Josef Schuster, the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, has warned that rising antisemitic crime in the country is leading to a dangerous societal habituation to hatred. According to Schuster, the increasingly commonplace presence of Jew-hatred risks creating a “new normal” where Jewish life is pushed out of public view and can only be maintained through immense protective measures. He emphasized to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” that the annual report by Rias should serve as an urgent wake-up call and a mandate for both politicians and civil society, as reversing this trend requires massive efforts.
Rias, the Federal Association of Research and Information Centers on Antisemitism, presented its annual report on Wednesday, confirming that 8,725 incidents were registered nationwide last year. This figure represents nine more occurrences than the year prior, translating to an average of approximately 24 reported acts per day.
“8,725 antisemitic incidents, around 24 per day-these are not statistical anomalies; this is the oppressive reality in Germany,” stated the Central Council President. The 2025 report from Rias makes it clear that rather than observing any easing of the situation, Germany is experiencing the solidification of antisemitism at record levels.
