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(4 former chairmen of Stockholm Jewish Community and 20 Swedish Jews
living in Israel, sent this open letter to Foreign Minister Freivalds in
June 2004, on her visit to Israel)
Your Excellency Laila Freivalds
Foreign Minister of Sweden
Dear Foreign Minister Freivalds,
As former residents of Sweden we wish you welcome to Israel. We find it
very important that regular contacts are held between representatives of
Sweden and Israel in spite of differences of opinion that might exist
between the respective governments.
We have noted that you have chosen to make a formal speech at Yad Vashem -
the memorial site for the 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis during the
Holocaust. Many of our coreligionists in Sweden came to Sweden in the wake
of the Holocaust with the White buses of the Bernadotte mission and
through other Swedish efforts to help the Survivors. Already in 1942/43
Sweden gave Norwegian and Danish Jews who escaped from their occupied home
countries a refuge. We as Jews will never forget the Swedish efforts in
this respect.
For many of the Survivors Sweden was a heaven after the unbearable
suffering the Nazis subjected them to. Sweden provided an opportunity to
rebuild their lives and start new families. The Jewish Communities
developed a wide range of religious, educational and cultural programs.
From having been Communities of Mosaic Faith symbolizing a trend of
assimilation, they changed into proud minorities striving to keep their
traditions and develop these while integrating in their new environment.
One can surely say that the Jews were the first minority group in Sweden
in modern times, doing this.
During the years since the Independence of Israel in 1948 there have been
ups and downs in the relations between the 2 countries. Anti-Semitism,
though, was rare and far between.
Thus it is with utmost concern that we as former residents of Sweden have
witnessed the flood of anti-Semitic incidents during the last years.
The Prime Minister, Mr. Goran Persson initiated the Living History project
some years ago and Sweden has taken a leading role in initiating education
on the Holocaust in Sweden and around the globe. This is surely to be
commended. But it is unfortunately not enough. Today we see new schemes of
anti-Semitism in Sweden, which need attention and action from the
authorities.
The number of verbal and physical attacks against Jews has increased in
Sweden. Youngsters in schools give evidence how they hide the fact of
being Jews as they are attacked both verbally and physically. Teachers
testify that students refuse to participate in classes when Judaism is
studied. Survivors report about their fear, again hearing Jews being
cursed and blamed for the ills of our society and the world. On several
occasions' events supporting Israel and against anti-racism have been
physically attacked with the police passively standing by. It is totally
unacceptable that a Jew should have to fear for his physical well being
and safety if he wears a Jewish symbol.
During the last decades Sweden has become a center for racist and
anti-Semitic White Power music. The Internet explosion has witnessed how
several anti-Semitic groups have established Swedish websites spreading
anti-Semitic propaganda.
The Swedish Church has just now initiated a boycott campaign, officially
aimed at products from the areas Israel is controlling since the 1967 Six
Day War but in practice very much reminding about the commercial boycott
of Jews in various societies in the past.
Criticism of Israel is legitimate but can never be allowed to justify
anti-Semitism. In this respect we refer to the so-called Berlin
declaration of the OSCE - a declaration we understand Sweden fully
supports and which is unequivocal on this matter.
Sweden is one of the few countries in Europe forbidding Shechita - the
Jewish religious method of slaughter. This law was enacted in the late
30-ties clearly influenced by a law in Nazi Germany. We are aware that the
Swedish Government is working on solutions to allow Shechita (and Hallal)
and we hope that Sweden will soon eliminate this shameful law.
Sweden is probably the only country in the Democratic world having
instituted a law governing circumcision and in certain ways made
difficulties in keeping a more than 3000 - year old tradition.
We have no doubt that both the government you represent as well as the
entire Swedish Parliament stand united against anti-Semitism. What we lack
is concrete and determined measures and actions.
The Swedish Government and Society can't solve the problem by only
establishing educational projects and institutes. The Government must
clearly, repeatedly and with determination fight every form of
anti-Semitism, old and new. It is not enough repeatedly to refer to the
Living History project as done so many times by both the Prime Minister
and various government ministers and officials. This was the case also at
the OSCE conference in Berlin.
We expect the Swedish government and authorities to take concrete and
determined measures to stop the flood of anti-Semitism in Sweden and to
make sure that every Jewish resident in Sweden who so wishes can practice
his religion and tradition without having to fear verbal or physical
violence.
Sincerely,
Salomo Berlinger
Stefan Meisels
Torsten Press
Willy Salomon
Former Chairmen of the Jewish Community of Stockholm, Sweden
Editors' Note: The moderate content of this letter is supported
by the letter of the father of a Jewish boy, (see
on our site, in Swedish) living
in Sweden and having been attacked 8 (eight!) times on anti-Semitic
ground, but being denied any legal defense on the strange basis that he
could not produce at least 10 (ten!) witnesses to the attack. |
