Orit Arfa Archives

Orit Arfa

Orit Arfa is an author and journalist based in Berlin. She holds a BA and MA in Jewish studies. Check out her work at www.oritarfa.net.

Rabbi Avraham Radbil in Germany. Credit: Courtesy.

In Germany, expat Ukrainian and Russian Jews are mostly careful not to talk politics

One synagogue banned discussions about the war on its WhatsApp group.

Orit Arfa

February 21, 2023

JAfD (Jews in the AfD) co-chair Artur Abramovych. Credit: Jörg Haller.

Jews in Germany’s far-right party feeling buyer’s remorse

“The more radical and anti-Western people are succeeding in getting the majority,” said JAfD (Jews in the AfD) co-chair Artur Abramovych.

Orit Arfa

November 11, 2022

Henryk Broder. Credit: Courtesy of “Achgut.”

Corporate cancel culture reaches Germany with a Jewish twist

Following a boycott campaign by anonymous tweeters, Audi and Eurowings pulled ads from a popular German media outlet led by a prominent, pro-Israel German-Jewish intellectual.

Orit Arfa

August 26, 2022

German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert. Photo: Re: Publica via Wikimedia Commons

Germany’s new ambassador to Israel launches charm offensive

Does the open approach of Steffen Seibert mark a new era of friendship between Germany and Israel, or do his kind words belie a “business as usual” approach?

Orit Arfa

August 19, 2022

Artwork by Taring Padi at the Documenta 15 festival in Kassel, Germany, was covered upafter a backlash against its anti-Semitic images, June 22, 2022. Credit: Kira Stephanie Loba//Shutterstock.

German anti-Semitic arts scandal continues to foment after festival director resigns

“The devastating realization remains that in Germany in 2022, it took weeks of immense public pressure—once again almost exclusively from Jewish organizations—before the display of ‘Stürmer’ caricatures had consequences,” said Remko Leemhius, director of AJC Berlin.

Orit Arfa

July 20, 2022

Documenta 15, Berlin, Germany. Source: Screenshot.

Works at German art festival cause stir over anti-Israel, anti-Semitic nature

“Elements being portrayed in certain exhibits are reminiscent of propaganda used by [chief propagandist of the Nazi Party Joseph] Goebbels and his goons during darker times in German history,” said Shira Ben Tzion, spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in Berlin. “All red lines have not only been crossed; they have been shattered.”

Orit Arfa

June 22, 2022

Lufthansa check-in at an airport terminal. Credit: Oleksandr Lutsenko/Shutterstock.

Another German ‘mess’ has some crying foul and others keeping quiet

The Lufthansa affair comes on the heels of a community still souring over the Gil Ofarim incident, which might have damaged the credibility of Jewish claims of anti-Semitism. Could that be the cause of the muted response by the Zentralrat, the official Jewish body?

Orit Arfa

May 13, 2022

Marine Le Pen speaks to the press at the international agricultural fair in Paris in 2011. Credit: Frederic Legrand-COMEO/Shutterstock.

Macron’s clear French victory underscores unease with Le Pen’s extremist baggage

French President Emmanuel Macron eases to victory among a public wary of challenger Marine Le Pen, who while having moderated her far-right image could not properly defend her past ties with Russia, her campaign fumbles, and, especially among Jews, the liability of her last name.

Orit Arfa

April 25, 2022

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán celebrating his election victory. April 3, 2022. Source: Fidesz/Facebook.

Orbán’s election victory highlights shift among Hungarian Jews

The Jewish community of 100,000 or so has been divided on the prime minister largely across religious-political lines, even though they agree that anti-Semitism has not really been an issue.

Orit Arfa

April 4, 2022

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We're a reader-funded news organization on the front lines of the narrative war confronting Israel and the Jewish people. Your help is crucial.