Jews in Germany wishing to attend synagogue over the High Holidays will need to abide by the government's "3G" policy that came into effect in late August: Geimpft, genesen, getestet – "vaccinated, recovered, tested."
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As Germany's version of the Israeli "green pass" system, "3G" allows individuals to take part in public events and activities, such as celebrations and indoor restaurant dining, only if one of the three conditions is met.
Each of Germany's 16 federal states varies in the policy's implementation. In Berlin – home to some 100,000 Jews – "3G" does not apply to religious worship as long as distancing is adhered to, though most synagogues base their own systems on it.
"Every synagogue decides for itself how they want to deal with it," said Rabbi Boris Ronis, leader of the Conservative-liberal Rykestrasse synagogue, one of the oldest and largest shuls in Berlin. It was spared destruction during the Kristallnacht pogroms thanks to its location in the heart of a residential area; now, the trendy, café-lined neighborhood of Prenzlauer Berg.
"It's difficult. It's the coronavirus. Nobody knows," Ronis said. "We ask the people for '3G,' and that's it. We wear masks and socially distance. That's what we can do."
For large synagogues like Rykestrasse, walk-ins are allowed, but smaller synagogues may require registration to abide by regulations given the limited space – a habit some synagogues have already implemented for security purposes during Shabbat and holidays.
"On normal days, only every second seat in the synagogue is occupied. For the holidays, we've come up with something special. Last year, we were the first synagogue in Germany to inaugurate an open-air shul for the High Holidays. Services will be held there this year as well," said Jana Erdmann, head of press and communications for Chabad's Jewish Educational Center in Berlin. The open-air synagogue consists of a large tent, heated when necessary.
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However, it might be more difficult for parents with small children to attend. This year, sensitivity to the spread of infection has made playgroups impractical, both at Chabad and Rykestrasse. At the height of the last lockdown (from November 2020 to May 2021), singing liturgy – as opposed to reciting – was not allowed, but now worshippers can belt out prayers from a fixed seat and at a distance.
An added obstacle to German synagogues, which serve a Jewish population of some 200,000, is security. In 2019, a Syrian refugee wielded a knife in front of the New Synagogue of Berlin, shouting "Allah Akbar." Days later, on Yom Kippur, a right-wing extremist attempted to shoot worshippers at the synagogue of Halle but could not make it through the bolted gate.
"The police presence is generally higher than usual during Jewish holidays, and tighter security measures are in place because of repeated attacks in recent years," Erdmann said. "The pandemic has further fueled antisemitic sentiment. Both our security and the police – who are positioned in front of our building – are attentive to this."
Rykestrasse has not changed its security concept this year, believing the threat is omnipresent. "This is Germany," Ronis said.
Security guards at synagogues usually screen people who enter for any red flags. This year, synagogue-goers might also have to wave their "3G" status before entering.
Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.
