President Von der Leyen at Chanukah celebration in Brussels warns of “old evil resurfacing in Europe,” announces new Jewish heritage award because Jewish culture is a ‘blessing to Europe”.

BRUTAL ASSAULTS IN AMSTERDAM AGAINST ISRAELIS

STATEMENT BY DUTCH CHIEF RABBI BINYOMIN JACOBS, PRESIDENT OF IPOR DUTCH JEWISH COMMUNITIES PRESIDENT ELLEN VAN PRAAGH, AND EUROPEAN JEWISH ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN RABBI MENACHEM MARGOLIN

OUR MESSAGE TO DUTCH GOVERNMENT AND EUROPEAN LEADERS:

‘”Wake up! A cancer of jew hate is plaguing the continent. From here on in, it cannot be business as usual when it comes to antisemitism.”

In a statement following a series of brutal assaults against Israeli citizens last night in Amsterdam following a football match, the Chief Rabbi of the Netherlands Binyomin Jacobs, President of IPOR Jewish Communities Ellen Van Praagh and the Chairman of the European Jewish Association Rabbi Menachem Margolin said

“We are shocked but not surprised at the disgusting scenes we saw last night in the Dutch Capital.

“This was not hooliganism. Hooliganism is a regular occurrence at football games. The heavy presence of police and security forces in Amsterdam last night attests to this. They were prepared and ready for it. Antisemitism is the only motive here.

“But what followed afterwards – these disgusting and brutal assaults, are the strongest example of the extreme antisemitism, the all-pervading Jew hatred, that is running like a cancer throughout the continent. When writers like Herman Brusselmans can say with impunity that he wants to stick a knife in the throat of every Jew he meets, this is the outcome.

“People roaming the streets in masks asking people if they were Jewish then assaulting them and throwing them into canals. This is Europe now in 2024.

“While we welcome the statements of support and outrage from the Dutch Government, and their reaching out to us, a much pro-active more approach is needed. There must be meaningful engagement with the Jewish community from the Dutch Government . We want to be heard. We need action.

“We call this hate a Cancer. It requires immediate surgery. These assaults are not an isolated incident. It is part of a much bigger picture of Jew hate since October 7th in the Netherlands, Jews cannot take public transport, they are fearful.  

“Every day, across the continent, hundreds of smaller incidents of Jew hate take place. They do not receive the public response, nor the government response they deserve.

“We say to the Dutch government and governments across Europe: wake up. It cannot be business as usual from now on when it comes to fighting antisemitism.” Ends

The European Jewish Association (EJA) is pleased to announce that David Lega has recently been made in charge of advocacy and is the senior adviser for Scandinavia. In this role, Mr. Lega will bring his extensive experience in politics, human rights advocacy, and leadership to support the EJA’s mission of combating antisemitism and strengthening Jewish communities across Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland.

Mr. Lega, a former Member of the European Parliament, has dedicated his career to defending human rights and advocating for the rights of the Jewish people and other minorities. His involvement with the EJA will focus on fostering strong ties with Jewish communities, mainstream media, and political figures in Scandinavia to promote the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism and to safeguard religious freedom.

As part of his duties, Mr. Lega will also be instrumental in coordinating public events, media briefings, and strategic meetings with key stakeholders to further the EJA’s goals. His work will include advocating for legislation that aligns with the outcomes of the Amsterdam conference on antisemitism and organizing activities that highlight the importance of Jewish heritage and Israel’s contributions to global peace and security.

“I am honored to join the European Jewish Association as Senior Adviser for the Scandinavian Region. The fight against antisemitism is a cause that is very close to my heart, and I am committed to working with the EJA to ensure that Jewish communities in Scandinavia feel supported and secure,” said Mr. Lega.

EJA President Menachem Margolin expressed his enthusiasm for Mr. Lega’s appointment, stating: “We are very happy to welcome Mr. Lega as our new senior advisor for the Scandinavian Region. Mr. Lega brings a great deal of experience in political activity and diplomacy working for the wellbeing of the Jewish community throughout Europe in general and particularly in Sweden and Scandinavia. I am confident he will contribute to our organizational goals as the biggest and widest reaching Association of Jewish organizations and communities in Europe.”

Last Wednesday, our colleague Juan Caldes, in collaboration with Rebecca from the ECI, took a stand against the alarming proliferation of myths surrounding Israel. These unfounded claims range from accusations of genocide and ethnic cleansing to the unjust labelling of Israel as an apartheid state. It’s crucial to combat these dangerous misconceptions before they spiral out of control, distorting reality and inciting unwarranted hostility. Yesterday, at the European Jewish Association office, we continued our efforts, with another session led by Alex Benjamin Vice Director for Communication. This time, the focus was on understanding advocacy and its implications, followed by a discussion on Judaism.

This year, our delegation to Auschwitz was more vital than ever. For over two years, Jewish communities across Europe and around the world have faced unprecedented levels of antisemitism, escalating from hate speech to physical violence and even murder. We have said it before: antisemitism did not end with the liberation of Auschwitz. It never died!

This year, we came to a painful realization: we can no longer simply ask, call, or plead with leaders to act against antisemitism. We cannot continue living behind walls, concrete barricades, and constant police protection around every Jewish institution. Stronger measures are needed, along with a new definition and framework of protection.

That is why this delegation was so vital. During this year’s gathering, EJA Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin called on Europe to finally recognize Jewish communities as a protected minority, with all the legal safeguards such recognition entails.

This year, we gathered in Krakow just days before the 87th commemoration of Kristallnacht ,the Night of Broken Glass, to honor the memory of the victims, to stand against hatred and antisemitism, to reject Holocaust denial and justification, and to say in one clear voice: the fight against antisemitism is not only a Jewish issue, it is a European one.

We wish to thank all our guests who traveled from near and far to join us , to listen, to remember, and to learn not only about the horrors of Auschwitz’s past but also about the troubling reality of today.

Our deepest gratitude goes to former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson for joining us in Auschwitz and for his steadfast support of the Jewish people and communities worldwide. We also thank our dear friends, partners, and every guest who continues to stand by us and support our efforts over the past two years and beyond.