Why did we establish this Network?
Last Update: 2019
Heinous terror attacks in France, Denmark, and Germany to Synagogues and Jewish institutions sparked apprehension not only among Jewish communities but also for anyone concerned about hate and violence. Some recent researches suggest antisemitism should not be just seen as an isolated terror threat; it is manifested in discriminatory behaviors in everyday life.[1]
If we look at the bright side of the picture, we can see many governmental and non-governmental endeavors to fight antisemitism. However, a multi-faceted problem needs to be countered in multiple ways. Among many, education on current antisemitism is often a neglected area. Even though there are scattered endeavors around Europe, these are not mostly steady nor coordinated on the civil society level.[2]
In this vein, international organizations like UNESCO and OSCE identified the necessity of addressing antisemitism through education.[3] Similarly, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union underlined the vitality of educational measures to combat antisemitism, including measures strengthening civil society actors.[4]
We understand education as an essential, although not the sole, tool to counter antisemitism and aim to bring together civil society organizations that have programs in the context of formal education or informal and non-formal learning.
[1] Experiences and perceptions of antisemitism: Second survey on discrimination and hate crime against Jews in the EU (Rep.). (2019). Luxembourg: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.
[2] Mostly, Holocaust education prevails in the scene. Though, even there are severe problems in that scene of Holocaust education. For instance, in Germany, 40% of young adults know almost nothing about the Holocaust. https://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/28/europe/germany-anti-semitism-education-intl/index.html
[3] Look at Addressing Anti-Semitism through education: Guidelines for policymakers. (2018). Paris: UNESCO and Warsaw: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. UNESCO Executive Board decided to put education against violent extremism on its priority list (197 EX/Decision 46, November 23, 2016)
[4] Resolution 2017/2692, June 1, 2017; EU Council Declaration on the Fight against Antisemitism, December 6, 2018.
