Fussballclub Chelsea mit Preis gegen Antisemitismus geehrt

Budapest un modello di tolleranza? Ai tempi dell’invasione russa tutto è possibile (Di martedì 21 giugno 2022) Zsolt Semjén, vicepremier ungherese, ne è sicuro. Il suo è uno dei Paesi più tolleranti dell’Unione Europea. Un apparente paradosso per una «democrazia illiberale», come lo stesso premier ungherese Viktor Orban ha definito il suo progetto politico e come viene ormai additata la «sua» Ungheria. E tuttavia quest’affermazione si spiega con alcune considerazioni. «Nel mio partito ci concentriamo con una piattaforma sulla protezione dei valori biblici, e delle civiltà cristiana ed ebraica» spiega il braccio destro del leader ai microfoni di Panorama. «Gli ebrei sono da noi supportati tanto quanto i cattolici, non c’è nessun doppio stantard. Non ci piace come fanno altri Paesi europei, che lodano Israele e poi finanziano le ong anti-israeliane. L’Ungheria ha tolleranza zero vero l’antisemitismo. Semmai è l’Islam politico ad alimentare tensioni, ma nel nostro Paese …

https://www.zazoom.it/2022-06-21/budapest-un-modello-di-tolleranza-ai-tempi-dellinvasione-russa-tutto-e-possibile/11109350/

Chanukah is here. It’s the time of the year when we come together with our loved ones to celebrate the miracle of the Maccabees by lightning the menorah.
In many cultures, light symbolizes positivity and hope. We all know this year was not easy, to say the least, for many people around the world and specially here in Europe. This Chanukah we have the opportunity to join our lights together, to share the hope and faith for a better future for all of us.
As the famous Jewish song say: “each of us is a small light and together we are a mighty light”.
We invite you all, Jews and non-Jews to join us this Chanukah in choosing hope, and focussing on the the bright and good. Together we will spread our light throughout Europe!
To join us you simply need to take a picture (or a video) of yourself lighting the candles (or just your Menurah) during the 8 days of Hanukah (10-18 Dec) and post it on social media with the hashtag #LightingEurope.
Happy Chanukah!

Our story about Universiteit Gent’s repugnant Sign language dictionary for Jew went viral. From El Pais in Spain, the Guardian in UK, From France to Belgium, the US to Israel, the image of a woman signing a hook-nose to denote Jew is as shocking to the media as it was to us and the family who dioscovered. We are still awaiting a formal explanation from the Rector of the University. They have already captioned them as derogatory but this is not enough. No deaf person should be signing Jew in this way. It is offensive. Full stop. We will keep you updated.
The guargian

Michael Freilich, EJA Special Envoy for Holocaust Remembrance and Belgian Member of Parliament:

“NAZI MONEY PAID FOR THE DEPORTATION OF BELGIAN JEWS DURING THE HOLOCAUST SHOULD BEST BE CONFISCATED”

On 17 February 2025, the report “The Belgian Railways and the deportations during the Second World War” was presented to the Senate’s Committee on Institutional Affairs in Parliament.

Michael Freilich, the only Jewish Member of Parliament and a special envoy to the European Jewish Association reacts:

“It is praiseworthy that this historical research has finally been completed, albeit many years overdue. For too long, too little attention was paid to the role of the Belgian railways during the Second World War. This report brings crucial new facts to light and reminds us that we must learn from the past.

But recognition is not enough. The government must accept its responsibility and take concrete action, as the report proposes. It calls for tangible initiatives, such as education and commemoration projects, and more support for surviving victims and their families.

Freilich advocates confiscating the money used to pay for the deportations: It is known that the Nazis paid the Belgian railways to deport 25,843 Jews and 351 Roma from Belgium to concentration and extermination camps. This amount – equivalent to around 15 million euros today – should be confiscated by the state, as is usually the case with funds obtained through criminal activity. This would send an important message to the survivors and the families of the victims. These funds could then be used to fight racism, anti-Semitism and current threats against the Jewish community. In this way, we can ensure that the lessons of the past are effectively translated into policy.”

Conclusions of the Group of the Wise on the NMBS/SNCB during WWII

The presentation of the report The NMBS/SNCB (the Belgian Railways) and the deportations during WWII took place in the Senate’s Institutional Affairs Committee on Monday 17 February 2025.

The Group of The Wise concluded that the historical research uncovered new facts about the involvement of Belgium and the NMBS/SNCB in the deportations during the Second World War. The importance of knowledge and awareness about this period cannot be emphasised enough.

In addition, the research shows that the lessons from this history remain relevant. The danger of a creeping undermining of democracy and the constitutional state, as happened through seemingly small bureaucratic decisions, remains a current warning. The cooperation of the NMBS/SNCB in the deportations illustrates how institutions can morally fail under ideological pressure.

The necessity of moral vigilance is also emphasised. The ethical dilemmas that officials and institutions were confronted with in wartime are not merely historical: even today, critical thinking requires constant attention in order to protect the rights and dignity of minorities.

The Group calls for a broader commitment to combating anti-Semitism, racism and intolerance. Not only the federal government, but also other levels of government and the private sector must be involved.

Recommendations

The recommendations are grouped around three core pillars: Truth, Transmission and Reparation. In addition, a transversal recommendation is formulated to improve the coordination and evaluation of initiatives.

1. Truth
   • The NMBS/SNCB must take concrete actions to publicly reveal the historical truth, in collaboration with experts and organisations.
   • Cooperation between initiatives must be improved to prevent fragmentation and promote knowledge sharing.
   • Society must be better informed about the concept of the ‘politics of least resistance’ and its relevance today.
2. Transmission
   • Educational initiatives are needed to transmit history to young people and the general public.
   • Teachers must be supported in countering resistance and disinformation in the classroom.
   • The War Heritage Institute (WHI) can contribute with travelling exhibitions and educational programmes.
3. Restitution
   • The NMBS/SNCB should not only express regret, but also offer an official apology for its role in the deportations.
   • Work must be done to improve the status of victims and initiatives for commemoration and social actions for the benefit of the groups involved.
   • The federal government must be open to initiatives to repair material and moral damage, even 80 years after the fact.
4. Cross-cutting recommendation
   • An inventory of commemoration and educational initiatives must be made to avoid overlap and increase effectiveness.
   • A budget must be provided for evaluations and impact measurements of these initiatives.
   • A monitoring committee must be established to monitor the implementation and impact of these recommendations.

Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Chairman of the European Jewish Association, stated:
“This report is a stark reminder of the consequences of institutional complicity in evil. The European Jewish Association stands firm in its call for justice, not just in recognizing historical truths, but in taking concrete action. Confiscating these funds is not merely a financial measure—it is a moral imperative. We owe it to the victims and their descendants to ensure that these ill-gotten gains are used to combat hate and anti-Semitism today. Only then can we truly say we have learned from the past.”