The above statement was made by the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Trovioren Yagland, in a speech he made before the participants of the 28th three-day convention of the Conference of European Rabbis on the subject of "Future Challenges Facing European Jewry." The convention of the Conference of European Rabbis, which took place this year in Berlin, culminated on Tuesday and was attended by 200 of the most prominent rabbonim and dayonim who dealt with an agenda of varied subjects concerning European Jewry today.
A month ago, the European Council decided that bris milah constitutes injury to a child and should be outlawed. This important discussion was chaired by the Vice President of Lauder Foundation and founder of Yeshivas Berlin, Rabbi Yehoshua Spinner, and Mrs. Joelle Aflallo and Mr. Albert Aflallo, heads of the Matanel Fund and the Chuliya Organization.
The president of the Conference, HaRav Pinchos Goldschmidt, said to Yagland that his presence in the discussion of the European rabbis and judges regarding the future of European Jewry represents the liberal and democratic foundation of the European Council and its hopes for the future. "Thank you for coming to remind us that Jews are still welcome in Europe, and that European institutions will work to protect the rights of Jews on this continent."
HaRav Goldschmidt added, "I would like to be very open regarding what is taking place in Europe. There is an intolerant and anti-religious war being waged between Islam and Europe and we Jews, stuck in the middle, understand that it doesn't concern us but that it should behoove you, as a lesson from the past, to curb the harsh phenomena which threaten the foundations of our existence. These initiatives are not devoid of anti-Semitism and you must do so, primarily for your own benefit."
