BREAKING NEWS: In Unprecedented Move 60 MEPs Call on MOGHERINI to Stop EU Funds and Isolate BDS Movement

EUROPEAN JEWISH ASSOCIATION LAMENTS EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE RULING ON KOSHER SLAUGHTER IN BELGIUM “WHAT A TERRIBLE MESSAGE TO SEND TO EUROPEAN JEWRY – YOU AND YOUR PRACTICE ARE NOT WELCOME HERE” SAYS ITS CHIEF.
“Bogus animal welfare claims are being used to penalise a practice that puts care and respect for animals at its very core”,
“This ruling gives the green light for other countries to follow suit, and if they do, there will be no Kosher meat available in Europe”, says Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Chairman of the European Jewish Association.
(Brussels 17 December 2020) The European court of Justice today delivered a potentially devastating ruling on an issue that has plagued European Jewry for years, the right to slaughter animals in the Kosher tradition, a millennia old practice that puts animal welfare and minimizing animal suffering at its very core.
Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Chairman of the EJA today said his organisaton will explore every avenue and recourse available to protect the rights of Jews everywhere in Europe,
“This is a sad day for European Jewry. For decades now, as animal rights have come into vogue, Kosher slaughter has come under relentless attack, and subject to repeated attempts to ban it. The entire basis of the attacks are built on the entirely bogus premise that Kosher slaughter is more cruel than regular slaughtering, despite there being not a shred of evidence backing this up, and worse completely ignoring the fact that Kosher slaughter puts the welfare of the animal and minimising its suffering as of paramount importance. This is not a glib staement, but a commandment that all Jews must adhere to.
“What today’s ruling does is put animal welfare above the fundamental right of Freedom of Religion. Simply put, Beast takes preference over man.
Potentially devasting too, it gives other European countries like Belgium – who similarly regard this fundamental Charter freedom as ‘negotiable – the green light to follow suit. If every european country does it means only one thing: there will be no Kosher meat available in Europe anymore.
“What a terrible message to send to European Jewry, that you and your practices are not welcome here. This is a basic denial of our rights as European citizens. We cannot let it stand and will pursue every recourse and avenue to ensure that it doesnt.”
The European Court of Justice has ruled on a Belgian case, involving Flanders and Wallonia laws, that require pre-stunning of animals before slaughter. In short, the Court says that individual Member State moves to ban kosher slaughter by making stunning a pre-requisite, do not in themselves violate the Freedom of Religion rights contained within the EU charter of Fundamental Rights.
The ruling runs contrary to an opinion given in early September 2020 by the European Court Advocate General who suggested the oppositea.

Is the war in a deadlock, what is the situation in Rafah, is a regional escalation on the way, and what about the hostages? These were some of the many subjects Ron Ben-Yishai touched on during a briefing yesterday on the current status of the war between Hamas and Israel at the French think tank Fondation Jean-Jaures, which organized the event in partnership with EIPA.

The renowned Israeli war correspondent, who is one of the leading experts on Israeli foreign and defense policy, came specifically to Paris to share his extensive and long-standing knowledge and detailed analyses on the subject with journalists from a wide range of top French media outlets, as well as several researchers.

Ron Ben-Yishai, who is currently a Commentator on National Security & International Affairs and Special Assignment Correspondent for the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot, has covered all major wars in the Middle East and Africa over the last half-century, as well as many conflicts and revolutions in all corners of the world. He is also one of the few journalists who have embarked in Gaza with the special Israeli forces after the 7th of October—the last time being just a few days before the briefing.

He has an in-depth knowledge of military tactics and history, which was of great interest to the many journalists who attended the briefing in Paris and eagerly asked questions to the experienced reporter, gathering around him when the briefing concluded in the afternoon.

EIPA Israel Press Trip

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The European Jewish Association is a prominent and influential organisation dedicated to representing, advocating for, and fostering the interests of the Jewish community across Europe. Founded on unity, tolerance, and inclusivity principles, the EJA bridges diverse Jewish communities and European societies.

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Last week EJA hosted  delegation to Auschwitz of school principals and teachers from across Europe. After many years of bringing groups to this place, one thing has become very clear to us, the fight against antisemitism begins with education.

We cannot confront hatred without teaching its roots. We cannot expect children and young people to recognize antisemitism if they are not taught history, if they do not understand where unchecked hatred leads, if they do not know what antisemitism is. There is a saying that those who do not know their history are destined to repeat it, and the events of the past two years have shown us just how true this is.

This is exactly why we were there, to explain, to share, and to show. To stand with the people responsible for educating the next generation, to help them understand the reality we are facing today, and to ask for their partnership in ensuring that children and youth learn the history of our continent, and the history of Jewish life in Europe.

We wish to thank the school principals and teachers from across Europe who joined us for these two meaningful days of conference and the visit to Auschwitz Birkenau. Over these days we were able to speak about the realities of antisemitism, the importance of Holocaust remembrance, and the practical ways they can support the efforts to combat antisemitism today.