Rabbi Berel Lazar to Council of Europe: Government Intervention Will Prevent Anti-semitism
Government’s role in promoting intercultural relations is to ensure that “no religious denomination will bring ideas of violence or extremism to the people,” said Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar at an international human rights council that met recently.
During a debate on the role of religion in intercultural dialogue at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Rabbi Lazar pointed to Russia’s historically low levels of anti-Semitism as proof that government intervention produces positive results.
Later, after most representatives from the Vatican, Greek Orthodox Church, and others called for more dialogue, Chief Rabbi Lazar stood up in favor of silence.
“If each and every child started his day with a moment of silence he could believe what he or his parents believed, but he would understand that he had a responsibility to his fellow beings and a responsibility not only to learn and to become greater but to make the world a better place,” said Rabbi Lazar.
Rabbi Lazar presented this idea to delegates from PACE’s 47 member states on April 12 in Strasbourg, France. He credited the suggestion to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, whose 110th anniversary of birth was celebrated shortly after the conference. “It is beautiful that today, all the religious leaders are here in harmony, but I would say that that is not enough. We respect each other, we love each other, and we have to work together and do something together.”
Other speakers at the conference also backed away from the recommendations up for vote at the end of the debate, which called for more interfaith dialogue. Prelate Bernhard Felmberg, representing the Council of Evangelical Church in German and the EU, called for “concentrating the forces rather than to broaden the variety of forums and platforms.” Nevertheless the recommendation, with a few amendments, passed.
The impact of the vote is largely symbolic. Formed in 1949, PACE meets four times a year to make recommendations on human rights, legal and cultural cooperation between countries. This most recent meeting addressed a smorgasbord of issues like strengthening torture prevention mechanisms in Europe, conflicts over water, and preventing obesity and type 2 diabetes in children. In the past, PACE leadership has condemned Israel for causing “disproportionate number of casualties” with airstrikes in retaliation for rocket attacks from Gaza.
PACE delegates are members of parliament or other elected officials in their home countries, and often hold positions of influence on international councils. Seated next to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jaglan during a formal lunch, Rabbi Lazar raised the issue of the European Union’s controversial vote to label kosher meat as “unstunned before slaughter.” When buttonholed by a parliament member from Holland, Rabbi Lazar spoke out against the Dutch move to outlaw kosher meat production.
When navigating intercultural relations, it seems, there’s a time for silence and a time to make your voice heard.
