Despite the efforts to combat anti-Semitism, a positive result has not been achieved yet. Vladimir Sloutsker talks on ways to eliminate anti-Semitism.
Despite the efforts of the Congress and Jewish communities, the level of hatred towards the Jewish population is constantly growing in Europe. Vladimir Sloutsker, the president of the Israeli-Jewish Congress, emphasizes the importance of this burning problem. In the first half of the year, more than 750 attacks against the Jews already occurred in Great Britain. This is the highest statistics since 1984 when such monitoring first began. It is alarming that the number of anti-Semitic attacks is continuously increasing.
The world is trying to fight against attacks but the problem is that actions are not aimed at eradicating violence, but only at minimizing them. We need to find a clever, integrated and creative approach to solve the problem. Lord-Rabbi Jonathan Sachs, the former Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, defined anti-Semitism as a mutating virus that needs to be treated as soon as possible.
According to Mr. Sloutsker, the combat of anti-Semitism requires a sophisticated approach. The problem should concern not only the Jewish communities but also the population of the whole world.
First of all, it is necessary to pay attention to education as it will play a key role in the fight against anti-Semitism. Governments of all countries, including European ones, should ensure that young people understand how terrible crimes committed on the basis of hatred are. It is also necessary to simplify the notification procedure for such crimes and acts of violence.
All of us need to understand that no one is born with hatred. Hate manifests itself throughout life, people learn it. It is very important to change the thinking of young people. This can be done not only through teaching the history of the Holocaust, anti-Semitism, but it is also important to focus on the contribution the Jewish people into the development of culture and prosperity of European countries.
Vladimir Sloutsker emphasizes that in modern world hatred is directed not only against the Jewish population but at other minorities. Therefore, it is very important that the Jewish community continues to cooperate with other religious groups worldwide. This will help to develop a new way of combating hatred. As Katharina von Shnurbeyn, the EU coordinator for combating anti-Semitism said the entire society should fight anti-Semitism, not just Jews.
One of the fundamental factors in the battle against anti-Semitism is the adoption of a clear definition of this concept. If there is no definition of a phenomenon, then the struggle will be ineffective. The definition of anti-Semitism should be universal and supported throughout Europe. Britain became the first country to adopt and endorse the definition of anti-Semitism
Another important thing that should not be discarded during the fight against hatred is information sharing. Now the importance of the internet cannot be taken for granted. It has become the main place for hate spreading. But at the same time internet platforms are a great way to attract a new audience and to direct its powers to fight hatred and anti-Semitism.
The Israeli-Jewish Congress emphasizes that proactive actions are needed in the fight against anti-Semitism. All forms of hatred must be stopped. The EU position is based on tolerance, openness, and tolerance. In this regard, the EU governments should support a sophisticated approach to fighting anti-Semitism, by providing all the necessary resources to combat hatred in society.
