Pro-Hamas demonstrators marching in Munich, Germany. Photo: Reuters/Alexander Pohl

As Jews and Israelis face a relentlessly hostile climate in Germany, the Jewish community in Potsdam, a city just outside Berlin, fears it may not be safe to open a new Jewish daycare center amid growing security concerns.

First reported by the German newspaper Märkische Allgemeine, the local Jewish community plans to establish a new Jewish kindergarten in Potsdam’s Stern district, a residential neighborhood in the city’s southeast, but rising antisemitism has slowed the project amid growing concerns over security and protection.

Initially launched in 2020, the project began when community leaders approached Potsdam city hall for support, with officials backing the plan and exploring the possibility of establishing the kindergarten in an existing, underutilized facility.

However, with antisemitic incidents on the rise and Jews and Israelis increasingly targeted, community leaders now warn that opening the kindergarten could heighten their vulnerability, making it impossible to predict when the facility might open. 

“People are afraid of the growing antisemitism,” Evgueni Kutikow, chairman of the Jewish Community of Potsdam, told Märkische Allgemeine. “One mother called me crazy when I asked her if she would enroll her child in a Jewish daycare center.”

Kutikow explained that the daycare center would require specific security measures, but he expressed concern that doing so might draw greater attention to the facility and make it a more visible target.

“As things stand now, I’m skeptical. But I’m also not prepared to abandon the project,” he continued.

Across Germany, synagogues, schools, and other Jewish institutions have had to increase security and protection against antisemitic attacks and potential terror threats — a reality that has intensified and loomed over the community since the start of the war in Gaza.

“But if we take three steps outside, we are completely on our own. We don’t live in a bubble — we see what’s happening around us and across the world,” Kutikow said.

Despite lingering skepticism, he said advocates of the project will continue working with city officials, who remain committed to advancing discussions, exploring new ideas, and promoting the daycare center.

Even though daycare places in the city currently exceed demand, a town hall spokesperson explained the city would still consider establishing a new center if an additional need can be demonstrated.

City officials will determine the costs of renovating and securing the proposed building, while planning to consult the state government on financing.

However, the German Ministry of Education, which has not yet received an application for an operating license, holds the final decision on the project.

Like most countries across Europe and the broader Western world, Germany has seen a shocking rise in antisemitic incidents over the last two years, in the wake of the Hamas-led invasion of and massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Most recently, unknown individuals vandalized the memorial at a local synagogue in Kiel, a city in the northwestern part of the country, destroying items left by people honoring the victims of the Holocaust — including a Star of David, candles, and a photograph.

According to newly released figures from the German Ministry of the Interior, antisemitic incidents continued to rise last year, with 2,122 offenses reported in Berlin alone, including 60 violent attacks.

This represents a significant increase of 80 percent compared with the already high number of incidents in previous years, with Berlin police recording 901 such offenses in 2023 and 1,622 in 2024.

Last month, the commissioner to combat antisemitism in the German state of Hesse sounded the alarm after an arson attack on a synagogue in Giessen, warning that it reflects a “growing pogrom-like atmosphere” threatening Jewish life across the country.

Steven Spielberg. Photo: BANG Showbiz via Reuters

Steven Spielberg officially became an EGOT winner on Sunday night after winning a Grammy for producing the “Music by John Williams” documentary that won in the best music film category.

The Jewish filmmaker took home his first Grammy win during a non-televised ceremony that took place before the main awards show. This was also the first year that he was nominated for a Grammy.

Spielberg is the 22nd person to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony in their careers. That list includes Rita Moreno, Audrey Hepburn, Mel Brooks, Elton John, Whoopi Goldberg, John Legend, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jennifer Hudson, Viola Davis, and composers Marvin Hamlisch, Richard Rodgers, and Alan Menken.

Spielberg is also reportedly the ninth Jewish person to reach EGOT status. The most recent Jewish person to secure the EGOT title before Spielberg was songwriter Benj Pasek in 2024.

Spielberg previously won four Emmys, for “The Pacific,” “Band of Brothers,” “Steven Spielberg Presents: A Pinky & The Brain Christmas,” and “Steven Spielberg Presents Taken.” He has three Oscars, including two for “Schindler’s List” and one for “Saving Private Ryan,” and a Tony award for producing the Broadway show “A Strange Loop.”

“Music by John Williams” is about the famed composer and conductor who has had 54 Oscar nominations and five wins. He has composed music for film franchises — such as “Star Wars,” “Home Alone,” “Jurassic Park,” “Harry Potter” and “Indiana Jones,” — as well as other iconic films and television shows including “Gilligan’s Island,” “Schindler’s List,” “Jaws,” “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” and “Saving Private Ryan.”

Mar 2, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (2) and forward Dean Wade (32) during the second half at Rocket Arena. Photot: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija has become the first Israeli to be named an NBA All-Star at the age of 25.

The 6-foot-8 athlete was named an All-Star reserve for the Western Conference on Sunday and was among 14 announced reserves who will compete in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 15 in Inglewood, California.

The All-Star showdown will be set like a tournament with US vs. the World, and three teams of at least eight players will compete in 12-minute games in a round-robin structure. Avdija will join Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama and others on the World team. The top two teams will go head-to-head in the championship.

Avdija, who has been nicknamed “Turbo,” finished seventh place in the NBA All-Star voting with over 2.2 million fans votes. He is the 17th player in the history of the Blazers to be named an All-Star and the first since Damian Lillard in 2023.

Avdija was born in Beit Zera, a kibbutz on the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee. He previously played for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel and spent four years with the Washington Wizards, who drafted him in the first round in 2020. He was the first Israeli chosen in the top 10 in an NBA draft. Avdija is currently in his second season with the Blazers.

“Proud of him. I know he cares about this team,” said Blazers coach Tiago Splitter after Avdija’s All-Star status was announced. “When you see a person like that succeeding, it’s truly special.”

Avdija has three triple-doubles this season, reached double figures in assists nine times, and scored 20 or more points a total of 35 times, according to the NBA. He joins Jokić and Dončić as one of three players averaging at least 25 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.

Avdija did not play during Portland’s 130-111 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday because of pain related to back issues.