I recently returned from the 10th anniversary Conference on Anti-Semitism of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, in Berlin, Germany, Nov. 12-13.
This was a review conference, set to examine what gains or backsliding has occurred in Europe relative to anti-Semitism since the landmark 2004 conference.
The news was not good. European Jews are feeling more vulnerable, more afraid for their safety, and are looking into leaving for the U.S., Canada or Israel. And they are not wrong to be thinking about whether there is a future for European Jews.
Could it be that Europe could become Judenfrei (free of Jews, a term coined by the Nazis)? No. But Europe should be asking itself what a loss it would be if their Jews did leave.
The conference had two parts: the non-governmental organizations/civil society meeting and the official governmental meeting of the 57 countries of the OSCE.
I was there wearing two hats. At the NGO forum, I was the chief executive officer of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. At the governmental forum, I was part of the official U.S. delegation because I am a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
The head of the U.S. delegation was Samantha Power, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and an expert on genocide. Power sounded a series of warnings and stated clearly that what is going on in Europe is serious and frightening.
It is beyond terrible rhetoric and graffiti. It is life threatening. The countries in Europe, Power said, must have a comprehensive approach in confronting the dramatic rise of anti-Semitism since the 2004 conference.
Solutions begin by telling the truth — ensuring students learn accurately what Europe’s Holocaust really was. While many countries (including Hungary and Ukraine) are rewriting their history, more than ever the truth must be profoundly taught.
In addition, civil society must be activated to push governments and churches, synagogues and mosques to speak out, to publicly shame the hatred and haters and to demand educational and societal changes.
Countries must deal with the fact that the ideology of hatred is a reality and growing. Hamas/Israel conflicts are not the cause, although they may exacerbate the expressions of hatred.
Stereotypes in secular and religious lessons, sermons from pulpits calling Jews God killers, conspiracy theories and blood libels still permeate the cultures, and as the economy is destabilized some blame the Jews. These are all alive and well and growing.
I have often said that the most important export the U.S. has is our ability or build coalitions and alliances. We do it naturally around causes and concerns here.
It is not done instinctively or very well in the rest of the world. We Americans are comfortable with our hyphenated identities. The rest of the world is not.
We need to help civil society and NGOs work together in partnerships and coalitions to stop the resurgence of hate activities, especially against anti-Semitism.
If the Jews could solve the problem of anti-Semitism alone, it would have been solved long ago. Working with interfaith, interethnic, intergroup coalitions is the only hope for a better future for the European Jews. This was reiterated over and over by country after country.
That is why our Jewish Community Relations Council is so important. It works with allies and groups that we hope will become allies to confront hatred and to help meet the needs of all vulnerable communities — because it is the right thing to do and because it is enlightened self-interest: we need their help.
I learned from the non-governmental groups and many Jewish federations from throughout Europe that in Belgium they are actually talking about becoming Judenfrei.
In Germany, the worst thing you can call someone is an anti-Semite; yet the right wing thugs continue to rally, use the Internet and social media, and deface Jewish organization buildings and Jewish memorials and graves.
Violence against Jews is being reported everyday, often ending in murders. Many countries are using new forms of blood libel accusations (organ stealing), and trying to restrict the religious practice of Jews (and Muslims) by banning shechita (ritual slaughter of animals) and brit milah (circumcision).
Religious leaders and rewritten textbooks often distort or even deny that the Holocaust even occurred. Conflicts in the Middle East are being used as an excuse to spew anti-Semitism.
The Holocaust began with words. Then silence from the world.
The conference was a call to action: curb the nationalism and hatred of “the other,” stop the historical distortions, confront ideology of hatred, vigilantly monitor hate activities in all countries, vigorously prosecute hate crimes and deepen the commitment to anti-bias education.
And there must be a hyper-focus on anti-Semitism, because when in the past there was such an increase in visible hatred of the Jews, it went unanswered.
We must ensure that “never again” has real meaning, around the world and here at home.
Hannah Rosenthal is president and chief executive officer of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
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