Nikola David, 55, who served as the cantor at Congregation Beth Shalom since 2014, was killed on August 2, in an incident that has deeply shaken Munich’s Jewish community. His adult son is currently being held on suspicion of manslaughter.
Munich’s liberal Jewish congregation is rallying support for the family of its cantor.
David, a former opera singer, was laid to rest on August 7, with Rabbi Tom Kučera officiating the funeral. The service also featured participation from three prominent German cantors—Amnon Seelig, Assaf Levitin, and Isidoro Abramowicz.
According to a report by the Bavarian news outlet Merkur, neighbors reported a physical altercation between David and his son on the morning of August 2, prompting them to call the authorities. Police arrived on the scene, arrested the son, and transported David to a local hospital, where he later died. The son reportedly sustained minor injuries to his hand during the incident.
Details about the reported altercation have not been fully disclosed, though Merkur reported that Nikola David had been stabbed. Authorities and the community have also withheld the names of family members, including the son who has been arrested, as well as David’s wife and younger son, who were reportedly not present during the incident.
Charlotte Knobloch, president of the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria, expressed her sorrow on Twitter, stating that she was "absolutely shocked" to hear of David’s death. “His death marks a painful loss for the Jewish community in Munich,” she added.
* The Jewish Telegraphic Agency contributed to this article.