Annual Review THE CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN RABBIS (CER). 5783–5785 (2023–2025) 70th Anniversary Edition Seventy Years of Service, Faith and Continuity CONTENT Seventy Years of Service, Faith and Continuity...................................................................1 About the Conference of European Rabbis.........................................................................7 History .................................................................................................................................9 The President of the CER..................................................................................................10 Charlemagne Prize 2024 to the President..........................................................................12 Message from the CEO......................................................................................................16 Executive Council and Management.................................................................................19 The Standing Committee of the Conference of European Rabbis.....................................21 Board of Patrons................................................................................................................27 Review 2025.......................................................................................................................35 Mission...............................................................................................................................39 Selected Milestones............................................................................................................41 CER in Numbers................................................................................................................45 Rabbis and Community Service (Department Reports)......................................................47 Combating Anti-Semitism..................................................................................................51 The Jewish Ambassador Programme.................................................................................55 Awards and Prizes – Rabbi Lord Jakobovits Prize ............................................................59 Awards and Prizes – Rabbi Moshe Rosen Prize.................................................................73 Awards and Prizes – The CER Innovation Prize ...............................................................79 Interfaith Dialogue............................................................................................................85 CER Institutions and Associations.....................................................................................87 Trust and Impact................................................................................................................89 Media and Press Highlights 2023–2025.............................................................................91 Our People....................................................................................................................... 105 Obituaries and Memories ................................................................................................ 107 Charlemagne Prize 2024.................................................................................................. 113 Impressum........................................................................................................................ 120 Dear esteemed colleagues, friends and our Jewish communities, As we gather to mark 70 years of the Conference of European Rabbis, we do so not in a spirit of complacency, but with sober awareness of the trials that have beset our people in these recent years. Europe and Israel alike have felt the tremors of conflict, hatred and uncertainty. Yet, the Rabbis and Rebbetzins of the CER have stood firm, supporting their communities across Europe with dedication. The past two years in particular have brought unprecedented challenges. It is only over the last month that, as a nation, we have begun to breathe more easily again. In Europe, Russia’s war against Ukraine has not only shattered nationstates but also scattered Jewish families across borders and produced a refugee crisis. Even amid grave danger, CER rabbis in Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Hungary and beyond have risked their lives, caring tirelessly for their communities with a remarkable blend of heroism and ordinary devotion. In Israel, our people have been tested in the most painful of ways. The horrors of October 7th remain seared upon our souls, the grief almost too heavy to bear. The wars with Hamas in Gaza, the escalation with Hezbollah and attacks from Iranian and Houthis proxies challenged Israel’s security on every front. Terrorist infiltrations, rocket fire and asymmetric warfare have brought fear to civilians and immense strain to Israel’s soldiers. Every life lost is a tragedy, every home evacuated or destroyed is another scar on the nation’s soul. With the current ceasefire, may we, G-d willing, see some respite and healing, though nothing can erase the pain endured by so many of our brothers and sisters. 