“Less words, more action from EU to protect Europe’s Jews”, says President of the Conference of European Rabbis

In collaboration with the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union, the Conference of European Rabbis (CER) organised an event entitled ‘Is there a Jewish future in Europe?’. Taking place less than a month before the EU heads to the polls to elect a new European Parliament, the discussions focused on what is missing to protect Jews across the EU from the rising number of attacks, both offline and online.

The event was hosted at the headquarters of the Bavarian Representation and gathered over 130 senior EU stakeholders, featuring senior representatives from the European Commission, the French government, the Bavarian authorities, Jewish and other religious leaders. The discussions centered around the key issues highlighted in the CER 2024 “Manifesto for European Jewish Life”, which recommends combatting antisemitism by increasing legislation against physical and online hate, improving funding for educational resources, heightened security of synagogues, improved cooperation with the police and local communities to establish effective security systems, and calling to interfaith dialogue to promote moderate religious practices, integration and positive citizenship to counterattack the abuse of religion, extremism, and terrorism. The manifesto issues a call to action for EU Member State governments and the European Union’s institutions to combat the rise in antisemitism and protect Jewish religious practices.

During the event, French minister Aurore Bergé, who serves as Minister delegate for gender equality and the fight against discriminations in the French government, gave a video-statement with information on the actions taken in France against antisemitism, religious extremism and hate speech. Having launched on 6 May the conference on combating antisemitism, known in France as the “Assises de lutte contre l’antisémitisme”, the minister reiterated the French government’s commitments to combat the “scourge of antisemitism everywhere”.

Aurore Bergé added that “we are waging a determined and relentless battle against antisemitism in all its forms, including renewed forms. [...] This battle is national, it is European, it must be international".

A panel discussion then took place featuring Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the CER and recent Charlemagne Prize laureate, Dr. Ludwig Spaenle, the Bavarian government Representative for the Jewish Life and Combating Antisemitism, Ms. Katharina von Schnurbein from the European Commission who serves as the EU’s coordinator for combating antisemitism, Prof. Dr. Peter Neumann, Professor of Security Studies at King’s College London, and Sir Julian King, former European Commissioner for the Security Union and former UK Ambassador to France. The panelists discussed the European Commission’s strategy to fight antisemitism and highlighted the actions that still need to be taken, especially by the EU’s national governments to urgently improve the security and well-being of Jewish communities in Europe.

Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt, who was recently awarded the International Charlemagne Prize on behalf of Europe’s Jews for his commitment to European values and inter-religious dialogue, emphasised the urgent context of the conference, stating that “in this period leading up to the European elections, our manifesto urges European leaders to commit to the fight against antisemitism with renewed vigor and determination. The European Union has ambitious commitments to protect its Jews. Our focus must now be on the national governments who can implement the necessary measures. The future of Europe depends on our collective efforts to ensure their safety and well-being”.

Born in Switzerland in 1963 and from a family of rabbis, Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt was raised in the religious tradition. After studying rabbinics in Israel, he attended several renowned Jewish institutions including the Telshe Yeshiva in Chicago and the Ner Israel Rabbinical University in Baltimore. In 1987, he was ordained by the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He became the Chief Rabbi of Moscow in 1989 and played an important role in preserving and promoting Jewish life in Russia – a country he had to leave following his designation as a foreign agent by Moscow after his criticism of the war in Ukraine. President of the European Conference of Rabbis since 2003, he plays an active role in promoting unity and cooperation between the Jewish communities of Europe.

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