Porto : sommet de l'European Jewish Association sur le thème de l'antisémitisme
L’EJA a proposé une motion faisant valoir que l’antisémitisme est unique et ne devrait pas être regroupé avec les autres formes de haine
Des Juifs de toute l’Europe se sont réunis pour aborder le problème croissant de l’antisémitisme lors de la conférence annuelle de l’Association juive européenne (EJA) à Porto, au Portugal, lundi.
EU court rules non-stunned halal and kosher meat cannot be marketed as organic
Some religious ritual slaughter involves slitting animals’ throats without first knocking them unconscious
Halal and kosher meat cannot be labelled organic if the animal was not stunned before being killed, the EU’s highest court has ruled.
The official EU organic logo must not be used on any meat derived from an animal slaughtered while still conscious, the EU Court of Justice said on Tuesday.
Organic labelling marks out the highest standards in farming welfare, judges ruled.
Stunning animals – often done through electric shocks or through a bolt to the brain – significantly reduces suffering and therefore is integral to organic standards, the judgement concluded.
Contrary to popular belief, most livestock slaughtered in halal abattoirs are stunned before they are killed.
How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) estimates about 88% of animals killed through halal methods are stunned beforehand using techniques acceptable in Islamic law.
But a minority of halal food – and all kosher meat – does not involve stunning.
The case was brought to the EU court by a French animal welfare association in 2012, which argued halal beef should not be labelled organic.
The rules on ritual slaughter in both Islam and Judaism are complex. To be truly halal, an animal must first be healthy and then slaughtered by a Muslim by cutting the throat with a sharp knife in a single slash.
The blood must then be fully drained from the carcass. A 2012 FSA report said about 12% of the 940 million cows, sheep, pigs, and poultry birds slaughtered each year in Britain were killed in a halal manner.
It is possible to stun halal animals via electricity which makes the creatures unconscious but not dead before their throats are ritually slit.
However, Jewish kosher slaughter, known as shechita, cannot use pre-killing stunning.
Jewish abattoirs also cut the throat of animals with a sharp blade, which proponents insist causes immediate loss of consciousness and is therefore humane and meets the EU’s requirements for stunning.
The EU ruling does not affect the legality of ritual halal or kosher slaughter, but will make it harder for some ritually-slaughtered meat to be labelled organic.
Longstanding rules create an exception under the need for freedom of religion to EU regulations on killing animals without pre-stunning.
But some EU nations, including Denmark and most recently Belgium, have banned entirely ritual slaughter, a move backed by both animal welfare advocates and right-wing populists
The article was published on The independent
The European Jewish Association expresses its heartfelt condolences to Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin on the passing of his beloved wife Nechama. Like the President himself, Nechama represented a respected and unifying force for good in Israel, her patience, steady hand, compassion and love for her country was evident and exerted a huge and positive influence on her husband. It was a symbiotic patriotism that demonstrated the best of Israel.
We send him our love and thoughts at this difficult time.
Some 38% of European Jews consider leaving due to antisemitisim
“The Dutch government is spearheading a crucial investigation into the fate of Jewish property looted during the Holocaust. However, a disheartening reality emerges as a staggering 80 cities, towns and villages in the Netherlands decline to participate in this vital mission,” according to Dutch Chief Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs.
“Some claim there are no remaining Jewish residents in their communities, while others assert that the property has already been returned, despite conflicting information. This concerning trend reflects a growing wave of antisemitism in the Netherlands, a deeply rooted issue that traces back to the Crusades in the Middle Ages and has persisted through the critical race theory era.
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Dutch Chief Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs addresses the annual conference of the Association of Jewish Organizations in Europe
(Photo: Yoav Dudkevitch)
“Today, this pernicious virus continues to thrive under the guise of anti-Zionism, posing a significant threat to societal harmony.”
With these words, Jacobs, the chief rabbi of the Netherlands, delivered a poignant address Tuesday during the inaugural session of the two-day annual conference organized by the Association of Jewish Organizations in Europe (EJA).
Held this year in the vibrant city of Porto, Portugal, in collaboration with the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish community of Porto, and the EMIH – Association of United Hungarian Jewish Congregations, the conference has drawn together some 150 influential leaders representing Jewish communities and organizations from across Europe.
In an announcement made at the conference, Rabbi Menachem Margolin, chairman of the European Jewish Association (EJA), unveiled a proactive initiative aimed at addressing the rising tide of antisemitism on European campuses.
Recognizing the alarming instances of harassment faced by Jewish and pro-Israel students from faculty members, the EJA is taking decisive action by establishing a dedicated task force and launching a scholarship program specifically designed to empower and protect Jewish students and young individuals.
Jacobs recounted a recent conversation he had with the mayor of a city that once boasted a vibrant Jewish community before the Holocaust. Tragically, the majority of the community perished, leaving only two survivors in its wake.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Jacobs lamented: “There was a synagogue there. The mayor approached the remaining Jews, expressing interest in purchasing the synagogue. However, its value had diminished, as there were no longer worshippers.”
He further emphasized the irony of the situation, stating: “First, they murdered the Jews, and then they claimed the synagogue held no worth due to their absence.”
Highlighting the present climate, Jacobs shared his own experience.
“Today, when I address non-Jewish audiences in the Netherlands, they compliment my proficiency in Dutch, unaware of my Jewish heritage. I respond, ‘I’m sorry, but I have been Dutch for several generations.’ Their reply stings: ‘Sorry, we mistakenly assumed you were Jewish.'”
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