Dear people of Wiesbaden,

November is a special month - in many different ways. On the one hand, it is dedicated to remembrance; on the other, it also stands for anticipation and reflective hours. Historically, November is a month of remembrance and commemoration, especially through Christian traditions such as All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, which are dedicated to the memory of the deceased.

However, November is also a month that is interwoven with German history like no other. November 9 in particular stands out - a date that has become inscribed in the collective memory as a "fateful day". It marked turning points that could hardly be more different: the first German republic was proclaimed in 1918 and the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 as a result of the peaceful revolution in the GDR - both moments of democratic hope. In between, however, lies 9 November 1938: the night of the November pogroms - an act of state-organized violence - a crime that marked the path to the systematic extermination of European Jewry. These contrasts - between moments of freedom and inhuman violence - make November a month of remembrance. It calls on us not to take the values of democracy and human dignity for granted, but to consciously defend them again and again.

Remembering the victims of violent National Socialist crimes - especially the Jewish citizens who were disenfranchised, persecuted and murdered in the course of the November pogroms - remains a central task of our urban society. Especially in times of increasing anti-Semitism, we combine remembrance work with the task of standing up for Wiesbaden as a colorful, cosmopolitan and tolerant city in which we all together form a society in self-determination and in a free democratic basic order.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is observing an increasing propensity for hatred and violence against Jews in Germany. According to the head of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, there is a resonance space for anti-Israel propaganda, particularly in social media. However, protests on the streets are also of concern to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Two years after the massacre by the Islamist Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023, anti-Semitic incidents remain at a high level. According to the Hessian Ministry of the Interior, the number of anti-Semitic crimes in our federal state has risen dramatically, with 357 cases last year. One of the reasons for this is the war in the Middle East. One of the central areas of conflict in the Middle East is the unresolved conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Germany bears a special responsibility towards Israel as a Jewish and democratic state and for its security. The Hessian state capital stands firmly on the side of Israel and on the side of our Jewish fellow citizens here in Wiesbaden. In these times, we are also thinking in particular of our friends in our twin city of Kfar Saba, which is located around 15 kilometers north-east of Tel Aviv on the "Green Line" to the West Bank. Kfar Saba has also been hit with rockets during this war.

The relationship between the Jewish community of Wiesbaden and the city of Wiesbaden is based on close cooperation, mutual visits and joint consultations. We regularly exchange information so that we can react to anti-Semitic tendencies and increasing xenophobia at an early stage. Let us fight together to ensure that Wiesbaden remains the tolerant and cosmopolitan city that it has traditionally been. Our city offers no place for xenophobia, anti-Semitism and racial hatred in any form.

However, November is also a month of anticipation, which at first glance is difficult to reconcile with the pensive mood. But light and shade are not only part of our lives in November, even if it is particularly obvious at this time of year.

The start of the fifth season on 11.11. is associated with the anticipation of the next carnival campaign. The Dacho is celebrating the 2025/2026 carnival season under the motto "7x11 years of carnival parades in Wiesbaden" - to commemorate the carnival anniversary of the Wiesbaden carnival parade. This is another special anniversary after the 75th anniversary of the Dacho in the last campaign. Fastnacht in Wiesbaden stands for joie de vivre, a change from everyday life and a strong sense of togetherness - elements that enrich and unite our urban society. The tradition of carnival is also a living example of voluntary work and civic engagement. It helps to keep the city together. Many hard-working hands, a lot of passion and many ideas are behind a successful carnival campaign. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you.

Another reason to look forward to is the upcoming Advent. The pre-Christmas period begins and what could be better than strolling through our Sternschnuppenmarkt in the evening, nibbling on speculoos and roasted almonds and drinking mulled wine? It opens on Tuesday, November 25, on Schlossplatz in front of the town hall. From 25 November to 23 December, the Sternschnuppenmarkt will once again create a very special Christmas market atmosphere with its combination of lights, the scent of spices and roasted almonds, the taste of mulled wine and gingerbread, the sound of Christmas music and the sight of arts and crafts stalls. It is one of the traditional and extremely popular attractions in our city. The Christmas market lends Wiesbaden a unique magic and makes the city a real magnet for visitors. Other highlights include the WinterStubb, the Ferris wheel on Mauritiusplatz, the Kindersternschnuppenmarkt on Luisenplatz and Wiesbaden on Ice. The Kindersternschnuppenmarkt will once again offer a great program for young guests from 25 November to 12 January.

I wish you all a wonderful Advent season, many reflective moments, cozy hours and a peaceful time!

Sincerely

Gert-Uwe Mende
Lord Mayor