Charlotte Knobloch reflects on how the Ohel Jakob Synagogue has changed Munich in 20 years

Charlotte Knobloch marked the 20th anniversary of Munich’s Ohel Jakob Synagogue on 9 November 2026 alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Knobloch, president of the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria, chose two landmarks familiar to Munich residents to explain what the building now means. To her, the synagogue is as much a part of the city as the Frauenkirche cathedral or the Hofbräuhaus beer hall ¹².

Why the community chose 9 November

The community opened the synagogue on 9 November 2006 on Sankt-Jakobs-Platz in the heart of Munich. It had chosen the anniversary of the pogrom of 9–10 November 1938. An earlier Munich synagogue named Ohel Jakob was set on fire that night ¹⁶. By giving the new building the same name, the community made Jewish life visible once again in the city centre ¹²³.

Twenty years later, Knobloch recalled the hope that accompanied the opening. She spoke of the visitors who, over the years, had come from Munich and much further afield to see the synagogue. It gave them a chance, she said, to see the place Judaism holds in their country. She also spoke about how unsafe Jews have felt and the acts of vandalism that have marked those two decades ¹².

What Friedrich Merz said about Israel

The chancellor thanked the community and its president for rebuilding Jewish life in Munich after the Holocaust. He described the antisemitism that he said could be seen even in schools, associations and parliaments. He pledged that his government would protect Jewish life and reaffirmed his support for Israel, saying that its existence formed part of Germany’s historical responsibility ¹²⁴⁵.

Sources

1. Simon Berninger, Tagesschau (ARD), « Synagogen-Festakt in München: Ein Jubiläum in schwierigen Zeiten », 9 novembre 2026, https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/gesellschaft/synagoge-muenchen-102.html
2. Christoph Trost, Jüdische Allgemeine, « Ein Zeichen der Hoffnung und der Freude », 9 novembre 2026, https://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/politik/ein-zeichen-der-hoffnung-und-der-freude/
3. Communauté juive de Munich et de Haute-Bavière, « Das Jüdische Zentrum am St.-Jakobs-Platz », notice institutionnelle consultée le 10 novembre 2026, https://www.ikg-m.de/juedisches-zentrum/
4. epd, Evangelisch.de, « Merz: « Bin Ihnen für dieses Trotzdem dankbar » », 9 novembre 2026, https://www.evangelisch.de/inhalte/260829/09-11-2026/merz-bin-ihnen-fur-dieses-trotzdem-dankbar
5. Reuters, The Times of Israel, « Merz decries “horrifying” antisemitism in Germany, reiterates commitment to protecting country’s Jews, on Kristallnacht anniversary », 9 novembre 2026, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/merz-decries-horrifying-antisemitism-in-germany-reiterates-commitment-to-protecting-countrys-jews-on-kristallnacht-anniversary/
6. Centre de documentation sur le nazisme de Munich, « Alte Synagoge Ohel Jakob », notice historique consultée le 10 novembre 2026, https://www.nsdoku.de/lexikon/artikel/alte-synagoge-ohel-jakob-17

The story in 30 seconds

Read the main facts at a glance and share the link.

1. Munich’s Jewish community opened the Ohel Jakob Synagogue on Sankt-Jakobs-Platz on 9 November 2006.
2. On 9 November 2026, Charlotte Knobloch said the synagogue was as much a part of Munich as the Frauenkirche cathedral.
3. In Munich on 9 November, Friedrich Merz reaffirmed Germany’s support for Israel and its commitment to protecting Jewish life.

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