Fear: most European Jews hide their identity

Most European Jews are afraid to reveal their identities, according to a new survey conducted in Europe.

A survey conducted by RCE in a representative sample of 179 communities in Eastern and Western Europe found that 70% of Europe's Jews now avoid exposing their religion, and about 85% of them will not bring their children to the synagogue to hear the shofar on Rosh Hashanah.

CEO of the Association of European Jewish Organizations, Rabbi Menachem Margolin said that rabbis and community leaders report that against the shadow of growing anti-Semitism and nationalist atmosphere in view of waves of Muslim immigration, there has been a marked decline during the year of the number of Jews who participate in community activities.

"Rabbis and community leaders from around the continent report that unfortunately more and more Jews refrain from publicly identifying with Judaism," says Rabbi Margolin.

"Most young people whose parents avoid identification as Jews will not maintain any connection to the Jewish people and their homeland. This is a serious trend not only in terms of European Jewry but also a strategic problem of the State of Israel".

"We are coping now facing a pincer movement," he said, "on the one hand - waves of repeated harassment against the anti-Israel backdrop whose expressions are outright anti- Semitic, and on the other, especially in light of what has already been seen as assimilation of many cities across the continent - a foul wave of nationalism and xenophobia".

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!