The Director General of the EAJC addressed a round table on anti-Semitism at the JP Conference

Dr. Haim Ben Yakov, Director General of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC), attended a round table on current challenges in combating antisemitism. The discussion took place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London as part of the Jerusalem Post International Conference “Business, Sports, and Tolerance.”

During the event, the EAJC Director General presented the monograph series “Antisemitism, Tolerance, and Historical Memory in the Post-Soviet Space,” published by the Institute for Euro-Asian Jewish Studies, which operates under the auspices of the Congress.

The public panel also featured Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life; Dr. Felix Klein, Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight against Antisemitism; Raheli Baratz-Rix, Head of the Department for Combating Antisemitism and Enhancing Resilience at the World Zionist Organization; Aaron Keyak, US Deputy Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism; Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America; and Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of Yeshiva University.

According to data presented by the EAJC Director General, prior to the outbreak of the armed conflict in Ukraine, incidents of physical violence motivated by antisemitic ideology were highly uncommon in the post-Soviet space. Nevertheless, occurrences of vandalism against Jewish religious sites were documented annually, with all such incidents investigated by local law enforcement authorities.

However, the majority of antisemitic acts in the post-Soviet space are verbal and are often not recorded as offenses. These include antisemitic remarks, the dissemination of conspiracy theories, and the denial or minimization of the Holocaust.

Furthermore, researchers highlight the phenomenon of latent antisemitism, which frequently manifests in responses to indirect sociological questions. Experts continue to classify “latent” antisemitism as a major factor affecting Jewish communities worldwide. For instance, non-Jewish Russian citizens exhibit less sensitivity to the issue of antisemitism than their Jewish fellow citizens.

“Stereotypes and prejudices regarding Jews remain deep-seated in post-Soviet societies and require rigorous monitoring and analysis,” stated the EAJC Director General. “Particularly now, in this period of heightened tension, it is crucial to closely monitor developments and remain prepared to respond swiftly to urgent challenges and needs.”

The “Business, Sports, and Tolerance” conference is the first international event of its kind hosted at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, focused on economics, politics, and the fight against antisemitism. The forum is attended by high-ranking Israeli and British officials, politicians, diplomats, and business leaders. Among them are leaders of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, President of the World Jewish Congress Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder, Israeli Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Israeli Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, Governor of the Bank of Israel Prof. Amir Yaron, Israeli Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel, Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Nachman Shai, along with other prominent political figures and entrepreneurs.

The conference was sponsored, among others, by the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, the World Zionist Organization, the World Jewish Congress, the Jewish Agency for Israel (Sohnut), and the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.