Friendship forged in tragedy
SHE is the East German idealist, who went on to become the country’s “Mutti”, the first female leader and a key figure in the unification of Europe. He is the Holocaust survivor-cum-tycoon, a potent allegory for Jewish endurance and prolific philanthropist.
SHE is the East German idealist, who went on to become the country’s “Mutti”, the first female leader and a key figure in the unification of Europe. He is the Holocaust survivor-cum-tycoon, a potent allegory for Jewish endurance and prolific philanthropist.
On Monday German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Frank Lowy stood side by side at the Westin Hotel in Sydney where the former delivered the annual Lowy Lecture.
In Australia for the G20 Forum, the world’s most powerful woman spoke of the annexation of Ukraine, the rise of China, human rights and the difficulties facing the Eurozone – her perspective on anti-Semitism was given only a fleeting nod.
But the symbolism of a German head of state speaking in Sydney at the behest of a policy think tank pioneered by a Holocaust refugee to connect his adopted country with the world, was palpable.
Introducing Merkel, Lowy, whose father was beaten to death by SS officers for refusing to dispose of a parcel containing his tefillin and tztizit when he arrived at Auschwitz, said, “Madam Chancellor, the Second World War had a profound effect on both our lives. For you it led to the partition and the reunification of your homeland. For me, as a Holocaust survivor, it was the reason for my immigration to Australia.
“I appreciate the leadership you have shown in rejecting racism and prejudice, especially anti-Semitism. I respect the way Germany has reconciled itself with its history.”
Reflecting Lowy’s comments in her address, Merkel said, “Some of the bonds [between Australia and Germany] also bring us back into a terrible and harrowing chapter of our common history, of which we are reminded particularly this year when we remember 75 years after the outbreak of the Second World War.
“We remember the break with civilisation that was the Shoah and also the outbreak of the First World War 100 years ago.”
Following her oration, Jewish MP Michael Danby, who was the senior Labor representative at the lecture, thanked Merkel “for her principled stance in her speech, recently given to a public rally in Berlin, organised by the German Jewish community”.
The speech was made by Merkel, weeks prior to her visit to Australia, at a rally in Berlin to mark 75 years since the start of World War II and called for an end to anti-Semitism in Germany.
“Jewish friends, neighbours and colleagues, consider yourselves at home here,” Merkel told the 5000-strong crowd back in September.
“Anyone who hits someone wearing a skullcap is hitting us all. Anyone who damages a Jewish gravestone is disgracing our culture. Anyone who attacks a synagogue is attacking the foundations of our free society.
“That far more than 100,000 Jews are now living in Germany is something of a miracle. It’s a gift and it fills me with a deepest gratitude. Jewish life is part of our identity and culture.”
For full coverage, see this week’s AJN.
ADAM KAMIEN
Jewish leaders meet Indian PM
REPRESENTATIVES from the Jewish community were among the VIPs who welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sydney at a reception on Monday night.
Modi, who was part of the G20 summit in Brisbane, is the first Indian leader to visit Down Under in almost three decades.
Sitting in the front row with NSW Premier Mike Baird and other dignitaries was NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president Jeremy Spinak, who congratulated Modi on the speech he delivered to 20,000 people at Sydney Olympic Park.
“It was a great honour to be invited to welcome Prime Minister Modi to Sydney on behalf of the NSW Jewish community,” Spinak told The AJN this week.
“The generous invitation extended by our Indian friends highlights the extremely close relationship which the Jewish and Indian communities are building together in Sydney, and we look forward to continuing to work together into the future.”
A number of other Jewish community leaders also attended the event, including Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council director of international and community affairs Jeremy Jones, who said the event “had the atmosphere of a rock concert, the passion of a football match and a rare spirit of genuine affection of a community and a political leader”.
“Jeremy and I were both amongst a very small part of the enormous crowd to be approached by the Prime Minister [Modi], who shook our hands,” Jones said.
EVAN ZLATKIS
Pictured are Angela Merkel and Frank Lowy.
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