World Jewish Congress hails EU’s declaration on anti-Semitism
The World Jewish Congress (WJC) on Thursday welcomed the adoption of a declaration by the Council of the European Union on the fight against antisemitism and the development of a common security approach to protect Jewish communities and institutions in Europe.
The declaration, agreed by ministers of interior from the 28 EU Member States at Thursday’s meeting of the Council of the European Union, calls on EU Member States to take steps to ensure security for Jewish communities, institutions, and citizens; to emphasize the importance of Holocaust commemoration and education; calls on all EU member states which have not already done so to endorse the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism in the fields of law enforcement, education and training; and calls on the European Commission and Europol to pay particular attention to online antisemitism and to content advocating antisemitic terrorist offenses.
The WJC has worked closely for many months with the Austrian government authorities and the European institutions, in close coordination with the Austrian Jewish Community and the European Jewish Congress, in developing the declaration’s content. WJC representatives also held over 100 meetings with representatives of EU member states and EU officials and also testified before the EU’s Justice and Home Affairs Council so as to emphasize and explain the critical importance of the declaration’s adoption.
WJC President Ronald S. Lauder said: “I strongly welcome the decision by the Council of the European Union to adopt this important declaration on the fight against antisemitism and the protection of Jewish communities. Just days after polling revealed that antisemitism continues to haunt Europe, and with the memory of the Holocaust fading, this declaration is a clear recognition by the governments of all EU Member States that serious action, both politically and practically, is needed to deal with the clear and specific challenges posed by this ancient hatred. We look forward to continuing to engage with both the EU institutions and the governments of the EUMember States to inform this serious work going forward.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz for the leadership he has shown on this issue – this declaration will serve as an important point of reference in the years to come. I hope that the European Council will now also appoint a Coordinator on Combatting Antisemitism, to follow up on this important first step. Jewish citizens of Europe have the right to the same sense of security and wellbeing as any other European citizens.” — From World Jewish Congress
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U.N’s failure to condemn Hamas is ‘illogical’ — Jack Rlsen, AJ Congress
Jack Rosen, who heads the American Jewish Congress, issued this statement on the United Nations vote on Hamas:
Yesterday (Thursday), the United Nations came closer than ever before to finally condemning the terrorist group Hamas. In other words, it failed. For the first time, a majority in the UN voted to condemn Hamas – yet it was not the necessary two-thirds.
This failure to condemn Hamas is so illogical, so backward, it is nearly farcical. Hamas is an organization that proudly advocates genocide and wears its bigotry as a badge. Children and families in southern Israel live in fear of Hamas rockets striking their homes and their schools. Palestinian and Israeli civilians alike suffer at the hands of Hamas, and the residents of Gaza most of all. This is not a perspective; it is the objective truth.
The United Nations passes more condemnations of Israel than for all other nations combined. Yet over the decades, it has never once condemned a group that flaunts its cruelty. Yesterday the international community decided it could not unite against the killing of innocents if some of those innocents are Israelis. The UN has become an arena for political posturing, where morals and values are set aside in favor of pride and self-righteousness.
I will remain cautiously optimistic. That the condemnation received majority support is significant, and I hope it is a sign that members of the international community are coming to their senses, one by one. Some of that credit is certainly owed to Ambassador Nikki Haley, who has fought valiantly for the UN to return to reason. I hope the day comes soon when all of us can come together to say that the slaughter of innocents is wrong. But until then, we have little to celebrate. — From American Jewish Congress
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Ezer Mizion celebrates 3,000th bone marrow transplant
Ezer Mizion, the largest Jewish bone marrow registry in the world, has recently celebrated a major milestone. It has passed the 3,000 mark of transplants. That’s three thousand patients whose lives were saved! Three thousand families who remained whole! Three thousand grandmas and grandpas, Mommies and Daddies and so many tiny, frightened children traveled in one fateful moment from agony to joy, fueled by the electrifying words: We have a genetic match!
Currently there are close to a million registrants on the database. Prior to the birth of Ezer Mizion, the chances of a Jewish person finding a match were approximately 8%. Now 76% of the requests are returned with a positive response. — From Ezer Mizion
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Preceding culled from news releases. Please send yours to editor@sdjewishworld.com