A European survey shows that Hungary and Italy provide the best quality of life for Jewish communities

Budapest, 2022. június 20. Menachem Margolin rabbi, a szövetség elnöke beszédet mond az Európai Zsidó Szövetség (EJA) éves konferenciáján a budapesti InterContinental Hotelben 2022. június 20-án. MTI/Mohai Balázs

The European Jewish Alliance (EJA) presented a survey at its annual conference held in Budapest, which reveals that Hungary and Italy provide the best quality of life for Jewish communities in Europe.

The study conducted by the European Jewish Alliance (EJA) and the London-based British Institute of Jewish Policy Research, has ranked the quality of life for Jews in Hungary and Italy as the best among European countries, followed by Denmark, the UK, Austria, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Spain, France, Poland and Belgium.

Rabbi Menachem Margolin, President of the European Jewish Federation (EJA), said the survey found that Denmark had the highest perception of Jewish security, followed by Hungary, Italy and Austria. In contrast, Jews in Poland, Germany, Belgium and France feel much less secure.

He also said that Germany, Austria, France and the Netherlands were at the top of the ranking in terms of the actions taken by European governments to support Jews, while Poland, Denmark, Spain and Belgium did less for their Jewish community. He added that the aim of the study was not to engage in a debate with one government or another, but to create a common set of tools to scientifically compare the quality of life of Jews and to help governments see what actions they should take in order to improve the quality of life of their Jewish communities.

According to a summary by the United Hungarian Jewish Congregation (EMIH) – Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities (MADZSIHISZ), the study also takes into account previous surveys on the perception of Jewish security, attacks on Jews and data showing anti-Jewish sentiment.

The report also looked at European Jews’ perceptions of security, antisemitic attitudes and the steps taken by European governments to combat antisemitism, promote the security of Jewish communities and religious freedom, as well as how their countries vote on issues concerning Israel in international forums.

Of the 12 countries where most Jews live in Europe, Jews feel safest in Denmark and Hungary, and Hungary has suffered the fewest antisemitic attacks.

France is the country where Jews feel the least safe, but where the necessary steps have been taken to maintain the quality of life of the Jewish community, and where a positive shift is expected. Belgium is the country that takes the fewest measures to support Jewish life, the report says.

According to Slomó Köves, Chief Rabbi of United Hungarian Jewish Congregation (EMIH) – Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities (MADZSIHISZ), the study is a unique integration of data that shows not only the extent of antisemitism but also the extent of violence against Jews. In recent years, Hungarian Jews have felt that the situation of public security has improved, and the Rabbi said it was gratifying that the EJA report confirms this.