European Jewish Leadership Unveils New Manifesto to Combat Rising Anti-Semitism

Three years after the October 7 massacre, anti-Semitism in Europe has reached an all-time high. Anti-Israeli demonstrations are spiraling out of control, visible Jewish identity has become a target, and multi-stage governmental programs aimed at healing social fractures are proving to be a resounding failure.

Despite massive funding from the European Union, the Conference of European Rabbis (CER) has concluded that leadership must be taken into its own hands. Ahead of a Rosh Hashanah event in Munich attended by dozens of senior officials, the organization unveiled a new manifesto: a seven-point plan aimed, according to CEO Gadi Gronich, at "moving from talk to action."

The Gap Between Policy and Reality

The European Union views the CER as the primary organization representing European Jewish communities, advocating for their interests before EU institutions on matters of religious freedom, the fight against anti-Semitism, and the promotion of Jewish life across the continent. Despite close ties with the EU—whom Gronich calls "our loyal friends"—the core problem lies within the executive echelons.

"We have a good personal relationship with decision-makers in the European Union. They listen to us, they invite us, we invite them, they come when we invite them. But if you say that because of this positive, nice relationship things change, then no," Gronich explains. "The EU, which receives what we say and supports, at least verbally, what we think and say, lacks the power to influence. It is important for the European Union to provide top-level endorsement; it can recommend and give a directional path, but it cannot compel governments to act. In practice, the entity that can enact real change we can feel is the local government."

Consequently, Europe's largest Jewish lobby is not sitting idly by. It is bringing issues before EU officials and local government ministers that directly affect Jewish communities while broadly impacting the overall lifestyle in Europe.

Combating Radical Islam and Extremism

One of the pressing issues concerning European leaders—including non-EU members such as the United Kingdom—is the phenomenon of the Muslim Brotherhood. To address this, the CER established an affiliate organization called IFFSE, the Institute for Faith and Security in Europe, which combines research with active operational measures.

"We established an affiliate organization called IFFSE—the Institute for Faith and Security in Europe. Part of the organization's activity is the combination of a research institute and action," Gronich details. The organization's work revolves around two main pillars: interfaith dialogue and security. "One of the matters we handled very intensively was the issue of the Muslim Brotherhood. We possess materials regarding the Muslim Brotherhood's activities in Europe, including money laundering, the identities of influential figures at the top of this story in Europe, how funds flow from point X to Europe, and how their involvement in European politics is manifested."

Despite presenting these findings to security agencies in Germany and across Europe over the past four years, Gronich notes that the response has been lackluster, often met with stalling tactics or a reluctance to delve into controversial socio-political dynamics.

Reforming Religious Leadership

The organization has also placed the role of local imams on the agenda. Amid rising extremism in mosques, particularly among the younger generation and in the wake of October 7, the IFFSE investigated the reliance on foreign-appointed religious leaders.

According to Gronich, out of approximately 2,400 imams working in Germany, nearly 2,000 receive salaries paid by the Turkish Ministry of Culture through organizations like DITIB. To curb the importation of foreign religious figures and foster local leadership aligned with European values, alternative academic training frameworks have been proposed across European universities, though bureaucratic stagnation in Brussels continues to delay implementation.

The Threat of Street Sentiment

Beyond institutional politics, Gronich emphasizes that the greatest danger emanates from the shifting sentiment on European streets. Following polarizing media narratives and critical political rhetoric regarding Israel, local Jewish populations are routinely conflated with the policies of the Israeli government.

"The street translates the criticism by the EU and European decision-makers against the Israeli government differently, and lumps us into the same category. The street uses this to express criticism against us and attack us," Gronich warns. He stresses that European leaders must clearly distinguish between the safety of Jewish diaspora communities and legitimate political discourse surrounding the Israeli administration.