I pulled the hot-water bottle towards my aching body. A strong stomach ache had its grip on me since days. As the warmth started to ease my pain, my thoughts wandered towards you, my dear Jewish friend.

When the job opportunity to become a chaplain at the largest training facility for the German Federal Police became a reality, we were ripped apart and I was torn from the comfort of our unlikely friendship. The world was a different one back then. With strong democracies, which had stood strong against right-extremist thoughts, pandemic and a crisis in world economy on this and the other side of the Atlantic.

Protect me, o G´d, for I seek refuge in you.

The first words of psalm 16 resonated deeply within me. Protection and refuge from the quickly changing political and societal tides is what we need these days. While I was pondering about the beautiful words of the psalm, the antique pink heating pad in shape of an old hot-water bottle gave me some extra comfort. Presently, it seems as though the only thing left for me is to find warmth from outwit myself. Four years after I moved back to Germany it feels as if the world is falling apart. A shift to the extremes is apparently happening in your home country and I am fearing for the upcoming early elections in mine.

Protect me, o G´d, for I seek refuge in you.

Four years of teaching young Police cadets about democracy, enabling them to stand up for human rights – in contrary to the murderous Nazi regime, where police have been complicit with the unspeakable evil. This was the reason, why I had left New York to go to the center of power and make an impact to hinder such a murderous system from establishing itself again through education. May such hate and unspeakable crime never happen again. I gave it all. Teaching how to combat the rise of Antisemitism, combating Racist activities and standing up against hate in the name of human dignity and robust democratic basic rights.

Protect me, o G´d, for I seek refuge in you.

But numbers of Antisemitic hate are rising around the globe. The numbers in Germany alone are staggering! 2023 the huge number of 5.164 antisemitic hate crimes. 2024 until to the end of September 3.370 (see below).

Protect me, o G´d, for I seek refuge in you.

On Feb 23 the lower house of the Federal German Parliament will have an untimely election as our German government is falling apart. Some of it seems hurtfully familiar in history – no, I want to push back this terrible thought as far as possible…

But if worst comes to worse, will I have equipped my young police cadets to stand up for our basic rights and for human dignity? With any elected government they will have the duty to obey their commands and to enforce the legislation. No matter, if it is from the center, or G´d help us!, extremist right or left winged. Will they be courageous enough to stand strong and firm against their superiors or politicians, if their commands, their laws and regulations are against human dignity? This is what they promise in their oath. Time and time again I have outlined in lessons for numerous classes before their oath how important it is that they protect our laws and human dignity. I always remind them that the murderous Nazi-Regime had despised human dignity and murdered 6 million Jews and numerous others.

Protect me, o G´d, for I seek refuge in you…

… is a prayer I am saying many times a day. For you and for me as we brace for impact of what might come. I wish, I could flee into the arms of our unlikely and precious friendship – but we are miles and oceans apart. Therefore, it is this hot-water bottle prayer that eases some of the stomach and heart ache:

Lord and creator of all,

Baruch Atah Hashem,

our world is changing so fast. Antisemitism and hate is on the rise. Wars are raging in the Holy Land and Ukraine. Politics are leaning to the extremes and no one wants to reach across the isle.

I am scared and turn to you seeking your warmth that will soothe my pain like a hot-water bottle.

Protect us, o G´d, for we seek refuge in you.

Amen.

Every time I pull my antique pink hot-water bottle towards me, I will say this prayer and think of you, my dear Jewish friend.

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(https://mediendienst-integration.de/desintegration/antisemitismus.html )