Anna was born in Stuttgart to parents who immigrated to Germany from Ukraine in the 1990s.
“Many Jews came to Germany at that time following an invitation from local Jewish communities — a kind of attempt to rebuild and fill the ranks after the Holocaust,” she explains.
She grew up in a largely secular home, as did many Jews from the former Soviet Union who had been forced to live disconnected from religion — any religion.
“I decided I wanted to learn more about my heritage, where I come from, and maybe even a bit of Hebrew. I thought the best way to do that was to come to Israel and study.”
Anna joined a Masa program in Jewish Studies, where she delved into classical texts, Talmud, and subjects “that women don’t usually get to study.”
“We had real halachic discussions. It was a non-judgmental environment, and I truly loved it. It was hard at first — coming from Germany to Israel was a huge cultural change,” she laughs. “But the people were amazing. It felt like everyone was family — like everyone cared about you.”
A few years later, Anna moved to Berlin to continue her studies. “I was always interested in politics, but it was also very important for me to work for the Jewish community.” She became active in the Jewish Student Union of Germany (JSUD) — a young organization that was only two years old when she was elected its President.
“The Union’s goal was to create a safe and inclusive space for Jewish students to celebrate holidays and come together — to be their voice,” she explains.
The organization also served as a lobbying group, meeting with politicians, ministers, and the media to advocate for policies that protect and empower Jewish students.
“We pushed the German government to establish a national strategy to combat antisemitism — on campus and beyond. We also raised the issue of community security; in Germany, every Jewish institution, educational or religious, has police or private guards. We emphasized that this shouldn’t have to be funded by the community itself — it’s the state’s responsibility.”
Another issue Anna and her team advanced was the banning of pro-terror slogans and chants at demonstrations. “We advocated against groups supporting terrorist organizations on campuses,” she says.
After completing her term as JSUD President, Anna became a spokesperson for a Jewish NGO called Values Initiative, which focuses on strengthening democratic values and promoting Jewish life in Germany.
“We realized that if we only talk about antisemitism, people tune out — they think it’s a Jewish issue that doesn’t concern them. So we worked to connect two ideas: that fighting antisemitism is, at its core, defending democracy itself. Whoever hates Jews also hates democratic values. That’s how we tried to speak to everyone — not from a place of victimhood, but from strength. This is not just our fight; it’s everyone’s fight.”
As part of the Initiative, they hosted conferences, worked closely with the government, and invested in cultivating the next generation of Jewish leaders.
“We organized a major conference in Berlin for young Jews interested in politics — they met with professionals, Israeli diplomats, and German ministers. We wanted to help them see that there are ways to be active, that there are tools they can use.”
“We wanted to make sure that in the future, Jews will always be present in positions of influence,” she says. “And indeed, some participants later became interns in parliament.” Anna herself was invited to meetings with the German President to discuss her organization’s work.
When asked what advice she would give young Jews who want to make a difference, Anna says:
“You have to focus on what you believe is right. Don’t look sideways, don’t doubt yourself. If you have values and beliefs, stick to them. You never know how even the smallest action you take might have a huge impact on someone else.”
According to Anna, antisemitism in Germany has been steadily rising since 2014, during the Gaza conflict.
“It hasn’t stopped since. And now, with social media, misinformation, and the radicalization on campuses, it’s become intense. Many Jews made Aliyah back then — even a few of my friends. People were asking whether they had a future in Europe.”
Anna continues to be vocal on social media in support of Israel — and she’s unfazed by criticism.
“I don’t care what people think of me because I support Israel. There are so many lies. Friends from college, even former colleagues, post Hamas propaganda — it’s frustrating. It’s important for me to speak up and set the record straight.”
As for the future of Jews in Europe, she remains cautiously optimistic:
“Jews have always existed — we’ve always found a way to survive. Change is possible, but it takes work. There can be a future for Jews in Europe, but it requires both Jewish and non-Jewish communities to take action. This must be everyone’s fight.”