Yehuda Teichtal, Rabbi of the Jewish community in Berlin, has responded to the election of Frank-Walter Steinmeier as German president by saying, "Frank-Walter is a friend of the Jewish community and has always served as a listening ear for us and helped all he could. The fact that a person like him is elected to this high position - is good news for the Jewish community in Germany.
Rabbi Teichtal continued, "In an era where extremism is on the rise in Europe, his selection is also good news for Jewish communities in other European countries. We wish him the blessing to succeed in filling the position."