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  • EUROPEAN JEWISH ASSOCIATION RESPONSE TO THE VANDALISM IN THE JEWISH CEMETERY IN SLOVAKIA

EUROPEAN JEWISH ASSOCIATION RESPONSE TO THE VANDALISM IN THE JEWISH CEMETERY IN SLOVAKIA

March 18, 2025
Slovakia

AS JEWISH CEMETERY IN SLOVAKIA IS DEFACED AGAIN, EUROPEAN JEWISH ASSOCIATION URGES SLOVAK GOVERNMENT TO CLAMP DOWN HARD ON REPULSIVE PERPETRATORS AND INCREASE HOLOCAUST EDUCATION PROVISION

Immediate focus after bringing prosecutions against perpetrators must be on education says EJA Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin.

(Brussels 17 March 2025) A Jewish Cemetery in Humenne, Slovakia was desecrated with the daubing of Swastikas on headstones. This is the second time that the Cemetery was attacked, and follows a pattern of attacks over the last years on Jewish cemetaries.

The cemetery stands as memorial monument to a lost community, wiped out in the Holocaust.

The Brussels based European Jewish Association represents hundreds of Jewish Communities across Europe. Its Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin has written to the Slovak Minister of Education, Mr Tomas Drucker urging his department to increase Holocaust education in all schools and for his government clamp down hard and prosecute the perpetrators.

In a statement today, Rabbi Margolin said,

“The desecration of Jewish graves is heinous, repulsive and a betrayal of memory. These stones stand as a testament to a community that vanished after humanity’s lowest point: the Holocaust

“I have written to the Slovakian Education Minister to increase Holocaust education in Slovakia. When graveyards are habitually desecrated it points to a sickness in society that needs to be addressed.

“The best cure, other than the perpetrators feeling the full weight of justice, is through education, in particular of learning the lessons of the Holocaust and where mindless hatred can lead a society. The government must clamp down hard.”

 

Additional Articles

Belgium

Jewish organizations call for revision of regulations after moment of silence for convicted Holocaust denier

The European Jewish Association (EJA), a leading umbrella organisation representing the interests of Jewish communities across Europe, is calling for a revision of the procedures surrounding commemorative moments in the Flemish Parliament. This follows a recent moment of silence held in memory of a former parliamentarian who had been previously convicted of Holocaust denial.

The controversy emerged after the Flemish Parliament observed a moment of silence for Roeland Raes, a former parliamentarian for the far-right Vlaams Blok party, who was convicted in 2008 for denying the Holocaust. Raes, who passed away at the age of 90, was a co-founder of the radical-right group Voorpost and served in both the Senate and the Flemish Council, the precursor to the Flemish Parliament. His commemoration prompted strong protests from left-wing parties, which walked out of the session in objection.

Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Chairman of the EJA, has formally requested Parliament Speaker Freya Van den Bossche to review the current regulations and establish clear criteria for such commemorations. “A moment of silence is a powerful symbol and should be reserved for individuals who uphold the values of our democratic society. It is inappropriate to honour individuals convicted of serious offences such as Holocaust denial or other major crimes,” stated Margolin.

The letter underscores the moral responsibility of parliament and highlights that citizens’ trust in democratic institutions can be undermined when such commemorations occur. “The Flemish Parliament must remain a beacon of integrity and justice, which requires clear guidelines to determine who can and cannot be commemorated,” Margolin added.

This request comes at a particularly poignant time, ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on 27th January and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. “This day reminds us of the ongoing duty to remain vigilant and to show respect for the victims of genocide,” Margolin said.

In addition to calling for procedural reforms, the letter also proposes holding a moment of silence during the first plenary session after 27th January, in memory of the victims of the Nazi regime and the 25,000 deported Belgian Jews.

The letter was co-signed by Federal MP Michael Freilich, who also serves as the EJA’s envoy for Holocaust remembrance. Freilich, the only Jewish member of the Belgian Federal Parliament, stressed the importance of ensuring that such painful incidents do not recur in the future.

Margolin urged the Speaker to address this matter with the gravity it deserves and to take the necessary steps within parliament to prevent similar situations from arising again.

  • January 23, 2025
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Belgium

Open letter to the federal Belgian negotiators,

Brussels, 27 January 2025 – In an open letter, leading Jewish associations and the Belgian League against Anti-Semitism have addressed the leaders of the upcoming Belgian government.

The letter, signed by the European Jewish Association (EJA), the Ligue belge contre l’antisémitisme (LBCA) and the Joods Informatie- en Documentatiecentrum (JID), outlines key concerns of the Jewish community that they hope to see addressed in the new coalition agreement. The letter is being accompanied by an extensive online communication campaign to highlight this action and to involve citizens in the initiative.

  1. Increased security

The letter highlights the need for increased security measures for Jewish institutions in light of the increased risk of attack, as identified by national security organisations. It calls for both temporary and structural reinforcements to ensure the safety of the Jewish community and implores the appointment of a federal security advisor to coordinate these matters.

  1. Combating Jew hatred

The letter calls for the appointment of a special coordinator to combat anti-Semitism, an initiative already adopted by several European countries. This coordinator would be responsible for monitoring Jew hatred and developing strategies against this growing threat, particularly in view of the worrying increase in anti-Semitic incidents in Belgium.

  1. Freedom of religion

As Europe continues to secularise, the letter underlines the importance of recognising and protecting religious freedoms. The Jewish community seeks assurances that its right to freedom of belief will continue to be respected and protected, and stresses the importance of constructive dialogue on sensitive issues.

The call to the new government is clear: take the concerns of the Jewish community seriously and integrate their needs into policy. The letter concludes with an invitation for partnership in the hope that, despite the tragedies of the past, the Jewish community can look forward to a dynamic future.

It is now up to the leaders of the coalition government in formation to respond to this call and to show that Belgium recognises and protects the value and contributions of its Jewish citizens.

Download the letter in PDF

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:8cd61633-824b-4f06-a19f-b8a607728615

  • January 28, 2025
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Belgium

Belgian government asks to revoke refugee status of Samidoun leader

Samidoun is a controversial organization close to Palestinian Islamist groups that was banned in Germany after celebrating the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.Mohammed Khatib is “known as an extremist hate preacher,” says Belgian Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration.Belgium’s government has asked to revoke the refugee status of Mohammed Khatib, the coordinator in Europe for Samidoun, a controversial organization close to Palestinian Islamist groups that was banned in Germany after celebrating the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.Belgian Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Nicole de Moor, announced that she had asked the immigration services to withdraw the refugee status of Khatib, who she said was “known as an extremist hate preacher”.“The asylum procedure is intended for people fleeing war or unjust persecution. There is no place for people who represent a danger to society”, she said.“Even if someone has already been recognized as a refugee if that person turns out to be an extremist, recognition can be withdrawn.”She explained that the request was based on “information provided by the security services”, without giving any further details.Last month, members of the parliament in Netherlands criticized their government for not preventing Khatib from attending a rally in the country.

Belgian government asks to revoke refugee status of Samidoun leader

  • April 16, 2024
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United Kingdom

The EJA welcomes the ascendancy of King Charles III to the throne

As Queen Elizabeth II is laid to rest following seven decades of public service, the EJA welcomes the ascendancy of King Charles III to the throne. As Prince of Wales, Charles was a great friend of British Jewry, familiar and respectful of our faith and customs and above all deeply supportive of our communities. As King Charles III stewards the UK forwards into a new era, we wish him strength, fortitude and health.

  • September 20, 2022
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