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The beginning of Yom Kippur, the highest Jewish holiday, in the family of Andrea Kesack in Pennsylvania, USA.
A celebration that used to be carefree for her.
Andrea Kesack, Jewish community member
»Growing up, I wasn't afraid to go to church.
I never dreamed that I would have to worry about a synagogue shooting.
Let alone several.«
After the traditional dinner, Andrea wants to go to church with her husband and children.
It will be full in the synagogue on the so-called "Day of Atonement."
And that's what bothers her.
Already in the afternoon, while preparing for dinner, they are tormented by their thoughts.
Andrea Kesack, member of the Jewish community
»You go there, but you're always worried that some crazy person might show up.
We definitely know where all the exits are.
But it is an act of courage to continue being a Jew in the current social climate.
It changed."
The native American always saw the United States as one of the last places of retreat for Jews in the world, a free country without repression.
But her view has changed.
At least since 2018. At that time, a heavily armed right-wing extremist stormed the synagogue in Pittsburgh, 100 kilometers away, killing eleven people.
It is the bloodiest anti-Jewish terrorist attack in US history to date – shortly before the last midterm elections.
In 2019, a woman died in an armed attack on a synagogue in California and most recently a perpetrator took hostages in a synagogue in Texas.
The fear of further attacks is always there.
And she meets many.
Here in the outskirts of the metropolis of Philadelphia alone there are around 200,000 Jewish households.
The state of Pennsylvania has provided a safe haven for emigrants of all faiths since its founding in 1787.
Andrea Kesack's grandparents immigrated to the USA around 1900.
Her father grew up in poverty and eventually became a doctor - an American success story.
She hears stories with openly displayed anti-Semitism more and more often, says Andrea.
She herself remembers a night out with her family at a pizzeria during the Trump presidency.
She got into an argument with a Trump-loyal police officer.
Andrea Kesack, doctor for drug safety
»He looked at me, he looked around at us.
We all wore sweatshirts from different prestigious universities.
And he looks at us and says: It's people like you who have kept my child away from universities like this.
He was in full uniform, with a gun!
And he continued with very hostile language.
And for the first time in my life, I was scared to speak up because there's a guy standing here with a gun."
Andrea Kesack):
»No, you start with the middle one, Marc.
First the middle one and then the others.«
The alt-right movement, the new right in the USA, and Donald Trump, who is repeatedly accused of fueling anti-Semitic clichés and railing against minorities, are to blame for the increasing hatred of Jews.
Andrea Kesack has been a Republican all her life, primarily out of economic policy convictions.
to elect Democrats?
Previously unthinkable for them.
Until Trump took office in 2016.
Andrea Kesack, Republican
“I've always said I would only vote for Hillary Clinton if she was running against the devil or against Adolf Hitler.
Unfortunately, I came to the conclusion that the parallels between what was happening in the United States in 2016 and what was happening in Germany in the 1920s were startlingly similar.
So I voted for Hillary Clinton.”
The US human rights organization »Anti-Defamation League« registered more anti-Semitic incidents and attacks in the USA in 2021 than at any time in 40 years.
According to a survey by the American Jewish Committee, one in four Jewish people in the United States was a victim of antisemitism in 2021.
Andrea couldn't leave the worry that something might happen at the service that evening.
Then the family makes their way to the synagogue.
Out of consideration for the congregation, we do not film the service itself.
We get a glimpse of the synagogue in the morning.
We meet Rabbi Gregory Marx.
He says: a lot has changed for him and his congregation.
Gregory Marx, Rabbi "Beth Or" Congregation
"I have been the Rabbi of this congregation for 33 years.
And when I came into this church, people just walked in, they sat down somewhere.
It felt more open and relaxed.«
Just like that, without registration, nobody here can anymore.
And if someone does, he has now made provisions.
Gregory Marx, Rabbi »Beth Or« Congregation
»I hold the services from here.
And I have different setting options here.
For the air conditioning, for the volume, but sadly we had to put an alarm button here two years ago.
If I press it when something happens in the synagogue, the police will be called.
This is our new reality.
But if someone comes in here with an assault rifle, there's no alarm button in the world to stop them."
The Jewish community »Beth Or« north of Philadelphia counts more than 1100 families.
The rabbi has invested heavily in security for all of them in recent years.
Gregory Marx, Rabbi “Beth Or” Congregation
“We have bollards to prevent trucks from entering the building.
We have police cars in front of the door.
We employ armed security guards.
We have fitted these front doors with an alarm.
If the doors are left open for more than 15 seconds an alarm will go off and if the door remains open our office will be notified.
We installed cameras outside.
Back there, some here with all-round view, and everything is recorded so that we would have the footage afterwards if something happened.
It's a different place than when I came here."
The rabbi is proud of his latest alarm systems, he says.
After all, he is doing something for the sense of security in his community.
On the other hand, he used to be proud that he didn't need a security guard here.
Gregory Marx, Rabbi »Beth Or« Congregation
»I was in Berlin and there was this big synagogue.
And the security measures were enormous.
I remember visiting a synagogue in Paris in 1989.
There was an armed guard outside.
I was grateful to be American.
I was thankful that wasn't our reality, that we don't live with this constant threat to our community.
Unfortunately, we have drawn level with Europe.«
Rabbi Marx also blames former President Trump for the increased threat.
Gregory Marx, Rabbi
“I don't think people have become more anti-Semitic because of Donald Trump.
But I think he allowed it to come out.
He opened the garbage can in America and the poison and all the stench and hate are almost accepted now.”
Shortly before his service on the highest holiday, Yom Kippur, the rabbi also emphasizes that he won't be defeated.
Rabbi Marx:
"Will you give me a high five?"
No?
Nothing?
are you leaving me hanging
I have a really good connection with these children!«
Gregory Marx, Rabbi »Beth Or« Congregation
»If I allow them to enter my soul, they win - and don't even have to do anything for it.
I am delighted to see my parishioners here and I
will not let their hatred get hold of me
and let the joy of the holiday and the solemnity of the moment take away from me.”
The next evening.
Andrea Kesack and her family come home from the synagogue after the end of Yom Kippur.
She also knows that her fear of an attack is somewhat irrational and exaggerated.
She can't do anything about it.
Andrea Kesack, member of the Jewish community
»I am very relieved that nothing happened.
Every time you're done, you go home and you're safe, you think: Great!
Thanks.
I survived that day.«
Andrea Kesack is very worried about the midterm elections.
If the Republicans win the midterms in important states, the likelihood that Donald Trump or a similarly extreme candidate will come to power again after the next presidential election in two years increases.
In this case, she is already secretly thinking about emigrating.
Even if she doesn't know where to go yet.
Andrea Kesack, member of the Jewish community
»I think that would mean serious changes and that democracy could not survive that.
And that is always a harbinger of doom for Jews.
It's always good to have an exit plan.
I think my people have learned that.
Again and again."