"The scale of anti-Semitism in Europe is far worse than reported"

"The reported cases of anti-Semitism are just the tip of the iceberg," says Rabbi Menachem Margolin in a letter to all interior ministers
Una manifestación contra el antisemitismo en Berlín el 10 de diciembre - MICHELE TANTUSSI / AFP
A demonstration against anti-Semitism in Berlin on 10 December - MICHELE TANTUSSI / AFP

The Chairman of the Brussels-based European Jewish Association (EJA) has written to every European Minister of the Interior urging them to simplify the reporting of antisemitic acts. 

Rabbi Menachem Margolin, the chairman of the EJA is contending that the already massive spikes of antisemitism across Europe post October 7th, up by 1000% in some countries, still only represents “the tip of the Iceberg.”

The EJA Chairman wants to see a simplified procedure for reporting, and suggests an online reporting form available that Jews who are subjected to an antisemtic act can file a report on, and that police can monitor and follow up on.

In his letter, Rabbi Margolin said;

“It is a regrettable truth, but a truth nonetheless that most Jewish people who have been subjected to an antisemitic incident, do not bother to report it. 

“There are a number of reasons why this is the case. In many instances, antisemitism, particularly vocal, is an everyday occurrence. 

“There is often little hope of any meaningful outcome either, meaning that many of those affected see little point in reporting it.

“Finally, and perhaps most importantly, reporting antisemitism means taking the time to go to the nearest police station, sitting down for an interview and filling out lengthy paperwork. 

“Combined, these factors are masking  what we at the European Jewish Association believe is the tip of the antisemitic iceberg.

“I urge you to expedite a simplified procedure for reporting antisemitism. The most obvious solution is an online form where victims can report, leave all the necessary details, then allow the forces of law and order to follow up.

“We believe that the real levels of antisemitism across Europe are much,much  worse than are being reported. To get a proper handle on it, we need to first understand the scope and scale of what we are dealing with. Just like an iceberg, antisemitism in Europe today  is only partly visible on the surface”, Rabbi Margolin concluded.