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German president opens [new Munich] synagogue
The Washington Post ^ | Thursday, November 9, 2006 | Reuters

Posted on 11/09/2006 8:52:30 AM PST by wolf78

German president opens synagogue

MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - President Horst Koehler said on Thursday anti-Semitism was still alive in Germany as he attended the consecration of a new synagogue in Munich, nearly 70 years after a notorious Nazi pogrom against the Jews.

"Still today our dream of a normal Jewish life in Germany clashes with the reality that there is open and latent anti-Semitism and the number of violent acts motivated by right-wing extremism is rising," Koehler said in a speech prepared for the occasion.

"It is the duty of all of us to get involved and act to prevent people being abused, injured or even murdered due to their religion, origin or appearance," he added.

About 800 guests attended the ceremony in the Bavarian capital, where Adolf Hitler's Nazi movement put down its roots in the 1920s.

The site of Munich's new synagogue is a few minutes walk from the building where Nazi propaganda chief Josef Goebbels delivered a speech that paved the way for the November 9-10, 1938 pogrom known as Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Germany; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: germany; horstkoehler; munich; newmosquearmoryopens; oopsmosquearmoryoops; synagogue


From left to right: Franz Muentefering (Vize Chancellor of Germany, in the background), Charlotte Knobloch (President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany), Eva-Luise Koehler, Horst Koehler (President of Germany and his wife), Christian Ude (Mayor of Munich).








1 posted on 11/09/2006 8:52:33 AM PST by wolf78
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To: wolf78
Notice the windows are not accessible from the street level and the rather fireproof, sturdy, construction.

I suppose you could say that was in homage to the Temple in Jerusalem, but I suspect a more practical reasoning.
2 posted on 11/09/2006 8:59:12 AM PST by MeanWestTexan (Kol Hakavod Lezahal)
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To: MeanWestTexan

Good news.


3 posted on 11/09/2006 9:03:00 AM PST by Rummenigge (there's people willing to blow out the light because it casts a shadow)
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To: wolf78

This comes 6 million Jews too late and is a worthless gesture from a nation where, despite official pronouncements, polls show most people hate Israel for the crime of defending itself. The German media today is nothing more than a leftist version of Der Stuermer.

I have problems doing hyperlinks here, but check out a blog called Davids Medienkritik for the real scoop about the anti-American and anti-Semitic hatred of the German media.

Germans are still upset that Hitler didn't finish the job.


4 posted on 11/09/2006 9:13:48 AM PST by fireman43
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To: fireman43
Wow, Davids Medienkritik is really having an impact. I don't like it but it's probably good for people who don't speak German and look for an anti-German spin.

Anyway, the architecture looks weird. I think I'll visit it when I'm in Munich the next time.

5 posted on 11/09/2006 9:51:29 AM PST by Schweinhund
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To: Schweinhund; wolf78
Hey, I know its off topic, but I am planning a trip to Bavaria and Tyrol this coming June, and I was wondering if either of you could point out any good restaurants, tourist sites or beer halls that are not well known to outsiders, or if you have any other recommendations.

Thanks,

Theoden
6 posted on 11/09/2006 10:31:53 AM PST by Theoden ("A sword in one hand, and a rosary in the other")
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To: Theoden; Atlantic Bridge

Can't help you much there, I am a tourist myself when I am there. The German Museum in Munich is nice. I also visited Starnberg, a small town about half a mile away from Munich, where wealthy Germans and foreigners have their vacation villas. Maybe some other Germans on this board understand the strange customs and tongue of the Bavarians and can offer more inside tips. Atlantic Bridge?


7 posted on 11/09/2006 10:47:08 AM PST by Schweinhund
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To: Schweinhund

Make that half an hour away, by train.


8 posted on 11/09/2006 10:48:29 AM PST by Schweinhund
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To: Theoden

BTW, what you should most definitely try is Weisswurst (white saussage). You can get it in Bavaria, but only before 12 AM. It MUST be made fresh and if they will serve it after 12 AM you are in a tourist joint where they think you won't be able to tell the difference. Order some Weizen along with that, although you don't need to pop your head around noon, just drink one or two as you'll have plenty of meat with that. Even as a non-Bavarian I can definitely recommend trying fresh Weisswurst. Delicious.


9 posted on 11/09/2006 2:11:30 PM PST by Schweinhund
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To: Schweinhund

Sounds good! I love German food, and Weizen is great (I tried it this year at a local Oktoberfest).

I would tour all of Germany, but I am just a student right now and I cant afford it :( and I wanted to see the German/Austrian alps plus the castles in the area, so that limits me to Bavaria.

The German I was taught in school I know is different from the Bavarian dialect. That should be interesting. Thanks for the advice.


10 posted on 11/09/2006 2:19:01 PM PST by Theoden ("A sword in one hand, and a rosary in the other")
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To: Theoden

If you can manage it, visit the Zugspitze mountain near Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GAP). It´s Germany´s highest mountain and on a good day you will love it. The Hofbräustübl in the center of Garmisch is a good and cheap restaurant that serves traditional Bavarian dishes.

Yes, you definitely should visit the Deutsche Museum in Munich, that´s interesting even for people of our age. Mmh, what else... if you like soccer of not, a soccer match of Bavaria Munich in the Allianz-Arena is worth a visit, the cheapest ticket will do as well as others.

Oh and try to avoid the Hofbräuhaus in Munich, it´s a tourist trap. It´ll be ok to take a short look inside, and then get your beer at another place. Depending on the time you are there the English Garden is beautiful.

Salzburg in Austria is also worth a visit. Then you need to see one of the castles of Ludwig II. (the gay and mad King of Bavaria in the 19th century). But one will be enough, they´re not much different. Take the nearest of your route for practical reasons.

That´s actually all I can recommend, since I´m not Bavarian either.´

Have a good and safe trip, feel welcome in Germany and enjoy your stay!


11 posted on 11/10/2006 2:56:44 AM PST by Michael81Dus
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To: Michael81Dus
Thanks Michael. I definitely want to go to a soccer match in Germany, they look like a lot of fun after watching the world cup this year.

I was planning on going to the Hofbräuhaus. Is it really that bad, or just overly expensive to tourists? Thanks for your recommendations.
12 posted on 11/10/2006 6:25:07 AM PST by Theoden ("A sword in one hand, and a rosary in the other")
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To: Theoden

No, the prices are ok, I just found the quality of the food not good when we´ve eaten there. But you can always take "a Maß Bier", they can´t do much wrong with it! ;-)


13 posted on 11/10/2006 6:49:28 AM PST by Michael81Dus
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