Charlotte Knobloch, 93, says anti‑Semitism in Germany has reached an "existentially threatening" level and admits her earlier optimism was misplaced. Her new book Trotzdem weiter includes the prologue line: "I was wrong. We were wrong." Knobloch criticizes political responses after the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre as superficial and urges clear, concrete commitments from leaders to protect Jewish citizens.
Charlotte Knobloch: 'I Was Wrong' — German Jewish Leader Warns Anti‑Semitism Has Become Existentially Dangerous
File Photo - Charlotte Knobloch, President of the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria, photographed during an interview with the German Press Agency. (is associated with: «German Jewish leader on anti-Semitism: 'I was wrong'») Sven Hoppe/dpa
Charlotte Knobloch, the 93‑year‑old Holocaust survivor who leads the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria, has voiced urgent alarm about a renewed surge of anti‑Semitism in Germany.
Knobloch made the remarks ahead of the release of her new book, Trotzdem weiter (Still Carrying On), published by C.H. Beck. In the book's prologue she delivers a stark reassessment: "I was wrong. We were wrong." The admission reflects a sharp shift from the optimism she expressed in her 2012 memoir In Deutschland angekommen (Arrived in Germany).
"In 2026, anti‑Semitism — or rather, hatred of Jews — has once again reached a quantitative and qualitative level that can no longer merely be described as 'alarming' or a 'wake‑up call,' but is acutely and concretely dangerous — indeed, existentially threatening," Knobloch writes.
In an interview with dpa, Knobloch urged political leaders to be explicit about the future they envision "with and for their Jewish citizens in this country." She warned that silence or cursory remarks by public officials are insufficient and called for clear, durable commitments to protect Jewish life and security.
Knobloch criticized political responses after the October 7, 2023 massacre by the Palestinian militant group Hamas as ultimately superficial. She said that initial solidarity was intense but short‑lived, and that many Jewish people were unfairly held responsible for events related to the war in the Gaza Strip — a dynamic she says has intensified hostility and left her feeling personally devastated.
As a former president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany and a prominent voice in German Jewish life, Knobloch's warning underscores broader concerns about rising hate, the need for stronger political leadership, and the importance of public understanding of Jewish fears and safety needs.
What Knobloch Is Asking For: Explicit political commitments to Jewish citizens, meaningful public education and remembrance efforts, and concrete measures to counter violent and organized anti‑Semitism.
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