Is it safe for Jews to travel to Germany and Austria and look distinctly Jewish?

Show all answers

Wildcard

Which information leads you to assume that you are insecure in Germany? If you wear cloth that obviously made for a jewish fellow citizen..it will rouse curiosity because we see those traditional costumes very seldom.
If you need specific information about unsave areas you should eMail the Central Council of Jews in Germany:
http://www.zentralratdjuden.de/en/topic/2.html

Have a nice journey.

frackledJJ

You're going to be just fine. The only thing you need to be prepared for a funny looks, since distinctly orthodox Jewish attire, with the side locks (I know they have a special name, but I'm sorry, I always forget) and stuff is nothing that is seen everyday in smaller towns. I have seen orthodox Jews in cities like Munich and Berlin, and I guess there are orthodox Jews in the bigger Austrian cities, too, but not in smaller towns, so there definitely will be looks and probably a couple of questions from children. That won't have a lot to do with being Jewish, though, but with dressing differently than the rest of the people around you. The same would happen if you turned up in a full Sari or Amish attire or did your grocery shopping in a full-blown Dirndl, for that matter. But as for safety: Yes, it will be totally safe.

Enjoy your trip!

Max

I am quite sure that Jews and all other races are safe in Germany and Austria.This is 2008, not 1939, and Hitler has been dead for a long time.

marvin3127

of course! there are plenty of jews living there right now. My cousin is from Germany and she says that many Germans carry a lot of regret about the Holocoust although it occured generations before them. As long as you go to big cities and not any small isolated towns, im sure youll be fine. Germany and Austria are modern countries and are not stuck sixty years in the past. You know, in the first half of the 20th century in the United States African Americans were discriminated against...and now we are going to have an African American president!

ShlomoNYC

Hamburg is run by a Jew - smile; west Germany is fine. Avoid Berlin and other parts of Eastern Germany. I got in trouble there.

fliege52000

Sure why not? You are welcome in Germany and in Austria.

Bibie

I'd say you're no more safe or insecure in either Germany or US. The only problem you may have is if you cross paths with some nut job, but that can happen anywhere. If you feel safe enough in the US (i'm assuming thats where you live) you can feel about the same level of security in Germany. I would avoid smaller towns in the east maybe, just as i would avoid a backwater place in alabama.

as a poster below stated, i agree, i'd be worried mostly about the muslim minority in Germany rather than Germans themselves. about 5% of the population is Muslim. But of course, most of them too are perfectly nice people. If something happens its just some random act that could happen in any country at any time by some crazy person.

alan46

You will get a lot of stares, depending on where you travel. While there are more and more Jews in those two countries, mostly from Russia, it is unusual to see Orthodox dress. Most Germans and Austrians have never seen a Jew (knowingly) -- even though they have heard about them nonstop since 1933 and before.
Don't walk around Turkish areas, such as the main railroad stations in most cities, and in areas where there are Moslems and mosques. Try to avoid

buried answers - start digging

There won't be a problem but you must be sure that some people might look at you or make some sort of jokes.

Rivkah â™¥ ×¢× ×™×©×¨××œ ×—×™

Germany: http://www.adl.org/Anti_semitism/anti-semitism_global_incidents_2008.asp#Germany (seems to be mostly vandalism, no one brave enough to say anything to your face, but you never know)

There are many Muslims in Germany and they are also quite hostile.

~â™¥Blondie With Blue Eyesâ™¥~

i dont think ull even get any wierd stares, much less get hurt. there are much wierder people in germany. most people probably wont even realize that u are jewish cuz u may be dressed like some of the wierdos out there(no offense meant, bad wording)

Ã‚Â£Ã‚Â£

I read a report recently that said that the European country with the greatest rise in antisemitism recently is actually France. I am sure you will be fine on your vacation; I hope you and your family have a great time. :)

ARGGGHHHH!!!

What do you expect me to say? you have the same chance of surviving there now, as when the holocaust occurred?

c'mon, your fine there!
They probz need you, with them being in recession and all

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: