ϟ ADL Survey In Ten European Countries Finds Anti-Semitism At Disturbingly High Levels
Anti-Semitic attitudes in ten European countries remain at “disturbingly high levels,” according to a new poll from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released today, with large swaths of the population subscribing to classical anti-Semitic notions such as Jews having too much power in business, being more loyal to Israel than their own country, or “talking too much” about what happened during the Holocaust.
Attitudes Toward Jews in Ten European Countries (.pdf), an ADL opinion survey of 5,000 adults – 500 in each of ten European countries – revealed that pernicious anti-Semitic beliefs continue to be held by nearly one-third of those surveyed.
The poll was conducted between Jan. 2-31, 2012 in Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom. The survey has a margin of error of between +/- 4.43 and +/- 4.85, depending on the specific country.
“The survey is disturbing by the fact that anti-Semitism remains at high levels across the continent and infects many Europeans at a much higher level than we see here in the United States,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. ”In Hungary, Spain and Poland the numbers for anti-Semitic attitudes are literally off-the-charts and demand a serious response from political, civic and religious leaders.”
In France, where a shooting at a Jewish school in Toulouse yesterday claimed the lives of three small children and a teacher, the overall level of anti-Semitism increased to 24 percent of the population, an increase from 20 percent in a previous ADL poll conducted in 2009. In France, 45 percent of respondents attributed the violence against European Jews to anti-Jewish feelings, an increase from 39 percent in 2009.
Other findings for France include: 45 percent of the population responded “probably true” to the statement “Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country; 35 percent agreed that “Jews have too much power in the business world; and 35 percent believe that “Jews still talk too much about what happened to them during the Holocaust.
When asked for their opinion about anti-Semitic violence directed against Jews, and whether that violence is the result of anti-Jewish feelings as opposed to anti-Israel sentiment, overall, 39 percent of Europeans responded that it was the result of anti-Jewish sentiments. ”In France, you have a volatile mix,” Mr. Foxman said. ”France has seen an increase in the level of anti-Semitism. At the same time, more people today believe that violence directed against European Jews is fueled by anti-Jewish attitudes as opposed to anti-Israel sentiment. ”Those increases are all the more disturbing in light of the shooting attack at the Jewish school in Toulouse.”
In comparison with a similar ADL poll conducted in 2009, several of the countries showed dangerously high levels in the overall level of anti-Semitism, while other countries experienced more modest increases.
The overall findings among the countries for which comparison data is available:
· Austria experienced a slight decrease, to 28 percent from 30 percent in 2009.
· France: The overall level of anti-Semitism increased to 24 percent of the population, up from to 20 percent in 2009.
· Germany: Anti-Semitism increased by one percentage point, to21 percent of the population.
· Hungary: The level rose to 63 percent of the population, compared with 47 percent in 2009;
· Poland: The number remained unchanged, with 48 percent of the population showing deep-seated anti-Semitic attitudes.
· Spain: Fifty-three percent (53%) percent of the population, compared to 48 percent in 2009.
· United Kingdom: Anti-Semitic attitudes jumped to 17 percentof the population, compared to 10 percent in 2009.
Country-by-Country Findings on Anti-Semitic Attitudes
In responding “probably true” to the statement, “Jews are more loyal to Israel” than their own country, the 2012 survey found:
Austria – 47%, unchanged from 2009
France – 45%, up from 38% in 2009
Germany – 52%, down from 53% in 2009
Hungary – 55%, up from 40% in 2009
Italy – 61% in 2012
Netherlands – 47% in 2012
Norway – 58% in 2012
Poland – 61%, down from 63% in 2009
Spain – 72%, up from 64% in 2009
The United Kingdom – 48%, up from 37% in 2009
In responding “probably true” to the statement, “Jews have too much power in the business world,” the 2012 survey found:
Austria – 30%, down from 36% in 2009
France – 35%, up from 33% in 2009
Germany – 22%, up from 21% in 2009
Hungary – 73%, up from 67% in 2009
Italy – 39% in 2012
The Netherlands – 10% in 2012
Norway – 21% in 2012
Poland – 54%, down from 55% in 2009
Spain – 60%, up from 56% in 2009
The United Kingdom – 20%, up from 15% in 2009
In responding “probably true” to the statement “Jews have too much power in international financial markets,” the 2012 survey found:
Austria – 38%, up from 37% in 2009
France – 29%, up from 27% in 2009
Germany – 24%, up from 22% in 2009
Hungary – 75%, up from 59% in 2009
Italy – 43% in 2012
The Netherlands – 17% in 2012
Norway — 23% in 2012
Poland – 54%, unchanged from 2009
Spain – 67%, down from 74% in 2009
The United Kingdom – 22%, up from 15% in 2009
In responding “probably true” to the statement, “Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust,” the 2012 survey found:
Austria – 45%, down from 55% in 2009
France – 35%, up from 33% in 2009
Germany – 43%, down from 45% in 2009
Hungary – 63%, up from 56% in 2009
Italy – 48% in 2012
The Netherlands – 31% in 2012
Norway – 25% in 2012
Poland – 53%, down from 55% in 2009
Spain – 47%, up from 42% in 2009
The United Kingdom – 24%, up from 20% in 2009
ADL commissioned First International Resources to conduct the survey. Fielded in Europe by Ipsos-Reid Public Affairs, it was conducted in the national language of each country. The margin of error is +/- 4.43 to +/- 4.85, depending on the specific country, at 95% level of confidence.
