Inviting passerbys, spectators and youth groups to discover Jewish culture and encourage multicultural dialogue, “Tents Against Anti-Semitism” were set up in the centers of three European cities on Tuesday, September 18th, in a joint initiative of the European Jewish Congress and Council of Europe.
Inside the tents, visitors were invited to take part in Muslim-Jewish reconciliation meetings, read up on Jewish history and culture and attend general workshops on Judaism.
In Paris, the tent was placed right outside of the famous Sorbonne university, and students and passerbys entered the tent to listen to an all-day Klezmer concert.
In Warsaw, an an interfaith dialogue was organized, involving Poland’s chief rabbi and a senior Roman Catholic official.
“It saddens me that hatred has not yet been uprooted totally from Europe,” said Moshe Kantor, the president of the European Jewish Congress. “At the same time, I am heartened by this remarkable educational initiative spearheaded by hundreds of dynamic young Jewish leaders throughout Europe.”
Along with the European Jewish Congress, other sponsors are the Council of Europe’s Directorate of Youth and Sport, the World Jewish Congress Future Generations Division, B’nai B’rith International-European Union Affairs Office, the European Union of Jewish Students and the Conference of European Rabbis.
