“A Day Does Not Pass Without Attacks”: Rabbi Goldschmidt Warns of Surging Political Antisemitism in Europe
In a stark warning about the state of European society, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis, has revealed that antisemitism in Europe has surged dramatically since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led assault on Israel. Speaking to Euronews, Goldschmidt described not only an increase in physical attacks but also the dangerous normalization of anti-Jewish sentiment as a political weapon, creating a climate where many Jews now feel compelled to hide their identity.
Concealing Identity: The New Reality for European Jews
Rabbi Goldschmidt paints a disturbing picture of daily life for Jewish communities across Europe. “A day does not pass where we do not hear about attacks against Jews and Jewish institutions,” he states, underscoring the growing climate of hostility and fear. Reports of verbal abuse, vandalism, and even physical assaults have become alarmingly routine, creating a sense of unease that permeates everyday life.
This pervasive fear has led to a heartbreaking trend: many Jews are now concealing visible signs of their faith in public spaces. What was once worn proudly—kippahs, Star of David necklaces, and other religious symbols—is now often tucked away, replaced by a quiet caution. This behavioral shift marks not just a loss of religious freedom, but also a deep emotional and cultural wound. It reveals the extent to which Jewish communities feel alienated within their own societies, forced to balance the simple act of self-expression against the fundamental need for personal safety.
Enhanced Security Measures and Their Limitations
In response to the escalating threats, European governments have implemented strengthened security around Jewish institutions. Across Western Europe particularly, synagogues and Jewish community centers now routinely feature police and sometimes military protection.
Goldschmidt acknowledges these efforts, noting that in countries like Germany, authorities have successfully foiled plots targeting Jewish sites before they could be executed. However, he emphasizes that despite these protective measures, a “constant danger” persists. The October 2, 2025 attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Manchester—where a combination of car ramming and stabbing on Yom Kippur left one dead and several seriously injured—underscores the ongoing vulnerability. British police are treating the incident as a terrorist attack.
The Political Weaponization of Antisemitism
Perhaps Goldschmidt’s most alarming concern is how antisemitism has become politically instrumentalized. He observes that anti-Jewish sentiment is increasingly becoming “politically correct,” with political groups across the spectrum feeling emboldened to use antisemitic tropes for their agendas.
While far-right parties often embed antisemitism in rhetoric about “immigrants” and “identity politics,” Goldschmidt notes this isn’t exclusively a right-wing phenomenon. Multiple political factions are employing similar tactics, leveraging fear and hatred of Jews to appeal to voters, shift blame in policy debates, or score political points—particularly in discussions about immigration, foreign policy, and social cohesion.
Beyond Security: The Need for Political Responsibility
While security measures provide essential protection, Goldschmidt argues they represent only a partial solution. The deeper problem lies in the political exploitation of antisemitism, whether through rallying against Muslim immigration, using Jewish fear for political advantage, or downplaying hate speech.
For Goldschmidt, lasting solutions require profound political responsibility. Parties across the spectrum must refrain from opportunistic use of antisemitism, governments must reinforce legal protections, and civil society must actively combat normalization of hate speech. The ability of Jewish people to live openly without fear is not just a Jewish concern but a barometer for democratic pluralism itself.
The protection of religious identity, Goldschmidt concludes, is central not only to Jewish safety but to the fundamental health of European democracies. As political tensions continue and antisemitism becomes increasingly mainstreamed in public discourse, the challenge extends beyond physical protection to preserving the very principles of inclusive, pluralistic societies.
