Jewish News Today: AfD Lawyer Compares Jewish Students to Hitler Youth, Dublin Hotel Cancels Antisemitism Conference Rooms, and Instagram Spreads Holocaust Denial

Jewish communities in Germany, Ireland, and across the diaspora are confronting fresh instances of hostility and institutional failure today, as an AfD-linked lawyer likened Jewish student activists to the Hitler Youth, a Dublin hotel cancelled bookings for an antisemitism conference — a story that has now drawn new detail — and a Jewish educator raised the alarm about Holocaust denial videos reaching millions on Instagram. Separately, Austria's antisemitism monitoring body confirmed that recorded incidents remain at an elevated level.

Germany: AfD Lawyer's Hitler Youth Comparison and Police Investigation of Jewish Students

A lawyer with close ties to the far-right AfD party, Ulrich Vosgerau, compared Jewish students to Hitlerjungen — members of the Hitler Youth — and reportedly mused about the use of police truncheons against them, according to the Jüdische Allgemeine. The 52-year-old Berlin-based attorney made the remarks during a YouTube discussion organised by an AfD group.

The comments follow an incident in which members of the Jüdische Studierendenunion Deutschland (JSUD) — the Jewish student union — blocked AfD state assembly deputy Hans-Thomas Tillschneider from approaching a synagogue. The Jüdische Allgemeine reports that JSUD representatives say they have since received threats as a result of their action.

In a further development that has drawn alarm from Jewish community observers, police in Halle have opened an investigation for alleged insult against the very JSUD students who staged the protest, according to reporting by the Tagesspiegel cited by the Jüdische Allgemeine. The students are accused of insulting Tillschneider, who holds the position of deputy president of the state parliament.

Volker Beck, president of the Deutsch-Israelische Gesellschaft (DIG), used a separate interview published today to call for generational renewal in his organisation, telling the Jüdische Allgemeine: "Die DIG muss jünger und weiblicher werden" — the DIG must become younger and more female. The remarks are unrelated to the JSUD episode but reflect a broader conversation in German-Jewish civic life about representation and renewal.

Dublin: New Detail on Hotel That Cancelled Antisemitism Conference Rooms

Following yesterday's initial report, the Forward (citing JTA) has added the identity of the Irish Jewish leader who described the incident as shocking. Maurice Cohen, identified as the president of an Irish Jewish organisation, said a Dublin hotel cancelled more than 70 rooms reserved for European delegates once it learned the guests were attending an antisemitism conference. Cohen described his reaction as one of shock. The cancellation left international delegates without accommodation for an event designed to address rising Jew-hatred across Europe.

London School Told Teacher Blamed Jews for October 7 — and Did Nothing

The Jewish Chronicle has revealed that a London school ignored calls for staff antisemitism training after a teacher allegedly told a pupil that Jews were to blame for the October 7 Hamas massacre. According to the JC, the family felt compelled to remove their son from the school and enrol him in Jewish education following the alleged incident, which took place earlier this year. The school has not acted on requests for training, the report states.

Instagram and Holocaust Denial: A Platform Under Scrutiny

A Jewish Holocaust educator has accused Instagram of "pushing pure Nazism," telling the Jewish Chronicle that the platform is radicalising young people through pro-Hitler videos that have been viewed millions of times. The educator warned that Holocaust denial content is spreading widely and reaching a young audience. The allegation adds to a pattern of concerns about social media platforms failing to contain extremist content targeting Jewish people and history.

The warning echoes concerns raised by Avi Issacharoff, co-creator of the television series Fauda, who told JNS that denial of the Hamas massacre of October 7 and false narratives about Israel are "taking hold" in the United States and Europe. Issacharoff argued that museums and media organisations have a "sacred mission" to preserve the truth of what occurred on that day.

Austria: Antisemitic Incidents Remain at Elevated Level

The reporting office of the Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien (IKG), the Vienna Jewish community, has published new statistics showing that the number of antisemitic incidents in Austria remains significantly elevated, according to the Jüdische Allgemeine. No specific figure was given in the summary available, but the IKG characterised the level as continuing to be sharply above normal. Austria joins Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom among diaspora countries where Jewish communities are navigating a sustained climate of hostility.

