(JNi.media) Unfortunately, the increase in anti-Semitic incidents throughout Europe has been in the news for a while, but Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, sees more anti-Semitism expressed across a broader cross section of German society than previously suspected.

While Islamic extremists in Europe often express hostility for Jews and have been responsible for terrorist incidents, Schuster feels that anti-Jewish feelings are being communicated across the middle of society.

He told Deutsche Welle, Germany’s international broadcaster, “It’s striking that we have anti-Semitism that is at home not only with political extremists, but also in the middle of society. This is nothing new, but today many are willing to say what they may have long thought, but had not dared utter.”

The Central Council of Jews in Germany was founded in 1950 to address the needs of German Jews after the Holocaust. Schuster explains that, in the beginning, many of the Jews were not planning on staying in Germany following the Holocaust, but, eventually, communities were re-established in the country. At the end of the Cold War, the headquarters for the organization was moved to Berlin, and there was an influx of Jews from the former Soviet Union.

Germany is one of the few European countries with a Jewish community that is growing. There are an estimated 250,000 Jews in Germany, half of whom are affiliated. Berlin is a favorite city among Israelis. Still, there is present a fear of potential violence, and police protection has been stepped up in certain areas.

“My biggest wish,” says Schuster, “is that this police protection would someday no longer be necessary.”

He adds that education is the main tool for combating anti-Semitism, particularly educating the young. Schuster says distinctions between criticisms of the State of Israel and anti-Semitism are not difficult to make; “Objective criticism of Israel’s policies is absolutely legitimate. In a democracy, there is freedom of expression … but if the criticism is used immediately to tar all the Jews in the world, then it goes beyond what I mean by an objective criticism of Israeli policy.”

Former Chairman of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Dieter Graumann, said, “I am convinced that anyone who becomes anti-Semitic because of Israel has always been anti-Semitic.”

Graumann expressed alarm at the increase of anti-Semitism in Germany and the amount of fear expressed by Germany’s Jews.

“Horrible shockwaves of anti-Semitism are passing through our country,” he said. “Never in my worst nightmares could I have imagined that I would experience something like this.”

Graumann referred to abuse hurled at Jews on the street, vandalism and physical attacks. He reports that he has received an unprecedented number of worried questions from Jews about whether they should leave or to stay in Germany. While Graumann expressed appreciation for the effort of the German government, churches and organizations to express sympathy and to try to offer solutions, it is the ordinary German citizen that concerns him.

“Why is there no wave of solidarity with Jews? … Why don’t we see any evidence of this?” Graumann would like to know.