1 Seventy Years of Service, Faith and Continuity Through all these storms, the CER has pursued its founding mission: to defend the religious rights of Jews in Europe, to support rabbis and communities in their halachic, pastoral and societal needs and to act as a voice for Judaism on the continent. The CER’s European Beth Din, Kashrut and conversion work, mikveh infrastructure and its political advocacy with nation states and the European Union, promoting the protection of practical Jewish religious rights, are more than regular institutional tasks; they are vital for the ongoing continuity of Jewish life on this continent. At a moment when some seek to relegate Jewish tradition to the margins, the CER affirms that Halacha is the foundation of Jewish life, that religious commitment stands at the centre of Jewish life and must endure. The Rabbinic couples of the CER embody that best. Rabbis of the Conference of European Rabbis, you remain a source of deep inspiration to me. In your daily work, you embody a rare balance of modesty and strength. You guide your flocks with patience, courage and wisdom even when adversity presses, conducting yourselves, in the language of the Rambam, with both “humility and awe” (Hilchos Sanhedrin, chapter 25). Jewish life in Europe, both halachically and communally, spiritually and politically. Whatver the future brings, may it be a time of peace and rebuilding for all the Jewish People. May this easier “national breathing” continue and may the CER continue to stand by the side of every rabbi and every community, a beacon of Torah, of moral courage, of unity. As we bless Israel with security and life, we also bless European Jewry with stability, dignity and renewal. To the CER, mazal tov on 70 years and may G-d Almightly grant us continued success! With prayers and blessings, humility and awe, Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis With gratitude, the President, Standing Committee, Board of Patrons and entire Conference of European Rabbis extend their heartfelt thanks to our Rabbonim, Rebbetzins and community workers across Europe. For seventy years, through war and peace, upheaval and renewal, you have upheld Jewish life with courage, humility and devotion, preserving Jewish education, sustaining communities in crisis and in calm and guiding the next generation with faith and hope. Your work is the heartbeat of European Jewry and the foundation upon which our shared future rests. Celebrating these seventy years of the CER is more than simply marking an anniversary; it is an event which serves as a witness to the twists and turns of our collective history. From its founding in 1956 to revive ravaged Jewish life in post-Holocaust Europe, to today, the CER has weathered immense shifts May the coming years bring peace to Israel, securiand served as a force of Jewish continuity. The CER ty to Europe’s Jews and continued blessings to all and its impressive rabbis have continued to support who serve our people. “All who faithfully engage in the needs of the community, may the Holy One, blessed be He, reward them, remove from them difficulties, forgive all their wrongdoings and send blessing and success to all the work of their hands.” 2 Greeting by the Federal President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier Message for the report marking the 70th anniversary of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER) Dear Rabbis, Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your Conference’s 70th anniversary. What you have preserved and built throughout Europe over these seven decades fills me with great respect as well as profound gratitude. I am thankful for the courage, perseverance and strong conviction with which you began your work seventy years ago from London. When the Conference of European Rabbis was founded in London in 1956, the European continent still lay in ruins. And we Germans, through the Shoah, had laid waste to Jewish life in Europe. Six million people had been murdered, Jewish communities eradicated, synagogues destroyed, religious life wiped out. The fact that rabbis from many different European countries came together back then to rebuild spiritual life here was an act of unshakeable faith and extraordinary bravery. It was a testament to hope – in the face of all the despair. A testament to hope from which, over time, the beginnings of a most improbable reconciliation could emerge. Today, seven decades later, the CER has become an indispensable voice of orthodox European Judaism. It unites more than seven hundred rabbis from Dublin to Khabarovsk. It upholds religious tradition, fosters Jewish education, supports communities and trains rabbis. Its work has an impact far beyond Jewish communities and influences religious and social discourse on our continent. With resolve and a strong sense of responsibility for society as a whole, the CER works to promote freedom of religion and freedom of religious practice. 