Kantor Warns Europe of Threats to Jewish Life
The European Jewish Congress marked its 40th anniversary in Tel Aviv with a warning to European leaders about threats facing Jewish communities.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Judaism
European Jewish Congress President Moshe Kantor warned European leaders of threats to Jewish communities at the organization's 40th anniversary celebration in Tel Aviv. The event took place on the eve of the Kristallnacht commemoration and followed the EJC General Assembly.
Why it matters
The EJC brings together Jewish community organizations in more than 40 European countries, making its warnings a direct signal from communities across the continent. Holding the anniversary on the eve of Kristallnacht placed the warning within a commemoration of one of the Nazi era's defining antisemitic pogroms.
The EJC was founded in 1986 and represents Jewish community organizations in more than 40 European countries. The anniversary event was held in Tel Aviv, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog receiving the organization's Golden Vision Award, its highest distinction.
The players
Moshe Kantor
Moshe Kantor is the president of the European Jewish Congress, a Russian-born businessman and Jewish community leader who has led the organization's advocacy on antisemitism across Europe.
Isaac Herzog
Isaac Herzog is the President of Israel, a former Labour Party leader and lawyer who holds a largely ceremonial head-of-state role in the country.
European Jewish Congress
The European Jewish Congress is a federation founded in 1986 that unites Jewish community organizations from more than 40 European countries to advocate for Jewish communities and combat antisemitism.
Katharina von Schnurbein
Katharina von Schnurbein is the outgoing European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, who was honored with the EJC's Or Tzedek Prize.
The details
Kantor addressed the gathering in the presence of Herzog and Jewish leaders from across Europe. The evening featured performances by Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Hamas attack on the Nova music festival, and violinist Agam Berger, who was held hostage by Hamas for 482 days.
Timeline
1986: The European Jewish Congress is founded.
November 8, 2026: The anniversary event takes place on the eve of the Kristallnacht commemoration.
November 9, 2026: Kantor issues his warning to European leaders.
Historical Context
The EJC's warning was delivered on the eve of the Kristallnacht commemoration, the November 1938 pogrom in Germany and Austria that marked a turning point in the persecution of European Jews. Positioning the anniversary against that date ties the organization's current concerns directly to the historical record of anti-Jewish violence on the continent.
Readers following Jewish community life in Europe may see the EJC's warning reflected in advocacy and security discussions across the member countries it represents. The message is directed at European leaders, so its practical effects will depend on how governments respond to the organization's concerns.
The takeaway
The EJC's anniversary warning underscores that its member communities across more than 40 countries see current threats as an ongoing concern rather than a historical one. Readers interested in the issue can track how European institutions respond to the organization's advocacy.
Further reading
For broader background on Jewish communities and religious life, explore our Judaism coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by European Jewish Congress.
