Antony Lerman – How serious a threat is antisemitism?


April 15, 2009
Richard Kuper

lerman

The Guardian, Comment is Free, 13 April 2009

I don’t think many would disagree that the Jewish press, various websites, some prominent columnists in national newspapers and the all-party parliamentary committee against antisemitism give the impression that the major threat to the Jewish community in the UK, and communities elsewhere in Europe, is antisemitism. Statements made by some Jewish defence organisations in America, as well as antisemitism research centres in Israel and Israeli government spokespersons, reinforce this view.

What, then, should we make of the results of an online survey of the views of Jewish leaders and opinion-formers in 31 European countries on the major challenges and issues concerning European Jewish communities? Asked what were the most serious threats facing their communities, they ranked antisemitism ninth in a list of 12 items. The first eight threats were all internal: for example, loss of Jewish identity, lack of Jewish knowledge and declining numbers.

Full article

© Copyright JFJFP 2024