Benjamin Graumann, head of the Jewish Community of Frankfurt, has voiced growing concerns regarding a rapid increase in antisemitism across Europe following the October 7th attacks by Hamas. In a commentary published in the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, Graumann details a perceived escalation of antisemitic incidents in countries including Austria, Spain, Greece and Italy, leading many Jewish individuals to question the future viability of life in Europe for themselves and their children.
Graumann describes a troubling trend where European universities are becoming “hotspots for those who hate Jews” and notes the concurrent rise of both far-right and far-left political parties unified primarily by their animosity towards Jewish people.
He strongly rejects the notion that Jewish communities can alleviate antisemitism by publicly distancing themselves from Israel, characterizing such demands as deeply insidious. Graumann argues this situation underscores the importance of Israel as a safe haven, stating it provides a “protective roof” for Jewish people should conditions deteriorate further. He contends that all forms of Jew-hatred are being legitimized under the guise of criticism targeting Israel, asserting that no nation is subject to such intensive scrutiny. Graumann concludes that the real taboo lies not in criticizing Israel, but in critiquing the act of Israel criticism itself.