Security Chiefs Gather in Berlin to Combat Rising Antisemitism
Security officials from Europe and the US gathered in Berlin ahead of the 88th Kristallnacht anniversary to address rising antisemitism and protect Jewish communities.
Top security officials from Europe and the United States gathered in Berlin on Thursday at the city's new synagogue to mark the upcoming 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht. The event highlighted the rising tide of antisemitism and security threats facing Jewish communities across Europe.
Hosted under the banner "Not on Our Watch: Turning the Promise of 'Never Again' into Action," the gathering was organized by the March of the Living in cooperation with the German Police Union, EU.Pol, US academic institutions, and the Berlin Jewish community. Participants included Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner, vice-president of the National Sheriffs' Association, and Estonian Deputy Interior Minister Joosep Kaasik.
Jochen Kopelke, chairman of the German Police Union and president of EU.Pol, delivered a sharp critique of far-right politics during the event, specifically targeting the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. He condemned efforts to downplay Germany's historical responsibility and dismissed rhetoric surrounding a supposed "guilt cult." Kopelke warned that domestic antisemitism remains a severe and visible threat, urging concrete government backing, resources, and legislation for law enforcement.
George Sheffi, a 94-year-old Holocaust survivor who lived through the November 1938 pogroms as a child, also addressed the gathering. Sheffi, whose mother later perished at Auschwitz after sending him to Britain via the Kindertransport, served for years in the Israel Police and received Germany's Federal Cross of Merit in 2025. Expressing deep concern over global antisemitism, he stressed that Jews worldwide still face grave dangers.
Revital Yakin Krakowski, CEO of March of the Living Israel, emphasized the symbolic significance of convening law enforcement leaders inside a synagogue at a time when Jewish institutions face unprecedented attacks across the globe.
