More than 100 Jewish community leaders and pro-Israel organization heads from across Europe gathered Monday in Amsterdam for an emergency meeting organized by the European Jewish Association (EJA).
The purpose of the meeting was to develop actionable strategies to combat the rising tide of antisemitic harassment and hate speech that has surged since the deadly Hamas terror attack on October 7.
EJA Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin opened the meeting with a stark message. “We are in a fight for the continuation of Jewish life in Europe,” he said. “Jews wearing traditional clothing or displaying mezuzahs on their doors are facing relentless harassment. Jewish students are receiving threats on their lives and being excluded from university courses, while hate graffiti defaces Jewish homes, synagogues and cemeteries without any deterrent.”
“Over the next two days, we will formulate plans to combat antisemitism on all fronts: political, legal, public and by enhancing community and personal security,” Rabbi Margolin added. “However, this may not be enough. Therefore, Israel urgently needs to develop a practical contingency plan to welcome European Jews. Unfortunately, this is no longer a hypothetical situation but a real existential threat that European governments are either failing to address or are unwilling to tackle with the necessary determination.”
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European Jewish Association emergency meeting in Amsterdam
(Photo: Yair Nevot)
The Dutch government’s National Coordinator for Combating Antisemitism Eddo Verdoner also attended the meeting. “October 7 was the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust,” he said. “But we must examine the resurgence of antisemitism with a perspective that goes back more than a decade. Our office’s primary goal is clear: we need to find the right solution to combat antisemitism.”
Verdoner emphasized the need for policy changes to address modern problems, saying, “We must ensure that younger generations learn not only from the lessons of the Holocaust but also from the current anti-Semitism. Antisemitism is spreading faster than ever—on our children’s phones and social media. What starts online no longer stays online. Jews are an integral part of European history. Centuries of Jewish life cannot be erased, and we must do everything in our power to protect the dignity of our Jewish brothers and sisters.”
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Publish date : 2024-06-03 14:46:46
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