Palestinian ambassador only believes in the human rights of certain people

As the EJA Symposium comes to a close, we reflect on two days of impactful discussions, profound remembrance, and strengthened unity among Jewish leaders, advocates, and policymakers from across Europe and beyond.

The Symposium began with an inspiring programme in Krakow, where critical topics were addressed by esteemed speakers and panellists. Discussions explored the convergence of anti-Zionism and antisemitism, the role of universities as spaces of free speech or hate, and the continued importance of Holocaust education, even 80 years after the liberation of Auschwitz. Participants brought forward actionable insights and strategies to confront rising challenges facing Jewish communities today.

The Memorial Dinner was a poignant evening, honouring resilience and leadership. Holocaust survivor Baroness Régine Suchowolski Sluszny’s testimony reminded us of the enduring importance of remembrance, while awards to Pastor Dumisani Washington, Daniel Sharabi and the Sharabi Brothers, and David Beesemer celebrated extraordinary contributions to Jewish life and solidarity.

Today’s visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau was a solemn and powerful conclusion to the Symposium. Participants joined in a memorial service to honour the victims of the Holocaust, with Kaddish led by Chief Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs, and wreaths laid by delegations from across the globe. This visit served as a stark reminder of the horrors of history and the enduring need to combat hatred and antisemitism in all forms.

As we conclude, the conversations and commitments made at this Symposium will resonate far beyond these two days. Together, we reaffirm our dedication to building a safer, stronger future for Jewish communities across the world.

Thank you to all the speakers, panellists, organisers, and participants who made this event a success.

#EJA #Antisemitism #HolocaustRemembrance #JewishLeadership #Unity

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“we must not agree, let alone encourage the Jews, to give up its religious attributes” says European Jewish Head.

The chairman of the European Jewish Association (EJA), Rabbi Menachem Margolin, today called upon the President of the Central Council of German Jews, Yosef Schuster, to retract his call to Jews to refrain from wearing a skullcap in public space in Germany 

In a statement Rabbi Margolin said:

“I have no doubt that the declaration stems from Mr. Schuster’s sincere concern for the safety of The Jews – a concern that I naturally share in light of the growing anti-Semitism in Europe, but unfortunately he is mistaken in the cure for the serious problem, “says Rabbi Margolin.

Emphasising the point, he went on: “ Not wearing a skullcap due to fear of anti-Semitism is in fact the fulfillment of the vision of anti-Semites in Europe. 

The leaders of the Jewish communities and organizations must insist that every government care for the security of all its inhabitants and do more to educate and prevent this dangerous phenomena. 

But we must not agree, let alone encourage the Jews – or any other religious or ethnic group – to give up its religious attributes. ” 

That is why the call to refrain from wearing a skullcap is also liable to turn those who wear skullcaps into a provocative act and deserving of a response.”

(Brussels 1st October 2021) Belgian Constitutional Court decision to uphold effective ban on Kosher slaughter is an opportunity for other European Countries to stand fully behind their Jewish Communities and protect this central tenet of faith and practice.
Rabbi Menachem Margolin adds that European countries must not fall into the trap of being ‘two faced: solidly protecting us from antisemitism on one side, whilst making it impossible for Jews to practice their faith by legislating against us on the other”.
The Belgian constitutional court on Thursday upheld a decision by the European Court of Justice banning religious slaughter without pre-stunning, thereby also upholding a similar decision by the Belgian Walloon and Flemish governments.
In a statement this morning, Rabbi Menachem Margolin – Chairman of the Brussels based European Jewish Association, a pro-Jewish advocacy organising representing hundreds of communities across the continent – lamented the move but said it provided an opportunity for European countries to show their support to Jews:
“The Belgian Constitutional Court have shamefully upheld a decision that is openly hostile to a fundamental pillar of Jewish practice.
“What gets to the Jewish Communities the most is the two-faced approach of some countries towards Jewish Communities. On the one side they are solidly supportive when it comes to the fight against antisemitism, on the other they have no difficulty in effectively legislating Jewish faith and practice out of existence.
“Worse still these countries are blissfully ignorant of this massive contradiction and its catastrophic effects on Jews across Europe. This decision, if replicated, is a real threat to Jewish life across Europe. Every bit as threatening as rising antisemitism, and in a sense even worse as it directly targets the very tenets of our beliefs. Now is the time for European Countries to stand behind their Jewish Communities and leave Belgium isolated and an outlier of how not to treat Jews”.
 

The European Jewish Association is advocating at both EU institutional and Member State level for European Jewry to be designated with a special protected minority status, recognised as part of Europe’s patrimony and protected in both national and European law. The EJA believes that granting protected minority status would better ensure the safety and continuity of Jewish life across the continent.

With the support of Professor Rosa Freedman, Professor of Law, Conflict and Global Development, who specialises in international human rights law, we have developed a comprehensive document outlining the legal framework for this proposal.

EJA Protected Status Policy Brief – Rosa Freedman

EJA Protected Status Research Report – Rosa Freedman

EJA Protected Status Summary – Rosa Freedman

Protected Status Factsheet – Rosa Freedman