Joint Statement of Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism

Bruxelles, le 27 janvier 2025 – Dans une lettre ouverte, des associations juives et la Ligue belge contre l’antisémitisme s’adressent aux dirigeants de la coalition Arizona.

Signée par la European Jewish Assosiaction (EJA), la Ligue belge contre l’antisémitisme (LBCA) et het Joods Informatie- en Documentatiecentrim (JID), cette lettre présente les principales préoccupations de la communauté juive qu’elle espère voir abordées dans le nouvel accord de coalition. Une vaste campagne de communication en ligne est lancée parallèlement à la lettre afin de mettre en lumière l’action et d’impliquer les citoyens dans l’initiative.

1. Renforcement de la sécurité

Elle souligne la nécessité de renforcer les mesures de sécurité pour les institutions juives, compte tenu du risque accru d’attentats identifié par l’OCAM. Elle appelle à des renforcements temporaires et structurels nécessaires pour assurer la sécurité de la communauté juive. Il est suggéré qu’un conseiller en matière de sécurité soit nommé au niveau fédéral pour coordonner ces questions.

2. Lutte contre l’antisémitisme

La lettre demande la nomination d’un coordinateur pour lutter contre l’antisémitisme, une initiative déjà adoptée par plusieurs pays européens. Ce coordinateur serait chargé de surveiller l’antisémitisme et de développer des stratégies pour lutter contre cette menace croissante, notamment en raison de l’augmentation inquiétante des incidents antisémites en Belgique.

3. Liberté de religion

Alors que l’Europe se sécularise de plus en plus, la lettre souligne l’importance de la reconnaissance et de la protection des libertés religieuses. La communauté juive souhaite obtenir l’assurance que son droit à la liberté de croyance continuera d’être respecté et protégé, et souligne l’importance d’un dialogue constructif sur les questions sensibles.

L’appel lancé au nouveau gouvernement est clair : prenez les préoccupations de la communauté juive au sérieux et intégrez leurs besoins dans la politique. La lettre se termine par une invitation au partenariat, dans l’espoir que la communauté juive, malgré les tragédies du passé, puisse affronter un avenir dynamique.

Il appartient maintenant aux présidents des partis de la coalition de l’Arizona de répondre à cet appel à l’action et de montrer que la Belgique reconnaît et protège la valeur et les contributions de ses citoyens juifs.

Téléchargez également la lettre au format PDF.

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:372afbbc-7efa-488b-8856-ee8c224ab208

BRUSSELS, Monday Dec 3, 2024 – Under the auspices of the European Jewish Association (EJA), a solemn moment of silence and the lighting of a memorial candle took place today at the European Parliament in memory of Chabad Rabbi Zvi Kogan, who was brutally murdered in the United Arab Emirates last week.

The tragic incident has sent shockwaves across Jewish and Israeli communities worldwide.

UAE Ambassador Mohammed Am Sahlawi joined the commemoration, offering his heartfelt condolences: “What happened is extremely shocking and very sad. This act of extremism is precisely why we must double down on our shared values of coexistence and tolerance.”

Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Executive Director of the EJA, strongly condemned the attack, stating: “This horrific act of terror is a stark reminder that antisemitism and hatred have no borders. It is incumbent upon all of us to fight these dark forces and to strengthen the bonds of understanding and mutual respect among nations.”

Michael Freilich, the only Jewish lawmaker in Belgium and a special diplomatic envoy for the EJA, also addressed the gathering: “Let’s turn this tragedy into a rallying call for unity and cooperation. The Abraham Accords have shown us what is possible when Jews and Arabs come together as partners in peace. The most powerful message we can send to those who wish to divide us is that they will fail. Our resolve for coexistence and collaboration is unshakable.”

The commemoration serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of continued dialogue and partnership between Jewish and Arab communities. It also underscores the enduring need to combat extremism in all its forms and to build bridges of understanding across the globe.

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