Lahav Shapira was attacked on a Berlin street in early February 2024, in what is believed to be an antisemitic incident. The Jewish student had previously voiced his views on the Middle East conflict at his university. The trial of the suspected perpetrator, a 23-year-old former classmate of the victim, is set to begin at Tiergarten District Court on April 8, 2024.
This incident marked one of the most severe cases of antisemitism in Germany following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which led to an incursion into the Gaza Strip. Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Jewish students across Germany have reported an atmosphere of dread at universities, fearing intimidation and attacks. The German Union of Jewish Students (JSUD) and the American Jewish Committee Berlin (AJC) revealed a “Situation Report on Antisemitism at German Universities” on February 27, 2025.
JSUD president Hanna Veiler, 27, announced a significant increase in antisemitic incidents within the university environment, compiling a list of events including the violent attack on Shapira and instances of university occupations and “so-called pro-Palestinian protest camps” where there have been calls for the elimination of Israel.
The report is particularly significant as there is limited research on the extent of antisemitism at universities. Data obtained from the Federal Association of Departments for Research and Information on Antisemitism (RIAS) shows a marked rise in antisemitic incidents at educational establishments.
Veiler emphasized that this issue is a major concern for Jewish students, who have involuntarily become knowledgeable on university-related antisemitism over the past 17 months. Some Jewish students have been so intimidated that it has impacted their academic performance and possibly their financial support.
AJC Berlin director Remko Leemhuis pointed to an escalation in antisemitic actions at German universities post October 7, 2023, with many Jewish students now avoiding campuses. The report highlights that while antisemitic incidents have occurred throughout Germany, Berlin is a focal point for such activities. The capital has witnessed numerous university building occupations, often accompanied by anti-Israeli graffiti.
In response, the report calls for stricter legal action against antisemitism, mandatory training for university staff on the recognition of contemporary forms of antisemitism, and designated contacts within universities for Jewish students. It also advocates for the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism within university policies.
Veiler criticized the lack of support from university administrations in addressing these issues. The attack on Shapira has also triggered a lawsuit against the Free University of Berlin, accusing the institution of failing to prevent or adequately address antisemitic practices.
Proceedings on this lawsuit, which might shed more light on the role of universities in combating antisemitism, are expected for the summer of 2025.
Veiler, who will be stepping down from her position with the JSUD, suggested her experiences have caused her to feel disconnected from Germany, indicating plans to travel and gain some distance from the current situation.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/report-finds-tsunami-of-antisemitism-at-german-universities/a-71794171?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