New York: Competing Signals on Israel Bonds and Community Safety

In the United States, a split has emerged between New York State and New York City over Israel Bonds. The New York State comptroller stated that Israel Bonds "continue to be" part of the state's investment portfolio, according to JTA. This stands in contrast to the New York City comptroller's recent decision to divest from Israel Bonds — a reversal of a campaign pledge that Jewish leaders have condemned. Evan R. Bernstein, CEO of B'nai B'rith International, told JNS the move "sends an unfortunate signal at a time of rising antisemitism and sustained efforts to isolate Israel economically."

Meanwhile, JNS reports that despite official NYPD statistics showing major crimes are down in 2026, many Jewish New Yorkers do not feel safe. Scott Richman of the ADL told JNS: "It is hard to feel safe and secure when Jews see police cars stationed in front of their synagogues and schools, and support for terrorist groups on signs in their streets."

Italy: Mayor Reverses Demand That Jewish Educators Sign Anti-Israel Declaration

The mayor of Reggio Emilia has walked back an attempt to require Jewish educators to sign an anti-Israel declaration as a condition of a planned study visit, JNS reports. The U.S. antisemitism envoy welcomed assurances that Jewish educators can now visit the city without political conditions attached, after the study trip had been cancelled following the original demand. The episode drew international attention as an example of political conditions being imposed specifically on Jewish visitors.

Paraguay Joins IHRA Holocaust Definition

Paraguay has announced it is adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, according to JNS. The country becomes the eighth Latin American nation to do so. The move was described as a scoop by JNS and represents a further expansion of the IHRA definition's international reach at a moment when Jewish diaspora communities are pressing governments to adopt formal frameworks for identifying and combating Jew-hatred.

UK: Grimsby Synagogue Receives Historic Restoration Grant

In more positive news for the diaspora, the Jewish Chronicle reports that a historic synagogue in Grimsby has been awarded £232,500 by Historic England for restoration work. The grant will fund efforts to return the building — described as the last purpose-built synagogue in Lincolnshire and South Humberside — to its former condition after years of flooding and deterioration. The award was welcomed by preservationists as recognition of the building's cultural significance.

UK Equalities Watchdog Writes to Green Party Over 'Zionism Is Racism' Policy

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has written to the Green Party of England and Wales expressing concern about the "impact" of a motion adopted at the party's recent conference declaring Zionism to be a form of racism, the Jewish Chronicle reports. The EHRC said Jewish people "will be feeling vulnerable" following the vote. The watchdog's intervention adds regulatory weight to the widespread condemnation the Greens have faced from Jewish community organisations since the motion passed.

Kosher Food Safety Alert: Salmonella-Contaminated Eggs

The Jewish Chronicle has published a food safety warning relevant to Jewish households: eggs carrying the code 3UA1012066 have been found to be contaminated with salmonella and have appeared in some kosher shops. Customers, retailers and caterers are advised to discard any eggs bearing this code immediately.

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Sources

• Jüdische Allgemeine: AfD-Anwalt vergleicht jüdische Studenten mit Hitlerjungen
• Jüdische Allgemeine: Drohungen gegen jüdische Studenten nach Aktion vor Synagoge
• Jüdische Allgemeine: Polizei ermittelt gegen jüdische Studenten
• Jüdische Allgemeine: Volker Beck — Die DIG muss jünger und weiblicher werden
• Forward / JTA: Irish Jewish leader 'shocked' after hotel cancels over 70 rooms for antisemitism conference
• Jewish Chronicle: Teacher 'tells boy Jews to blame for October 7' but London school ignores call for staff antisemitism training
• Jewish Chronicle: Instagram accused of 'pushing pure Nazism' as Holocaust denial spreads
• JNS: 'Fauda' co-creator — Museums and media have 'sacred mission' to preserve truth of Oct. 7
• Jüdische Allgemeine: Zahl antisemitischer Vorfälle in Österreich bleibt auf hohem Niveau
• JTA: NY state comptroller — Israel bonds 'continue to be' part of portfolio
• JNS: 'Indefensible,' Jewish leaders say of NYC comptroller opting to abort city's Israel Bonds investments
• JNS: NYPD says major crimes are down in 2026, but Jewish New Yorkers still feel unsafe
• JNS: Italian mayor walks back attempt to have Jewish educators sign anti-Israel declaration
• JNS: SCOOP — Paraguay to join International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
• Jewish Chronicle: 'Remarkable' Grimsby synagogue awarded £232,500
• Jewish Chronicle: Equalities watchdog writes to Greens over 'impact' of 'Zionism is racism' policy
• Jewish Chronicle: Warning issued about eggs contaminated with salmonella found in some kosher shops