The two and a half years of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as well as the year since Hamas began its attack on Israel, have resulted in injuries and deaths for the Ukrainian and Israeli people, and both tragedies are deeply intertwined with the global rise of anti-Semitism.
This has been stated by the European Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism, Katharina von Schnurbein, speaking at the Fifth Kyiv Jewish Forum.
“The level of anti-Semitism was already alarmingly high before the Hamas attacks. With the outbreak of Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine, which exacerbated anti-Semitic sentiments after the Hamas pogrom and the war that broke out in Gaza, anti-Semitism has grown rapidly,” Schnurbein said.
She noted that Europe has seen a significant increase in the number of hate incidents targeting Jews. These include arson attacks on Jewish buildings, including synagogues, and physical attacks on Jews, their homes, restaurants, and shops. Across Europe, Holocaust monuments have been defaced with false comparisons between Jews and Nazis, thereby trivializing the Shoah (Shoah in Hebrew means catastrophe or destruction and is used to refer to the Holocaust – Ed.)
“Almost all Jews in the EU now face anti-Semitism online or offline, and eight out of ten avoid wearing or displaying objects that could identify them as Jews in public. The incidents that we have seen over the past year have reminded us of the darkest page in the history of Europe. Perhaps for the first time in the long and painful history of anti-Semitism on this continent, we are not only fighting anti-Semitism, but also actively contributing to the development of Jewish life,” Schnurbein informed.
According to her, the European Commission has taken measures to support the Ukrainian Jewish community. Thus, in 2023, the Commission allocated 1.4 million euros to provide first aid, protection, and evacuation of people, including the Holocaust survivors, to safe places in Ukraine and the EU. In addition, 7 million euros were allocated to combat anti-Semitism and preserve Jewish heritage in Ukraine.
“Our ultimate goal is to ensure that Jews can live without security concerns and lead their lives in accordance with their religious and cultural traditions, like everyone else. And just like the Jewish community in Ukraine and Europe, we continue to fully support the people of Ukraine in their fight against the aggressor,” said the European Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism.
As you know, the Kyiv Jewish Forum is organized by the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine, headed by Boris Lozhkin, who is also the Vice President of the World Jewish Congress, and by The Jerusalem Post.
This year, the main venue for holding The Fifth Kyiv Jewish Forum is Washington, D.C. The media partners of KJF-2024 are NV, Oboz.ua, RBC-Ukraine, Telegraf.ua, Inter.
Let’s recall that KJF-2024 opened with an opening speech by Boris Lozhkin, President of the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine, Vice President of the World Jewish Congress. In particular, he reminded that during the previous term of Donald Trump, Ukraine began to receive more actively military support, which subsequently helped to counter Russian aggression.