Via: ADL
ϟ From Antisemite to Hasidic Jew
Pawel Bromson grew up in Poland where he habitually engaged in anti-Semitic activities and, like many of his countrymen, blamed the Jews for the country’s woes.
As a pastime, he and his friends even boarded a train to Auschwitz and vandalized the former concentration camp, where they shouted at staff members that “the genocide should have been bigger,” The National Post reported on Tuesday.
“I wasn’t just anti-Semitic, I was anti-everyone,” Bromson said.
However, Bromson’s story is not that of an anti-Semite prototype.
Fourteen years ago he discovered that his grandparents were Jewish. “I thought my life was finished. It was a catastrophe,” he said.
Like many Jewish families who had survived the Holocaust in Poland, Bromson’s parents hid their religion from their children in order to protect them from persecution, noted the Post.
Over time, Bromson not only accepted the truth regarding his Jewish identity, but also took steps in converting to Judaism, eventually becoming a Hassidic Jew.
When asked about his past, he responds, “Please, don’t ask me. I try to forget, but I can’t.”
He says that while he does still feel comfortable walking around Poland, his long beard and black hat sometimes cast him as an outsider and draw the attention of his fellow Poles.
Deborah Shanowitz, program director at the Chabad of Westmount, said the centre decided to bring Bromson to Montreal because he has a very unusual story.
“He was a neo-Nazi who hated Jews and all minorities,” she noted. “After embarking on a path of finding out what it is to be Jewish, he decided to go back and be like his great-grandfather.”
This idea of allowing yourself to be subjected to G-d’s tests, even if it means your life is endangered, is completely against the Torah. Judaism is a religion that encourages life and living. One must protect their life at almost any cost.
One of the reasons that so many thousands of Jews died during the Holocaust, and why some didn’t actively resist, was because they didn’t expect it to happen. European Jews honestly didn’t think, that “it could happen to them”. They heard horror stories, which they believed were mere “horror stories” and exaggerations.
My own ancestors served in the German Army in World War 1. My great-grandfather was a decorated soldier who fought for the Fatherland. He was a member of the town council. He was respected throughout his town, which was primarily non-Jewish. He did not think that his own country and people would ever turn their back on him, especially when he was prepared to die for it.
There were plenty of Jewish groups which conducted armed struggle against the Nazi regime during World War 2. My own grandfather and his brothers were heavily involved in resistance movements.
These Jews formed their own movements, or joined other resistance movements (not necessarily Jewish) throughout Europe. In addition to this, are numerous attempts of escape and mutiny throughout concentration and death camps, as well as the numerous ghettos throughout Europe.
Check out these links for brief information about Jewish resistance in World War 2.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/grobres.html
Mother and Son on board the death train from Bergen-Belsen liberated at Madgeburg
I find this picture very moving: mothers love to show off their youngsters, no matter what the situation. The little fellow was pleased at having his picture taken. Note the thin legs and brave smile.
Betar Unit with Menachem Begin , Bielsk Podlaski, Poland, 1930’s
Menachem Begin, seated front row center, with glasses.
Pictured here is a group picture from a Chanukah celebration in the Lodz Ghetto, Poland in 1943
Never Again.
The liberation of Auschwitz. (via USHMM)
Morning prayers in the synagogue of Osieciny, Poland.
This photo was taken prior to World War 2. The Jewish community of Osieciny was did not survive the war.
