Are Europe’s efforts to safeguard Jews and Judaism sufficient?

Are Europe’s efforts to safeguard Jews and Judaism sufficient in a time of growing antisemitism and attacks against freedom of religion, writes Yossi Lempkowicz.

This question will be at the center of discussions at the two-day policy conference of the European Jewish Association (EJA) which opened on Monday (20 June) in Budapest.

Political leaders from Hungary and across Europe, but also from Israel, as well as Senior EU politicians will join for the conference titled ‘’Freedom to live, freedom from hate, freedom to thrive’’ to discuss the most pressing issues affecting Jewish Communities across Europe.

On this occasion the conference will see the unveiling of a unique research project – 2 years in the making- setting out a clear and benchmarked rating of which European countries offer Jewish people the best quality of life and which countries are particularly challening to live as a Jew. The report on ‘’Europe and Jews’ includes an index of respect and tolerance towards Jews in 12 European countries.

The project by Dr Daniel Staetsky, Senior Researcher at the Jewish Policy Rsearch (JPR) in London, will be followed by the issuing of specific recommendations for governments on what is missing for Jewish communities in these 12 countries.

Keynote speakers at the conference will include MEP Nicola Beer, Vice President of the European Parliament and Vice-Chair of the Working Group Against Antisemitism, Hungary’s Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen, and Israel’s Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Nachman Shai.

The conference will also address the challenges facing the  Jews in war-torn Ukraine and new form of antisemitism such as politicizing the Shoah against Jews.

Today (21 June), a memorial service will take place  at “the shoes on the Danube” memorial.

The European Jewish Association, which is based in Brussels, represents hundreds of Jewish communities across the Continent.

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