European Rabbis Director: "We Have Lost the War on Antisemitism"
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Gadi Gronich, Director-General of the Conference of European Rabbis, declared the "war on antisemitism" lost due to rising incidents in Europe. He criticized the ineffectiveness of EU and local government programs, despite EU support. Gronich revealed efforts to combat the Muslim Brotherhood and radical imams, facing resistance from authorities. He also highlighted the dangerous conflation of criticism against Israel with attacks on European Jews, and plans to bolster Jewish identity through education.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Antisemitism in Europe has reached an all-time high, leading the Conference of European Rabbis to declare the "war on antisemitism" lost.
- The Conference of European Rabbis is launching a new seven-point plan to move "from words to deeds" in combating antisemitism.
- Gadi Gronich cited a lack of action from European security agencies regarding information on the Muslim Brotherhood's activities.
- A significant number of imams in Germany are reportedly paid by Turkey, and efforts to train local imams have been deemed ineffective.
- Gronich stated that criticism of Israeli government policy is being dangerously conflated with attacks on European Jews.
- The CER plans to establish a training program for local Jewish educators to strengthen Jewish identity and pride in Europe.
Gadi Gronich, Director-General of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER), stated that the fight against antisemitism in Europe has been lost, with antisemitism reaching an all-time high following the October 7th attacks. He described anti-Israel demonstrations as "out of control" and Jewish appearance as a target, while government programs to address societal rifts have failed.
Despite significant EU funding, the CER has decided to take a more proactive approach. Ahead of a Rosh Hashanah event in Munich, the organization presented a seven-point manifesto aimed at moving "from words to deeds." Gronich noted that while the EU is a supportive partner, its influence is limited to recommendations, with local governments holding the actual power to enact change.
The CER has established IFFSE, the Institute for Faith Freedom and Security in Europe, to research and act on issues including interfaith dialogue and security. Gronich revealed that the institute possesses information on the Muslim Brotherhood's activities in Europe, including money laundering and their influence on European politics, but has struggled to get European security agencies to act on it.
Furthermore, the organization has investigated the issue of imams in Europe, particularly concerning radicalization among youth. Gronich highlighted that a significant number of imams in Germany are paid by Turkey's Ministry of Religious Affairs. While Germany and Turkey signed an agreement in December 2023 to reduce the import of imams and train local leaders, Gronich deemed it ineffective, as it still relies on Turkish-trained graduates rather than truly local imams.
Gronich also addressed the EU's stance on antisemitism, acknowledging the efforts of EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Katharina von Schnurbein, who has stated that the line between antisemitism and anti-Zionism is artificial. However, he stressed that this sentiment does not reach the street level, where criticism of Israeli government policy is conflated with attacks on European Jews. He cited an incident where a Holocaust survivor faced hateful remarks at a screening of an Israeli documentary critical of the IDF.
Gronich emphasized the need for European leaders to clearly distinguish between criticism of the Israeli government and the Jewish communities living in Europe. He also criticized Israeli ministers like Shikli for aligning with the far-right and Ben-Gvir for his statements, arguing they harm diaspora Jewry. Looking ahead, Gronich plans to focus on strengthening Jewish identity and education in Europe by establishing a training program for local Jewish educators, aiming to foster pride and knowledge of Jewish heritage.