After Trump election, number of American Jews reclaiming German citizenship spikes
Election of Donald Trump is a catalyst for the surge
There has been a sharp rise in American Jews who want relocate to Germany. PHOTO: REUTERS
Since the election of Donald Trump as US president, Germany's New York consulate has seen a sharp rise in citizenship applications under Article 116, which allows former nationals and their descendants to reclaim citizenship, according to DW.
American Jews, it seems, want out. Or at least, they want the option of out.
Seventy-five per cent of the community voted for Hillary Clinton in the November 2016 election, many spurred by rhetoric coming from Trump that recalled Germany before the Nazis assumed power.
"We can confirm that there has been a perceptible increase in the number of people claiming German citizenship under Article 116", said Bradford Elder, a spokesman for the German consulate in New York.
The city holds the largest population of the faith in the entire country, second only to Israel.
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In March 2017, 235 people applied to reclaim their or their ancestors' original citizenship.
Moreover, it appears to be a trend for Jews elsewhere in the US too. For Terry Mandel, 63, of Berkeley, California, the reason to get German citizenship was clear and simple.
"It was 99 per cent motivated by wanting to have a way out," Mandel said, adding. "It's about having a plan B. I've always referred to it as plan B."
Mandel originally applied for a German passport back in 2000, when conservative Republican George W Bush was named president in the backdrop of a contentious and fiercely contested electoral college victory after he, like Trump, lost the popular vote.
In September of 2016, while working on her submission to a book about Jews who were reclaiming German citizenship, Mandel realised her German passport had actually expired.
"Like many progressive Americans, I didn't think there was a chance that Trump could win," she said. "But I still thought: Why take the risk?" She then began the process of renewing her passport right before the day of the election.
Trump's victory and ascension to the presidency made renewing the passport feel "a lot more urgent and meaningful".
For Ilana and Rena Sufrin, 26-year-old twins from Pittsburgh, a German passport has less to do with political leadership and more about an easy way into the EU, but also an insurance policy of sorts.
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Rena Sufrin felt very connected to their German heritage during their childhood, which stems from their grandmother - more so than Ilana, who felt more Jewish.
Rena took German in high school and studied abroad in Cologne, Germany, during college.
The sisters started the application process back in 2015, long before Trump announced his candidacy for president.
"When we initially applied, Obama was president," said Ilana. "I'm a pretty liberal person. I had a lot of hope. I didn't think there was going to be any potential problem. But I would say now…"
"It's definitely a good thing to have," Rena finished.
Now their other set of twin sisters are also thinking about applying.
Adam Bencan, 26, originally from Philadelphia, is going through the application process now.
He submitted his paperwork to the New York consulate in January, but what drove him to do it was a deep personal connection to his German heritage through his grandfather.
"I just wanted to have German citizenship and fulfil the full circle of what my grandfather lost."
He plans to spend a year in Germany at some point in the near future.
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"The change in the political climate could play into how quickly I do move," Bencan said. Trump's victory was a catalyst for his desire to leave, he added.
For the Sufrins, the idea of moving permanently to Europe is less appealing.
Ilana said she planned to spend a year hopping between major European cities and working remotely, but did not intend to stay.
"I don't think I would live there permanently," Ilana said. "I don't think I want to raise my kids in Germany. The US still affords the most opportunities. Unless that changes, and everything goes to hell."
American Jews, it seems, want out. Or at least, they want the option of out.
Seventy-five per cent of the community voted for Hillary Clinton in the November 2016 election, many spurred by rhetoric coming from Trump that recalled Germany before the Nazis assumed power.
"We can confirm that there has been a perceptible increase in the number of people claiming German citizenship under Article 116", said Bradford Elder, a spokesman for the German consulate in New York.
The city holds the largest population of the faith in the entire country, second only to Israel.
This photo summing up what America really represents is going viral
In March 2017, 235 people applied to reclaim their or their ancestors' original citizenship.
Moreover, it appears to be a trend for Jews elsewhere in the US too. For Terry Mandel, 63, of Berkeley, California, the reason to get German citizenship was clear and simple.
"It was 99 per cent motivated by wanting to have a way out," Mandel said, adding. "It's about having a plan B. I've always referred to it as plan B."
Mandel originally applied for a German passport back in 2000, when conservative Republican George W Bush was named president in the backdrop of a contentious and fiercely contested electoral college victory after he, like Trump, lost the popular vote.
In September of 2016, while working on her submission to a book about Jews who were reclaiming German citizenship, Mandel realised her German passport had actually expired.
"Like many progressive Americans, I didn't think there was a chance that Trump could win," she said. "But I still thought: Why take the risk?" She then began the process of renewing her passport right before the day of the election.
Trump's victory and ascension to the presidency made renewing the passport feel "a lot more urgent and meaningful".
For Ilana and Rena Sufrin, 26-year-old twins from Pittsburgh, a German passport has less to do with political leadership and more about an easy way into the EU, but also an insurance policy of sorts.
Feeling intimidated, Jews and Muslims band together in Trump's America
Rena Sufrin felt very connected to their German heritage during their childhood, which stems from their grandmother - more so than Ilana, who felt more Jewish.
Rena took German in high school and studied abroad in Cologne, Germany, during college.
The sisters started the application process back in 2015, long before Trump announced his candidacy for president.
"When we initially applied, Obama was president," said Ilana. "I'm a pretty liberal person. I had a lot of hope. I didn't think there was going to be any potential problem. But I would say now…"
"It's definitely a good thing to have," Rena finished.
Now their other set of twin sisters are also thinking about applying.
Adam Bencan, 26, originally from Philadelphia, is going through the application process now.
He submitted his paperwork to the New York consulate in January, but what drove him to do it was a deep personal connection to his German heritage through his grandfather.
"I just wanted to have German citizenship and fulfil the full circle of what my grandfather lost."
He plans to spend a year in Germany at some point in the near future.
US Muslims eye future under Trump with apprehension
"The change in the political climate could play into how quickly I do move," Bencan said. Trump's victory was a catalyst for his desire to leave, he added.
For the Sufrins, the idea of moving permanently to Europe is less appealing.
Ilana said she planned to spend a year hopping between major European cities and working remotely, but did not intend to stay.
"I don't think I would live there permanently," Ilana said. "I don't think I want to raise my kids in Germany. The US still affords the most opportunities. Unless that changes, and everything goes to hell."