3 Greeting by the Federal President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier Greeting by Prime Minister Dr Markus Söder Three years ago, honoured rabbis, you made a historic decision: you moved your headquarters from London to the heart of our continent – to Munich, Germany. Pinchas Goldschmidt, you said back then that hope and confidence thus triumphed over history. “We’re here to stay.” Der Europäischen Rabbinerkonferenz herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Jubiläum! No finer statement could be made regarding this decision. We Germans are immensely grateful to you for this important step. And we understand that the message you are sending is both a confident assertion and a mandate for society as a whole: Jewish life belongs in the heart of Europe, in the heart of Germany. Jewish life in Europe today is diverse and vibrant – and it is growing and flourishing. This richness and this growth bring with them both joy and responsibility. For, at the same time, we are all witnessing with concern the swelling tide of antisemitic hate and threats, as well as the massive increase in attacks – both verbal and physical. The situation has worsened dramatically since 7 October 2023. In the heart of Europe, Jews must fear for their safety and well-being every single day. That is intolerable. As Germans, we have an unconditional duty to protect Jewish life. Our commitment to “never again” is a mandate that applies every hour of every day. Wherever Jews in Europe are threatened, Germany stands by their side – with resolve, without any ifs or buts. The CER is an invaluable partner. It strengthens communities from within and defends their rights across the continent. It is committed to religious freedom, human dignity and respect. For that you deserve our thanks and solidarity. When Zsolt Balla, Germany’s first Federal Military Rabbi, took up office a few years ago, he spoke of Germany as a country which had confronted its past and resolved to move forward and actively shape a better world. The CER showed great foresight by embarking upon this path into the future 70 years ago. And your work along this path is valued and respected today. You are needed. I congratulate you wholeheartedly on your anniversary. May you continue to serve as a strong and audible voice and as a visible and reliable pillar of support for Jewish life in Europe. With very best wishes, Frank-Walter Steinmeier 4 GRUSSWORT 70 JAHRE CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN RABBIS Seit 70 Jahren gibt sie den Belangen der jüdischen Gemeinden eine kraftvolle Stimme, verleiht dem interreligiösen Dialog wichtige Impulse und setzt sich für einen lebendigen jüdischen Glauben in Europa ein. Der Freistaat Bayern ist überaus stolz darauf, dass dabei seit 2024 München das Zentrum ihres Wirkens ist. Damit wird in eindrucksvoller Weise unterstrichen, dass das Judentum fest zum Freistaat Bayern gehört! Die jüdischen Gemeinden prägen die Kultur in Bayern maßgeblich mit, sie sind integraler Bestandteil des religiösen Lebens im Freistaat und eine echte Bereicherung für das gesellschaftliche Miteinander. In Bayern hat jüdisches Leben einen unverrückbaren Platz, hier kann es sich frei entfalten. Dafür gilt es mit ganzer Kraft einzutreten, gerade in Zeiten, in denen Antisemitismus und Extremismus in Europa auf dem Vormarsch sind. Die Bayerische Staatsregierung gibt ein verlässliches Schutzversprechen für die jüdischen Mitbürgerinnen und Mitbürger ab. Sie fördert jüdisches Leben, stellt antisemitischen Handlungen die volle Härte des Rechtsstaates entgegen und sichert mit gezielten Maßnahmen jüdische Einrichtungen. zugleich steht sie zu Israel und seinem Recht auf Selbstverteidigung. Wir wollen, dass sich Jüdinnen und Juden in Bayern, Europa und der Welt sicher fühlen, und lassen Antisemitismus keinen Raum. In diesen Zielen sind der Freistaat Bayern und die Europäische Rabbinerkonferenz fest vereint. Für mich ist es eine große Ehre, dass sie mir den Lord Jakobovits-Preis verliehen hat. Weiterhin alles Gute! Dr. Markus Söder 5 About the Conference of European Rabbis As knowledge deepens, confidence grows. People stand taller. Organisations become sturdier. Facilities operate with greater assurance. When preparedness meets intent, attacks of any kind lose Over the past decade, external influences have ar- force. Disruption finds fewer points of entry becaurived with unusual intensity and in rapid succes- se procedures are understood, responsibilities are sion. We have not unconditionally adapted to these clear and responses are swift without being rash. pressures. We have grown because of them. Each shock has clarified our judgement, refined our methods, and strengthened our resolve to serve Jewish life across Europe. In an ambiguous and multipolar world, steadiness matters. So does purpose. Both set our course. Resilience is not an abstraction; it is a daily discipWe see challenge as a proving ground. It tests sys- line. The outcome is