In reaction to the controversy, the dictionary editors announced they are weighing a revision.

By Sharon Wrobel, The Algemeiner

The head of the Jewish community in Germany criticized a suggestion by the country’s leading dictionary to use alternative expressions for the word “Jude,” or Jew, because the term can be regarded as “discriminatory.”

Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, commented on a special reference note added to the definition of the word Jew, which can be found in the online edition of “Duden,” the standard reference book of the German language.

A supplementary note added to the definition cautions: “Occasionally, the term Jew is perceived as discriminatory because of the memory of its use during the Nazi era. In these cases, formulations such as Jewish people, Jewish fellow citizens, or people of Jewish faith are usually chosen.”

“For me, the word ‘Jew’ is neither a swear word nor discriminatory,” Schuster told Deutsche Presse-Agentur, noting that the association he heads is deliberately called the Central Council of Jews, not of the “Jewish fellow citizens.”

“Even if ‘Jew’ is used in a derogatory manner in schoolyards or only hesitantly by some people, and the Duden editorial staff certainly meant well by referring to this context, everything should be done to avoid solidifying the term as discriminatory,” he maintained.

Schuster’s comments come as the German dictionary entry triggered a heated debate on social media platforms about the definition of the German words “Jude” and “Jüdin” — the masculine and feminine forms of “Jew.”

In reaction to the controversy, “Duden” editors announced that they are weighing a revision.

The dictionary’s chief editor, Kathrin Kunkel-Razum, said her team is taking the criticism and discussion surrounding the reference to discrimination — and its capacity to be viewed as discriminatory in itself, which is “not our intention” — very seriously.

The editorial team will carefully review the supplementary note to reflect the debate’s complexity, she said, adding that there are Jews who avoid the term themselves.

The note in question has been found in the “Duden” entry since 2007, and online since 2011.

The post ‘Jew’ is not ‘discriminatory’ word: Jewish leader criticizes German dictionary entry appeared first on World Israel News.

The German government has reached an agreement with the Jewish community to substantially increase funds for its security, The Algemeiner reports.

The post WATCH: Germany sets aside 22 million Euros to protect Jewish institutions appeared first on World Israel News.

A German Jewish group denounced Amazon for selling anti-Semitic books and pro-Nazi merchandise.

By World Israel News Staff

On Saturday, the Central Council of Jews in Germany denounced Amazon for allowing the sale of anti-Semitic books and pro-Nazi merchandise.

Council president Josef Schuster said in an interview with London based RND Media, “[It is] absolutely unacceptable that T-shirts and stickers be sold via Amazon that glorify the Nazis or incite hatred against minorities.”

He added that Amazon has “a great moral and social responsibility,” and cannot portray itself as a simple “supplier.”

Schuster demanded that Amazon immediately remove the offending articles.

“What we expect from a company such as Amazon, and from competent authorities, is that they immediately withdraw these articles from circulation and systematically launch legal proceedings,” he said.

Included in his complaint were books such as The Jew as World Parasite and Judas: The World Enemy.

This is not the first time the retail giant has been criticized for selling products that either deny the Holocaust or promote hate.

In 2017, Israel’s Holocaust memorial official for Yad Vashem Robert Rozett, along with The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s France-based director for international relations Dr. Shimon Samuels wrote Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos that allowing the sale of the book, The Rothschilds: A Family that Controls the World was an “outrage.”

Samuels wrote in his letter that selling the book was in violation of Amazon’s own regulations that prohibit the sale of “offensive material.”

“Amazon must not serve as a fig leaf for conspiracy theories or defamatory incitement that endangers us all,” Samuels wrote, reported Breitbart News Network. “Amazon is profiting from the trade in titles promoting Holocaust denial and anti-Semitic conspiracy myths.”

At the time, Rozett asked how Amazon will ensure that Holocaust denial products will no longer be sold.

President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews Marie van der Zyl said in 2017 that she was very glad the anti-Semitic books would no longer be sold by Amazon.

“At a time of record levels of anti-Semitism, it is very welcome that Amazon has listened and removed the offending titles from their website. These are not works of historical integrity, they are an anti-Semitic attempt to exonerate the Nazis of their crimes and to stoke the fires of hatred.

“Should any member of the public find further offending works, please get in contact with us and we will report them using the appropriate channels.”

A present search of Amazon no longer finds the offending materials.

The post German Jewish leader calls out Amazon for sale of anti-Semitic items appeared first on World Israel News.

Jewish leaders have expressed concern following a 10 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in Germany over the past six months.

By: World Israel News Staff 

Several Jewish leaders from around the world have expressed strong concern following the release of new figures in Germany indicating a 10 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the country over the course of the first half of 2018 when compared with the same period in 2017.

The German Interior Ministry said in its annual crime statistics survey that police received reports of 1,453 anti-Semitic incidents in 2017— four per day.

World Jewish Congress (WJC) President Ronald Lauder noted that “the German government has demonstrated admirable commitment to combating anti-Semitism, including the appointment of Ambassador Felix Klein as the first federal government commissioner working on behalf of the Jewish community.”

“Nevertheless, it is clear that concerted efforts are needed across the board to arrest the steady rise in violent incidents and harassment and ensure that German Jews continue to feel secure and valued as all German citizens deserve,” he stated.

“The WJC stands ready to assist our community in Germany, as well as all levels of government, to work toward implementing the necessary steps to quell anti-Semitism across the country,” Lauder said.

Some 349 out of the 401 anti-Semitic incidents recorded this year were reported as being perpetrated by those with far right-wing tendencies, while 80 such incidents occurred in Berlin.

Germany’s population of 82.8 million includes only about 200,000 Jews. Berlin has the biggest concentration with about 40,000.

In one of the latest attacks, an Israeli philosophy professor who teaches in the US was assaulted in the German city of Bonn in July by a 20-year-old German whom local media described as having “Palestinian roots.”

President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany and WJC Vice President Josef Schuster has called for the implementation of an effective, nationwide system to report anti-Semitism with a suitable threshold to be used when evaluating suspected cases.

The post Jewish leaders concerned by rising anti-Semitism in Germany appeared first on World Israel News.