President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain David Obadía gave an interview to La Razón, highlighting rising antisemitism across the world, including in Spain, and the need to confront it.
These days, he is hosting the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, Shlomo Amar, who will preside over the lighting of the fourth Hanukkah candle in Madrid.
What does it mean that the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem has come to Madrid to celebrate Hanukkah?
For us, it is a great honour, particularly because of Rabbi Amar’s stature. He has visited on other occasions, including my inauguration as President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain in Málaga, Torremolinos, on the Costa del Sol. The fact that he has come for the lighting of the fourth Hanukkah candle and is here in Madrid, after everything that has happened, is very significant for Judaism and, above all, gives strength to all Spanish Jews.
In the face of an attack like the one in Sydney, how do you resist the temptation to respond with more hatred?
All terrorist attacks must be condemned. What happened in Australia highlights the very anti-Jewish, antisemitic, and anti-Israel policies of the Australian government. Naturally, these policies did not cause the attack itself, but this climate of hatred can create fertile ground for a lone attacker. At the same time, we must not forget the crucial role played by the Syrian-born citizen who heroically subdued one of the terrorists, preventing many more deaths.
Are you concerned that the current wave of antisemitism could take hold in Spain?
Antisemitism is rising significantly in Spain. I’m not the one saying it—the Ministry of the Interior has confirmed it. Ultimately, the discourse of hatred from far-left politics, which we have seen with Sumar and Podemos, resonates with the public because of a lack of information. We simply want to be seen as ordinary citizens, because we are Spaniards like anyone else, living in peace.
This politics of hate has created situations where people are insulted on the street, where graffiti is scrawled against them, or where attempts are made to burn kosher restaurants. We have been forced to maintain permanent surveillance at all synagogues. We are grateful to the State Security Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, but we must admit that it is not normal for these to be the only places of worship that require police protection.
Do we have a very fragile memory that forgets past Holocausts?
Yes, people forget easily. Kristallnacht is there and it cannot—and should not—be forgotten. When we lose our memory, people become anti-Jewish by default, and you see how, on television or social media, you can be directly labelled a murderer. The legitimate right to criticism is confused with the objectification of others and deadly generalisations. People ignore, for example, that in the State of Israel all religions coexist, and that 18% of the population—almost two million people—are Muslim.
For someone unfamiliar with Jewish life, how would you explain the significance of Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights; it is about light. Personally, from the Costa del Sol, where I live, we have worked over the years to make it a multicultural celebration, prioritising interfaith dialogue, providing an opportunity to learn about our culture, and to convey a sense of the reality of Jewish life.
Source of picture: Jesús G. Feria, La Razón.
