Washington D.C., Mar 2, 2013 / 16:03 pm
Witnesses at a recent hearing in Washington, D.C., warned that a resurrected anti-Semitism is sweeping the globe and could lead to dire consequences for democratic societies and members of all religions.
"When we fight anti-Semitism it is not only a matter of justice for Jewish fellow-citizens, but also of standing up for Christianity, and for Islam, and for the possibility of decent living itself," said U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-N.J.), who hosted the Feb. 27 hearing.
Smith, who has co-chaired the House Bi-Partisan Coalition for Combating Anti-Semitism for years, has previously authored legislation to create a State Department office to fight anti-Semitism.
Witnesses at the hearing included rabbis, scholars and human rights experts from across the world.
Multiple speakers detailed examples of anti-Semitism in Eastern and Western Europe as well as the Middle East, including efforts to ban kosher slaughter and circumcision. State authorities have often been slow to respond to anti-Semitic attacks, they explained.