In the 10 days following the brutal murders of three small children and a rabbi at a French Jewish school, therewere 90 anti-Semitic hate crimes across France — a spike of 40%. “I used an Uzi, an Israeli pistol, to kill Israelis … I killedJewsin France as these are the same Jews who kill innocents in Palestine,” Mohamed Merah, the murderer boasted to policebefore dying.
Following a Cologne Judge's decision to criminalize the Jewish ritual of circumcision (brit milah), callsto ban circumcision have spread across Europe, and led anti-Semites in Germany to lodge criminal complaints against rabbis who have performed thousandsof circumcisions.
In Holland, the SWC has urged the conservative Freedom Party’s leader to drop the party's national platformto ban the ritual slaughter of animals (shechita) emphasizing that such a ban
Germany’s Justice Minister Leuthuesser-Schnarrenberger with Dr. Shimon Samuels,SWC International Relations Director & Rabbi Abraham Cooper, SWC Associate Dean - August 2012
French Interior Minister Valls with Rabbi Cooper, Dr. Samuels and Richard Odier, President, SWC France - August2012
“will further encourage and empower anti-Semitism across Europe.” The Simon Wiesenthal Center has taken direct action - visiting frontline Jewish communities and having face-to-face meetings with toppolitical and intelligence officials, religious leaders, and briefings for the media:
• In Toulouse, Marseilles, Lyons and Paris:SWC officials met with government officials, policecommanders, Jewish and Muslim community leaders, and victims and their families who were targeted for attacks because they are Jews
• In Berlin: Germany’s Justice Minister Sabine Leuthuesser-Schnarrenberger confirmed to SWCofficialsGermany’s commitment to insure the right of Jewish parents to circumcise theirinfant sons
• In Paris: France’s new Interior Minister Manuel Valls detailed to SWC officials his commitmentto do what is necessary to protect French Jews and their institutions
• In Oslo: During a tense meeting with Norway's influential Ombudsman for Children’s Rights, who opposescircumcision, Center officials defended the historic rite of brit milah; later, State Secretary Larson promised Center officials and thePresident of Jewish community that no anti-circumcision bill will be passed
The situation in Europe is complex and fluid. We need you to be our partner so that we can continue to rapidly andeffectively take action wherever and whenever it is called for.
As a supporter of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, you will be:
1. Standing in solidarity with European Jewry and defending core Jewish values once again under attackacross the continent.
2. Ensuring that the SWC can continue to effectively fight against anti-Semitism that effects Jewswherever they live.
Today, the situation in Europe is critical — please helpensure that the Simon Wiesenthal Center continuesits effective frontline activities in Europe and beyond.