visible. Radical attacks fizzle out tems, habits and hopes. It also reveals where know- when communities are ready. They become less interledge is thin and where confidence wavers. By ad- esting to aggressors and agitators who seek spectacle dressing those gaps, we convert risk into capability. but meet composure. This resilience strengthens the The result is not mere survival. It is consolidation. future of Jewish life in Europe by safeguarding conIt is progress earned under pressure. tinuity, dignity and public trust. The benefits reach beyond our communities. When This is the essence of the CER today: a commit- threats lose impact, civil society becomes a better ment to turn turbulence into traction. We do not place - calmer, more confident, more cohesive. Robust chase headlines or adopt fashions. We build capa- institutions project stability. In turn, that stability city that endures. lowers the temperature of public life. It encourages participation and discourages the politics of menace. FROM ADVERSITY TO ENDURING STRENGTH A STRONGER FUTURE FOR JEWISH LIFE IN EUROPE EDUCATION AS FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE Education is, as always, the key. We empower people, institutions and their facilities to become robust, resilient and stronger than before through by imparting knowledge. We train rabbis and rebbetzins. We equip community managers and staff of every kind. We focus on practical understanding and transferable skills. Clarity replaces uncertainty; preparation replaces improvisation. Training is both rigorous and grounded. We emphasise judgement, coordination and continuity. We develop competencies that raise standards, reinforce governance and steady leadership under strain. This is how we achieve improved readiness: not by chance, but by instruction; not by rhetoric, but by practice. This broad spectrum of action - people, institutions, and the knowledge that binds them - defines the CER in today’s complex environment and will do so even more over the next ten years and beyond 5795 (2035). We will continue to impart knowledge and skills. We will continue to train rabbis, rebbetzins, community managers and staff of all kinds. We will continue to empower people and institutions. That is our contribution: resilience built through education, turning challenge into durable strength and securing a future in which Jewish life across Europe can thrive. In sum, the CER stands as the foremost institution of Jewish life and culture in Europe. We have become so over the past decade by marrying breadth with depth: continent-wide reach, rigorous instruction and crisis-tested competence. We form leaders, professionalise communities and convert knowledge into lasting capacity. That is why, when resilience and renewal are required, Europe turns to the CER. 7 History HISTORY H ISTORY The Conference of European Rabbis arose from ruin and resolve. It was brought into being in 1956 to rekindle the religious sinews of post-war Europe. Founders included Chief Rabbis Sir Israel Brodie, Jacob Kaplan and Aharon Schuster, with the British Sephardi Ḥakham Gaon lending gravitas. The first conclave met in Amsterdam in 1957. The project was simple and audacious. Rebuild. Re-anchor. From the outset, governance was collegiate. A standing committee of chief rabbis and senior dayanim meets twice yearly in European capitals. Visits to local communities accompany deliberation. A general convention gathers all members biennially to set direction and to consolidate solidarity. The method is steady. The cadence is deliberate. The CER soon became a pan-European halachic address. It set standards for kashrut, conversion, marriage and divorce. It offered rabbinic counsel to communities large and small. It defended core liberties. Shechita. Brit milah. Jewish education. It served as the expert address for recruitment, communal architecture and even the engineering of mikvaot. Scope grew. Authority matured. Institutions accreted. The European Beth Din furnished accessible rabbinical court services. Heritage stewardship preserved cemeteries and mass graves. Capacity-building fostered young rabbis and fortified small communities. The whole became more than the sum of its parts. Advocacy remained unflinching. The CER contested mooted prohibitions on circumcision. It stood against curbs on religious slaughter. It engaged governments and European fora to secure untrammelled observance. Dialogue widened. Encounters with Christian leadership and European statesmen deepened mutual regard and practical cooperation. Leadership has been seasoned and constant. Presidents, presidiums and committee chairs have stewarded standards and diplomacy with prudence. The posture is old yet modern. Traditionalist yet outward-looking. A bulwark and a beacon. In brief, the CER journeyed from the ashes of the mid-twentieth century to the complexities of the twenty-first. It has guarded continuity, advised with discretion and judged with integrity. It has sustained the everyday dignity of Jewish life across Europe. 9