The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, points out that Europe is experiencing an outbreak of anti-Semitism after the unprecedented attack launched by Hamas on October 7, underlining the importance of remembering the Holocaust at a time when the Jewish community lives intimidated and harassed.

In a statement on the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which falls today, Saturday, The community president has assured that after the serious attacks by Hamas against Israel, the commemoration of the Holocaust “has acquired a new meaning.”

Jews are being intimidated, harassed and attacked on the street, at school and at university

“European Jews once again live in anguish: No parent should be afraid to send their child to school. Jews are being intimidated, harassed and attacked on the street, at school and at university. Synagogues have been vandalized. “Jewish cemeteries have been desecrated,” she denounced.

Von der Leyen has assured that the outbreak of anti-Semitism that Europe is experiencing “recalls the darkest period in our history.” However, he has defended that Europe now stands “shoulder with the Jewish communities and there is no place for anti-Semitic hatred.”

It is for all these reasons that the leader of the European Executive has defended promoting Jewish life and allowing it to “flourish in public” as a strategy to fight against anti-Semitism. “We cannot accept that Jews hide their identity”he stressed.

Faced with the disappearance of Holocaust survivors, the German conservative has asked to find new forms of commemoration and apply new teaching methods, emphasizing places of remembrance. “They must be preserved and used for educational and commemorative purposes. We must remember how it all began: anti-Semitism and hatred led to the Shoah,” she noted.