Is Europe safe for Jews?

This past Monday evening, over 500 people attended the International Holocaust Remembrance and 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz at the Norris Center presented by the Federation’s Holocaust Memorial Museum and San Antonio Public Library. Eighty years later, antisemitism is on the rise.  Each of the remarks of San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, County Commissioner Grant Moody and German Consul General Kai Hennig all concluded with “Never Again.” 

On Thursday evening, March 6, the Consuls General from Greece, Germany, Israel and Ukraine will be featured in a community conversation on Global Antisemitism sponsored by Mel Cohen and Rabbi Samuel and Lynn Stahl. All three of the European countries participating in this discussion have taken firm stands against antisemitism. Yet, recent European surveys show 9 out of 10 Jews in the European Union are concerned about antisemitism. 

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The conversation, moderated by Jonathan Gurwitz, will focus on Europe’s antisemitism problem prior to October 7, 2023, and the dramatic increase across Europe of antisemitic incidents post October 7th. The four consuls general, Lambros Kakissis of Greece, Kai Hennig of Germany, Livia Link-Raviv of Israel, and Vitalii Tarasiuk of Ukraine, each have over 20 years of experience in their respective foreign ministries and have served in posts around the globe. 

Besides the general focus on antisemitism in Europe, the European consuls will also address the handling of antisemitism in their respective countries. Whether social media guidelines or the substantial gains of right-wing nationalist parties in their respective parliaments, they will assess how antisemitism is a potential threat to their maintaining an open society. Space is limited, and we are expecting a large crowd for this unique gathering, so please register for the evening conversation at jfsatx.org/antisemitism-forum 

Randall Czarlinsky
Interim CEO, Jewish Federation of San Antonio