A seat at the table: Discussing Jewish issues in Europe - opinion

This rabbinic organization is almost 70 years old. It was founded to unify and strengthen ruined Jewish communities throughout Europe in the aftermath of the Holocaust and continues to help rabbis, their communities, and European Jewry as a whole.

Our Munich gathering, held at the Westin Grand Hotel, was not without a political storm.

So, what went on at these meetings?

Of course, we discussed urgent communal and political matters that, for reasons of confidentiality, must remain within the closed confines of the conference. Following the best of rabbinic tradition, we tied the timely and the timeless together, and dealt with trials and tragedy as well as successes.

We heard a firsthand account from the rabbi of Kyiv about the Jewish population in the capital of Ukraine, still active and engaged despite effectively living in a warzone. They face missile barrages and immense pressures, such as conscription demands. Just last week, as has been reported, the thankfully empty heder, the Jewish religious primary school of the city, a magnificent building, took a direct hit.

We also heard an overview of the legal cases being dealt with by the European Beit Din, from Latvia to Spain, such as issues relating to Jewish conversions or family law. The CER’s European Beth Din serves to fill the void of Jewish legal judgment and expertise in countries lacking a suitable apparatus for this, helping people in places far from an organized Jewish community in whatever Jewish journey or halachic knot they may find themselves in.

Another item raised at the gathering dealt with poignant issues concerning Jewish burial in Europe, including heart-wrenching mentions of the crematorium and the ashes of Jewish victims of the Holocaust. They discussed education, kosher food, and Shabbat observance, as well as AI, new technologies, also delving into other significant matters of rabbinic concern.

Of course, the plight of the State of Israel, under attack by Iranian bombs as we speak, was at the fore and in the background of the proceedings. Psalms were recited in supplication and members of the Conference, including the general secretary and the UK’s chief rabbi, joined via Zoom from Israel, listening to the discussions while also running to shelters and safe rooms.

Rabbi Zvi Rimon, chief rabbi of Gush Etzion, also spoke to the rabbis about Jewish legal questions posed from the battlefronts in Israel, painful and inspiring examples of Jewish commitment.

We discussed the political responses we would undertake regarding European nations and their stance on or silence toward Israel’s necessary actions.

We also issued a public statement calling on European member states to support Israel in its military actions against Iran.

Some European leaders have begun to show clarity.

In short, the CER conference was far more than a corporate gathering or a company meeting of another kind. Chief rabbis from across the continent, from Austria, Turkey, Greece, Poland, and more, put their minds and hearts together to improve Jewish communal and religious life in Europe, despite the challenges today.

Loaded in every issue were aspects of public relations and public affairs, which is why we were there. How do we advocate best for Jewish life? Which governments need to be spoken to as a priority to ensure Jewish communities are supported? What issues do we bring up to the media?

I was privileged to have a chair in the room, watching, writing, learning from, and participating with this reputable organization and its members. Thank you to those who came and organized, including to Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt and CEO Gady Gronich.