On the eve of the Jewish New Year, and in view of the alarming rise of anti-Semitism across Europe, dozens of MEPs and heads of Jewish organizations assembled in the European Parliament for a conference dedicated to “The future of the Jewish communities in Europe” attended by European Parliament President Martin Schulz and his deputy, Antonio Tajani (EPP, IT).

Rabbi Menachem Margolin, General Director of the European Jewish Association noted that: “the EU sometimes has a reputation for talking a lot but delivering little. We are on the threshold of the Jewish new year, and unfortunately many of Europe’s Jews live in fear. Putting the army outside of our synagogues, radio stations, schools and shops is of course a welcome step to protect the lives of Jews – but this is just a temporary solution that does nothing to change the root cause of the problem. The crisis – and it is a crisis – affecting Jews across Europe – deserves the same attention as the EU institutions give to the economic crisis or climate change. That starts with a properly funded EU program, that teaches future generations about Jews, the Holocaust and the contributions that we, this small people, have made to the world.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)