How are our European Jewish institutions addressing the deeply socialized systemic anti-Semitism flourishing throughout Europe? I ask this question with hesitant concern; it seems that our international community’s focus has been fixed so solely on jihadis and political minefields, we’ve forgotten to check in on our own institutions.
But these organizations have been active throughout the chaos of violent attacks and racist incitement. How they’ve been active is another story. I speak particularly of the European Jewish Congress, the umbrella organization for Europe’s Jewry.
After years of lying dormant and publishing impractical calls to action, the European Jewish Congress (EJC) seem to be taking some diplomatic action. With anti-Semitism at an all-time high in Europe they have little choice if they are to remain in their positions.
The group, headed by Russian billionaire oligarch Moshe Kantor, has begun meeting with EU Parliament members, attempting to establish ties within the framework of politicians. This is their diplomatic duty, and to some degree they have been fulfilling it- at the very least for the past few months.
But there’s one prominent issue with this picture. The EJC has no direct contact with the community they represent- and no framework to meet that communities immediate or long-term needs.
I was genuinely surprised to see the EJC’s recent rise to action, surprised to the point that I decided to look into it a bit deeper. A few minutes exploring the website of the European Parliament Working Group on Anti-Semitism confirmed my worst suspicions. A plethora of the same kind of costly meeting and statements that produce no infrastructure for tangible change.
What I found was a laundry list of definitions, declarations, and symposiums. There’s not even a hint of solid groundwork in education, community, or court- the areas where anti-Semitism most pressingly must be addressed.
The EJC is vastly out of touch- their efforts have long been empty handed with little participation in or from the community they represent. Their current agenda appears to be an attempt to appease the communities they represent- without actually stepping up their efforts.
Jewish Trends 