modern’ mutation Zionophobia @yudapearl, as defined by @TheIHRA. pic.twitter.com/Cig5LXm74h

— מיכל קוטלר-וונש | Michal Cotler-Wunsh (@CotlerWunsh) November 18, 2022