3 min read
The recent estimates that have seen the world's Jewish population return to near pre-Holocaust levels are fascinating. While the past 70 years have seen a remarkable recovery in numbers, the truth is that the real impact of the Holocaust is not just a numbers game. We have to protect faith communities within Europe.
The Holocaust changed Jews forever. Not just in terms of numbers but the fact that it affected family, friends, leaders and acquaintances meant that the entire Jewish world is never more than one degree of separation from someone who has a personal Holocaust experience.
But we have all been determined not to be defined by the experience. Instead we are proud that we have renewed our communities across the world.
However, today, our communities in Europe find themselves facing two distinct threats. On the one hand, we face danger from extremists, whose very essence is to target members of our faith. On the other hand, as many across Europe are becoming increasingly sceptical of religious extremism they have reacted with a broadside attack against religion, forbidding the wearing of traditional covering for women, attempting to ban religious circumcision and trying to outlaw Kosher and Halal meat .
The threat from extremism is obvious and is only heightened as Daesh grows. While headlines recently focused on Daesh's threats against Hamas, it also said it would ''uproot the state of the Jews.'' This cannot be ignored and there is not a synagogue around Europe that is not aware of the danger that terrorism poses.
But we are now facing an even more serious threat. Since the Second World War, Europe has worked to protect religious freedoms. This has allowed people of all faiths to make Europe their home. But, in recent years, the Continent's first reaction to the threat of extremism has seen wave after wave of attack on our religious freedoms. We should not forget that religion has provided a cultural building block which has allowed our society to develop as it is today.
Let's be clear, restricting religious practice is not going to see an end to extremism. Mainstream Islam is not a violent religion and there is nothing for us as a society to be gained by restricting their right to practise their faith. But where does it all end? Is the aim to drive religion from the shores of Europe?
The devastating results of the genocide in Srebrenica in 1995 showed us what can happen when cultures clash. Last summer, we saw riots on the streets of Paris and we must act now to avoid seeing these scenes escalating to extremes.
If society protects faith communities, then faith communities can and must take the lead in the fight against extremism. Dialogue is essential and we need communities themselves to seek out the extremists from their midst. Nobody knows a community better than those within it and every individual member must understand their responsibility in the fight against extremism.
It is a sad reflection on the concept of family within our society today, that when I see a family telling the public that they had no idea what their child was doing before they joined Daesh, I can believe it. What I cannot believe is that no one in their community knew. Someone should have waved the red flag, someone should have educated them about the peaceful aspects of their religion.
Fighting extremism is only possible if we learn the lesson of the Holocaust and that Europe remains open and free. I firmly believe that faith communities who are at risk of losing their members to extremism are more likely to work with the authorities if they feel that their rights are protected.
That people feel discriminated against because of their faith in the 21st century Europe is ridiculous. By working together to ensure that freedom of religion is maintained we can ensure that our European values are maintained.
Seeing the Jewish population recover from the Holocaust is an amazing step for our community and one that we are all proud of. But it is only through learning the lessons of the Holocaust that faith communities will be able to continue to grow. This may be harder to measure than population growth but the results would be far more significant.
The writer is Moscow's chief rabbi
To get more from opinion, click here to sign up for our free Editor's Picks newsletter.