Today, lively discussions are taking place in EU countries on the Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life (2021-2030).

Fostering Jewish life - this point of the EU Strategy generates the most discussion. While support for educational programs and Holocaust memory, as well as the fight against anti-Semitism, are areas where the state has long been actively involved, this direction is only being discussed. How can the state help revive Jewish life in EU countries?

First of all, this is the program of restitution of Jewish property. If buildings that once belonged to communities and were unjustly seized are returned to them, it will undoubtedly help revive Jewish life, create new communities, Jewish cultural centers, schools, and places of worship.

Another important component could be programs for restoring citizenship to the descendants of Jews illegally expelled from European countries. Spain and Portugal, but also Poland, Austria, and Germany have similar programs, but perhaps other countries can evaluate their attitude towards Jews at one time in their history and draw appropriate conclusions.

Attracting new citizens of Jewish nationality to EU countries will help revive Jewish life and increase the number of Jewish communities through immigration. It is also worth considering measures to support the birth rate in modern Jewish communities, possibly introducing certain benefits for Jewish large families, including the payment of kindergartens, educational programs, and leave for child care.

A separate direction could be the creation of legislation that will protect the rights of believers in the workplace - for example, giving the right to Jewish believers to leave work on Friday after sunset and the onset of the Sabbath, as well as providing the opportunity for holidays and prayer time during the working day.

A separate area of ​​government work could be the protection of kosher slaughter in Jewish communities, as well as the provision of kosher food to employees of government institutions, transport passengers, and forum participants. Of course, the state can only indirectly participate in the life of Jewish communities and the development of Jewish culture.

However, financing security systems for Jewish communities can begin now, as well as the implementation of other items on the our list of the state's participation program in fostering Jewish life in European countries.

Dr O.Kozerod