“We are witnessing the bonding of the far left to fanatic Islamic groups in France. I fear that tragedies like Toulouse and Brussels will repeat themselves” Said Rabbi Menachem Margolin chairman of the RCE in response to the Pro-Palestinian demonstrations against the Israeli army operation “Tzuk Aitan”.

The Pro- Palestinian demonstrations developed into violence as thousands of demonstrators circled a synagogue in the 11th quarter in Paris while Jews prayed inside. Police arrived and escorted the terrified congregants to safety.

Rabbi Margolin stated that violent events as such are becoming dangerously common in Europe. “I have received dozens of calls from communities pleading to help them from Pro- Palestinian demonstrations. For the first time in years they are afraid to pray in their community synagogue. We are in 2014 and Jews find themselves sieged in their synagogue scared to go home while outside thousands are screaming “Death to Jews” and “We will kill them”. Rabbi Margolin said.

It seems that Europe took Rabbi Margolin seriously. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations ending in violence caused The European Education Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou to announce that every school in the European Union must study one hour per month about racism in order to fight antisemitism. The declaration was a result of the EJA’s proposal.

“Education is the key to European values, and we all wish to abide for the sake of Democracy and pluralism in our society.” writes the European Commissioner for Education Androulla Vassiliou to the European educational ministers. She added “The fight against antisemitism, discrimination and racism must start at a young age. Therefore the school system is the optimal setting to instill tolerance and understanding the other.”

Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs, Chief Rabbi of the Interprovincial Operabbinat, chairman of the Rabbinical Council for the Netherlands and a member of the rabbinical council of Europe met with the Commissioner and stated that she and her staff are attentive and expressed their objection to the anti-Semitic demonstrations.

Rabbi Menachem Margolin thanked the Commissioner Vassiliou for her initiative and stated that “education is the key to prevent acts of hate and atrocious anti-Semitic incidents as the terrorist attack on the Jewish museum in Brussels”.