Israel’s new education minister was sharply criticised after he compared intermarriage among Jews in the United States to a “second Holocaust”.
Rafi Peretz, a member of the United Right List, made the remark during a recent cabinet meeting discussing the state of world Jewry.
The session had been convened to discuss issues affecting diaspora Jews, including the growing threat of antisemitism, according to the journalist Barak Ravid on Israel’s Channel 13 news.
But Mr Peretz was reported to have said “assimilation is like a second Holocaust” and his spokesman confirmed the remark on Tuesday.
It triggered a furious response from Jewish groups in the United States.
The American Jewish Committee said Mr Peretz’s comments were “offensive and unhelpful”, while Jonathan Greenblatt from the Anti-Defamation League said they were “inconceivable”.
Assimilation challenges Jewish continuity and Diaspora identification with Israel and must be grappled with. Minister Peretz’s comments, however, are offensive and unhelpful.
— AJC (@AJCGlobal) July 9, 2019
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Meanwhile, political analyst Arsen Ostrovsky said the remarks were “indeed most unfortunate” but added that the minister’s wider point “remains — sadly — accurate. The alarming rate of intermarriage is a very dangerous trend, with many young Jews becoming increasingly detached.”
Mr Peretz, who leads the Jewish Home party, recently announced the United Right List would run again in the September 17 election.
The far-right Tkuma party has already confirmed its participation, but it is unclear whether the Kahanist Otzma Yehudit will be part of the alliance again.
