Shluchim Discuss Anti-Semitism with EU Commissioner

A delegation of the European Jewish Association (EJA), headed by its General Director Rabbi Menachem MargolinRabbi Binyomin Jacobs, Chief Rabbi of The Netherlands; Rabbi Avi Tawil, director of the European Jewish Community Centre; and Rabbi Mendel Pevzner of the European Jewish Youth Association, met with the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism, Sport, Media and Youth, Androulla Vassiliou, in order to address Rabbi Margolin’s recent call to establish a pan-European taskforce in order to annihilate anti-Semitism, following the recent terror attack in Brussels.

“Great disasters will continue to take place unless we increase our investments in education” said Commissioner Vassiliou, and pledged to raise the issue of education programs on racism, anti-Semitism and the Holocaust in all schools across EU countries in an upcoming meeting of EU education Ministers.

Rabbi Margolin, thanked Commissioner Vassiliou for her commitment to the safety of the European Jewish Community, and stated that: “Education is the key to preventing horrific hate crimes like the Brussels terror attack. We will continue our quest to establish a pan-European taskforce in order to annihilate anti-Semitism. This will act decisively both in the security and enforcement level as well as in education”.

Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs, Chief Rabbi of The Netherlands stated that: “I can’t walk a whole day in the street without hearing children shout the words: “dirty Jew” at me”.

Loui Deliver, a Holocaust survivor who also attended the meeting, insisted that the level of hate and anti-Semitism on European streets is higher today than it ever was – even more then in the days immediately following the Holocaust.

One Comment

  • Yossel

    The time for Jews living in Europe is past. it’s time our nation left that cursed continent. That’s my opinion; perhaps the Rebbe has advised some to remain there. I just hate to see Jews persecuted, haven’t we been persecuted enough over the past 2000 years??