European group launches to fill ‘pressing gap in fight against antisemitism’

Too little is known about antisemitism’s transnational nature “and a detailed comparison between European countries is not possible,” said a founding member of the group.

David Swindle

(JNS)

The European Network on Monitoring Antisemitism, which launched last week, aims “to fill a pressing gap in the fight against antisemitism: The need for improved data collection on antisemitic incidents,” according to a news release.

It added that “ENMA aims to become a Europe-wide gateway to data on antisemitism.”

The network, which receives funding from the European Union and support from the Alfred Landecker Foundation, was founded by the German Federal Association of Department for Research and Information on Antisemitism (Bundesverband RIAS); the Austrian Reporting Centre for Antisemitism of the Jewish Community Vienna; and the Polish Jewish Association Czulent.

“Antisemitism is on the rise in Europe, but too little is known about its transnational dimension,” stated Benjamin Steinitz, executive director of Bundesverband RIAS. “For the first time, comparable data about antisemitism across various European countries will be made available. Our efforts are coordinated with key Jewish umbrella organizations and will improve the reporting infrastructure for antisemitic incidents.”

Steinitz told JNS that the surge in Jew-hatred in Europe “is clearly shown by the shocking surge of antisemitic incidents across Europe in the aftermath of the Hamas massacres on Oct. 7.”

“By mid-2025, for the first-time comparable data about antisemitism across various European countries will be made available,” Steinitz predicted, calling the network “without a doubt a game changer in the European landscape on antisemitism research and prevention.”

“You need to make antisemitism visible in order to be able to fight it,” stated Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life.