Interfaith Memorial for Hamas Attack Victims Held at Berlin's Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche

An interfaith memorial service marking the victims of the Hamas attack on Israel is being held Wednesday evening at Berlin's historic Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche. Catholic Archbishop of Berlin Heiner Koch, Rabbi Andreas Nachama, and Imam Kadir Sanci, who serves at the House of One, are gathering together for the commemoration. Bishop Christian Stäblein of the Evangelical Church Berlin-Brandenburg-silesian Upper Lusatia extended the invitation. The event is described as likely the only interreligious remembrance of its kind in Germany, with nationwide commemorations taking place but Berlin's gathering distinguished by its joint Christian, Jewish, and Muslim participation. The service follows Berlin's recent elections, which were repeatedly marked by debates over antisemitism, particularly concerning the party Die Linke. In an interview, Stäblein addressed what makes this year's observance different, noting that this October 7 marks the first time the commemoration is being held in this form.