Conference of European Rabbis meets Israeli Government to discuss the rise of the far-right and plans for better Jewish engagement
CER set to appoint ambassador to tackle far-right extremism
The Standing Committee of the Conference of European Rabbis visited the Knesset to discuss the rise of the far-right in Europe and are set to announce its plan appoint an ambassador to tackle far-right extremism.
Some of the responsibilities of the ambassador will be to;
- Coordinate all CER activity regarding Far-right extremism
- Engage with leading politicians and stakeholders on these matters
- Liaise with other European Jewish groups regarding the Far-right
- Create an enduring manifesto against Far-right extremism that can be used by governments, organisations and advocacy groups
Speaking of the initiative, Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt said:
“By appointing an ambassador specifically for the campaign against Far-right ideologies and extremism, the CER recognises that this is not a threat that can be ignored.
“That one man can enter a synagogue, a peaceful place for reflection, prayer and repentance, and create such terror is alarming. We cannot allow the hateful ideology which encouraged the gunman’s action to flourish. The new ambassador will bring together leading politicians and stakeholders from across Europe to make sure that we are equipped to take action against the Far-right.”
At the Knesset the Conference of European Rabbis met Diaspora and Education Minister, Naftali Bennett and Speaker of Knesset, Yuli Edelstein. The Standing Committee shared their opinion on various projects the Minister for the Diaspora are funding as well as practical applications based on experiences in the Rabbis communities.
The Standing Committee will continue its meeting over the coming days meeting President Rivlin and Ambassadors from various European countries.
About the Conference of European Rabbis:
One thousand years of Jewish life in Europe came almost to a halt during last century, when the great majority of the Jewish community was wiped out by the Nazis, and the remnant of our people living in Eastern Europe and in the Soviet Union were forced into cultural and ethnic assimilation.
The Conference of European Rabbis (CER) is the primary rabbinical alliance in Europe. It unites more than 700 religious leaders of the mainstream synagogue communities in Europe. The conference is designed to maintain and defend the religious rights of Jews in Europe and has become the voice of Judaism for the European continent.
