In response to the European Commission’s publication of a Communication on “No place for hate: a Europe united against hatred”

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.

First Rabbi arrested since the Nazis for performing circumcision – in Ireland.

“You cannot imprison the Jewish faith” say European Jewish Association, calling for Rabbi’s immediate release.

The Chairman of the ‏European Jewish Association (EJA), Rabbi Menachem Margolin, is demanding the immediate release of a British rabbi who was arrested in Ireland for performing circumcision.

Rabbi Margolin is calling on the President of Ireland, Michael Higgins, Prime Minister Simon Harris and the Speaker of the Irish Parliament to intervene for the immediate release of the certified Mohel who was arrested yesterday in Dublin, Ireland, without bail, for performing circumcision.

The certified Mohel, Rabbi Yonathan Avraham, 47 years old, father of 10 children, who works legally in England, arrived in neighboring Ireland, was arrested in a raid by the Dublin police on the house where the religious ceremony was performed. He has decades of experience, has performed circumcision all over Europe and is recognised as leading expert and practitioner of this important rite.

“circumcision is not a crime but a commandment practiced by the Jewish religion for more than 3000 years said Rabbi Margolin.

The last time anybody was arrested for performing circumcision was under the Nazis, whose first laws in their blind and irrational hatred of the Jewish people targeted this practice. That the Irish legal system is now second to Nazi germany is a sad and incongruous indictment.

Circumcision has been adopted by other religions and recognized as a practice by the World Health Organization, which recommends in many cases the circumcision of boys. About thirty percent of the men in the world – and not only Jews, are circumcised and live healthy lives,” notes Rabbi Margolin.

The chairman of the ‏European Jewish Association stated that the arrest sends a clear message that Jews are no longer welcome in Ireland and demands that the Mohel be released even before Shabbat begins on Friday evening.

“The arrest not only infringes the fundamental right of freedom of religion but it also humiliates the parents involved by suggesting that they do not really care for their children. All those parents who circumcised their children, went through the same procedure themselves and of course they would not have done so if it involved “physical or mental harm to the newborn, above all a mohel such as Rabbi Yonathan goes through many, many years of study and training before even being allowed to practice. We are not barbarians!”

Rabbi Margolin appealed to the Speaker of the Irish Parliament, who at the beginning of the year was hosted by EJA at Auschwitz, to act for the immediate release of the Mohel and promote legislation that would prevent such an arrest in the future.
Rabbi Margolin also appealed to the President of the State of Israel, Yitzhak Herzog, whose grandfather served as the Chief Rabbi of Ireland, with a request that he work this morning with the heads of the Irish government for the immediate release of the Mohel