World Jewish News

Hannah Rosenthal, who was named in 2009 by President Barack Obama US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, will address the Second Conference on Jewish Media in Europe in Brussels

Second Brussels Conference on Jewish Media in Europe to discuss how to use media in the fight against anti-Semitism

The United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, Hannah Rosenthal, German Member of the European Parliament Elmar Brok and Israel's ambassador to the EU Ran Curiel will be keynote speakers at the Second Conference on Jewish Media in Europe next Monday in Brussels.
The full-day conference, organized for the second consecutive year by the European Jewish Press (EJP), will focus on "the role and the use of the media in a world of growing anti-Semitism."
Professionals, government and EU officials, leaders of Jewish communities and organizations, specialists, media representatives… will debate, exchange views and raise new ideas on the issue of anti-Semitism which is regularly coming up in the news not only in the form of physical attacks and intimidations in the streets against Jews wearing the kippah or skullcap, desecrations of cemeteries, vandalizing of synagogues, anti-Semitic graffiti but also in statements and declarations by politicians and public figures so-called "respectable anti-Semitism."
In 2006, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights released the following EU working definition of anti-Semitism: "Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities."
It added: "In addition, such manifestations could also target the state of Israel, concveived as a Jewish collectivity. Anti-Semitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for 'why things go wrong'. It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits."
How to deal today with growing extreme right parties throughout Europe ? Why are Jews voting for these parties ? Is delegitimization of the Jewish state of Israel the ‘new anti-Semitism" as reports noted that anti-Semitic incidents worldwide peaked in 2009 in the aftermath of the Israeli operation against Hamas in Gaza ? Why is Holocaust denial still existing in public and academic discourse and on Internet 65 years after the Nazi mass extermination of the Jewish people. What is the limit for free expression ? Are EU bodies doing enough to combat anti-Semitism ? What’s the difference between anti-Semitism and Islamophobia ? How to oppose hate and bigotry and promote tolerance ? Are Jewish organizations and institutions playing their role ? Why are Jews in Sweden’s Malmö living the city ? Is there a future for Jews in Europe ? All these questions and many others will be discussed by the panelists and the public from diverse European countries but also from Israel and the US. They will confront the audience with their own experience and come up with practical cases.
The debate will also be an occasion to network and discuss with journalists thoughts and ideas on how to increase and bolster the particular and crucial role played by the Jewish media in changing times for Europe and the Jewish world.
The Conference takes place on June 20, 2011 at the EU Jewish building, Rue Froissart 109 . It is open to the public. For registration, please send an email to office@ejpress.org or register directly via the EJP homepage (www.ejpress.org)

EJP