The bold vision of Berlin's Rabbi and Chabad emissary, Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, to build the largest Jewish educational and cultural complex in Germany since the Holocaust has become an astonishing reality. With the opening of the large Jewish campus, next to Berlin's main synagogue inaugurated sixteen years ago, Rabbi Teichtal's mission to change the perception of Jews in Germany was fulfilled.
After nearly four years of construction and constant investment, the huge Jewish campus was inaugurated, at an estimated cost of over $40 million, much of which was funded by the German government, alongside generous Jewish foundations and funds. The huge center has schools, kindergartens, a daycare center, huge libraries, a kosher deli, playgrounds for children and young people, and many other wings, all designed to serve the Jewish children and young people of the city.
Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef also came to greet, Photo: Akiva Sheinberger
"Too often, people here think of Jews only in terms of the Holocaust and anti-Semitism. Our campus commemorates those holy Jews who were murdered for Kiddush Hashem - and at the same time deals with the Jewish future, joy, studies and life shared by all of us."
The opening ceremony was very happy and thousands of Jews from all over Germany flocked to the exciting celebration. "It's a holiday for me, I came here with all the children," said one participant. The great Hasidic singer Avraham Fried pleasant at the event, most of which was devoted to special speeches delivered by distinguished guests.
Chabad emissary in action at the ceremony, photo: Akiva Sheinberger
The event opened with a fiery speech by Rabbi Teichtal, who, after speaking of Jewish closure, personally thanked everyone who assisted and took part in this great task. The speaker of honor was the special guest who came from the Holy Land - the Chief Rabbi of Israel and Rishon LeZion Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, who spoke about the revolution that the Rebbe brought about in the revival and period of the Jewish world and the chilling fact that not only from the inauguration ceremony, the Nazis were engaged in the extermination of Jews.
Also speaking: Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor, Vice President of the German Parliament Petra Pau, Governor of Berlin Kai Wagner, Dr. Joseph Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany. Prominent in their presence were Rabbi Teichtal's father - educator Rabbi Shlomo Teichtal, Rabbi of Holon and member of the Chabad Rabbinical Court Rabbi Yochanan Guraria, rabbis of German communities and Chabad emissaries scattered throughout the country, as well as members of the Badatz Berlin Court.
Opening of the Jewish Center in Berlin
At the end of the official ceremony, thousands of the country's Jews, men, women and children, enjoyed a lively carnival on a street blocked off to traffic by the German police. Elaborate food stands, along with a Hasidic performance by Avraham Fried, made these moments unique. "All of us here are partners in the celebration and enjoy this day that will be etched in the annals of German Jewry," one of the city's Jews put it.
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