Romberg: Anti-Semitism is underreported story in Europe
This past Friday night and Saturday morning, when most Jews attended religious services celebrating the Sabbath, Jews in Tallahassee were able to do something that many French Jews were not able to do – pray in their synagogues. For the first time since the Nazi occupation of Paris during World War II, the Grand Synagogue of Paris did not have Friday night services. It was shut for security reasons.
Much press has been rightfully given to the attack by Muslim extremists on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. But the underreported story is the rise of anti-Semitism in France and across Europe. The Jewish community is experiencing a frightening sense of déjà vu.
Let’s begin with France. In 1999 there were about 80 reported anti-Semitic incidents. In each of the last 15 years there were a minimum of 400. The first seven months of 2014 recorded over 600. Jews are less than one percent of the French population (estimates are between 500,000 and 600,000 Jews). Yet they are the victims of 50 percent of crimes classified by the French government as racist.
Within one week this past summer, eight synagogues were attacked in France. One was firebombed. A kosher supermarket and a Jewish-owned pharmacy were smashed and looted. The 400-strong mob shouted, “Death to Jews” and “Slit Jews’ throats.” Last week, in the wake of the murders at Charlie Hebdo, two of the perpetrators held a group of Jews hostage at a kosher supermarket in east Paris, killing four before being killed themselves.
Jews used to regularly attend the French public schools. Now most attend religious oriented schools, mostly Jewish. However many are even going to Catholic administered schools. Given the pre-Vatican II history of anti-Semitism by the church, it is ironic that French Jews should feel safe in a Catholic environment.
more: http://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/readers/2015/01/12/romberg-anti-semitism-underreported-story-europe/21666227/