(Israel HaYom- Read More )
The European Jewish Association (EJA) today congratulated Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz on the establishment of the new Austrian government. In a statement, EJA Founder and Director Rabbi Menachem Margolin said:
“We remember Mr. Kurz as a foreign minister sensitive to the values of democracy and a friend of the Jewish people.
“In recent years, European Jewry has faced a wave of opposition to Jewish religious practices on the continent, as well as a worrying rise in the level of anti-Semitism and the popularity of extremist parties, both right and left.
‘Jewish Ethics denote that a people are never rejected personally, but their behavior and actions are’.
“For this reason, and in light of the statements made by the new government who all its members are united in condemning any expression of anti-Semitism, we congratulate the Austrian chancellor on his unprecedented achievement and his success in founding a stable government.
“Austria as an EU Member however poses a challenge. We cannot ignore the fear that in other countries extreme parties will join the government based on the Austrian model without the unambiguous rejection of anti-Semitism that Austria has provided.
“The European Jewish Association is asking the new government to join the United States, the European Union and other countries and to appoint a special government representative to initiate and coordinate government action to eradicate anti-Semitism and Xenophobia in Austria in the spirit of the anti-Semitic definitions adopted in the European Parliament in June 2017 and to clarify that freedom of religion in Austria will remain unchanged.”
We gather here tonight, on the anniversary of Kristallnacht, to remember. To remember the night when windows were shattered and Jewish homes, shops, and synagogues were destroyed. That night was the prelude to a plan that extended beyond murder and physical violence. It was a plan aimed at systematically erasing Jewish life, culture, and presence from the heart of Europe.
We often speak of the concentration camps, and we must – they symbolize the most horrific cruelty in our history. But we must also understand that the Holocaust was not just about the six million lives lost in the gas chambers. It was also about the eradication of an entire way of life. Jewish communities that for centuries had been an integral part of European cities, their culture, and identity, disappeared. Cities like Krakow, Vilnius, and Budapest, once centers of Jewish learning, art, and business, fell silent. Hitler sought to erase Jewish life – concentration camps were a means, not the end.
Two days ago, Israeli football fans were attacked in Amsterdam in an incident described as a “modern pogrom.” This shows that antisemitism is still a reality in Europe. The difference now is that Israel can fly its people to safety. This underscores the world’s obligation not only to combat antisemitism but also to support Israel so that it can continue to protect Jews worldwide when others fail. Israel is the guarantee that the promise of “never again” remains true.
It is with this insight that we must view our present. When we see the rising antisemitism in our cities, not least here in Malmö, we realize that what we are witnessing is more than just a worrying trend. It is a modern form of the historical erasure of Jewish life. When Jewish families no longer feel safe wearing a kippah on the street, when threats and harassment become part of their daily lives, something much deeper is at play than a simple decision to move. It is a loss for society as a whole.
October 7, 2023, changed much in the world. The attack by Hamas and the wave of hatred and hostility that followed shook not only Israel but also us here in Europe. We saw tensions rise at home and how Jews, even in Malmö, began asking themselves again: Are we really safe here? Is this our city?
It is important to understand what it means when a Jewish family decides to leave a city like Malmö. It is not just a move; it is a blow to the city’s soul. Malmö has for centuries been a place where different cultures meet. Losing the Jewish presence means losing part of the city’s historical and cultural heritage.
But we are here today not just to reflect on what has been, but to take a stand against what is happening. We must dare to say: “Never again” does not just mean preventing murder and violence. It also means protecting and cherishing Jewish life in all its forms – religious, cultural, and social. It means building a society where every person, regardless of belief, feels safe to express their identity without fear.
Sweden has a history of being a safe home for many, a place where diversity meets and enriches. But if we allow antisemitism to silence Jewish voices and force families away, it is not just they who lose. We all lose. Our shared history and heritage are lost piece by piece.
So tonight, in memory of Kristallnacht, let us pledge to never let hatred prevail. Let us stand together – as friends, neighbors, and fellow human beings – to ensure that every person, every family, feels safe being who they are. We must ensure that Malmö, Sweden, and all of Europe are places where Jewish life can flourish, not just survive.
We are here to remember, but also to act. Malmö, Sweden, and Europe have a choice to make: to learn from history and ensure that darkness never takes hold again, or to risk that the small steps we ignore today lead to great tragedies tomorrow.
Our EIPA colleague today had a delegation with hostage families at our Brussels office. The families of Bar Kuperstein, Ofer Kalderon, Noa Argamani, and Shay Levinson were all present to provide their testimony and share their experiences. We had a series of journalists present, including Rosie Birchard from Deutsche Welle, Chantal Monet from RTL who, were present to ask the hostages a series of questions.
