Europe news often focuses on conflict, migration and security, but a new intervention from Rabbi Mendy Chitrik argues that Europe is overlooking an important source of real-world dialogue: Jewish communities living across Muslim-majority countries. Writing after a gathering in Brussels with rabbis, EU officials and diplomats, Chitrik says these communities should be seen not as relics of history, but as living bridges between Europe and the Muslim world.
His argument lands at a time when irish news readers and wider audiences across the continent are paying closer attention to interfaith relations, antisemitism and democratic freedoms. The message is simple: coexistence is not only something to admire in old history books; it still exists today, even if it is often fragile.
Europe News and the overlooked role of Jewish communities
At the Brussels meeting, rabbis from countries including Morocco, Iran, Kazakhstan and Nigeria spoke directly about the realities facing Jewish minorities in Muslim-majority states. According to Chitrik, these leaders bring practical experience that no policy paper can replace.
Many of these communities have survived for centuries by maintaining working relationships with neighbours, governments and religious leaders. Iran’s chief rabbi, Yehuda Gerami, reportedly stressed that his community is deeply rooted in its homeland and seeks understanding and practical support rather than political point-scoring.
- Some communities number in the tens of thousands
- Others serve only a handful of families
- All of them offer firsthand insight into minority life, trust-building and resilience
This is relevant not only to Europe news coverage, but also to broader debates in ireland news about pluralism, social cohesion and religious freedom.
Read more: latest Ireland breaking political news and European affairs updates
History without nostalgia
Chitrik does not romanticise the past. He acknowledges the devastation that hit many Jewish communities in the 20th century, including expulsions, persecution and violent episodes such as the 1941 Farhud in Iraq. Those events reshaped Jewish life across Europe, including in France.
Still, he argues that loss is not the full story. There are also examples of continuity and renewal:
- Morocco has publicly embraced Jewish heritage as part of its national identity
- Azerbaijan has highlighted Jewish contributions to national life
- New Jewish communities have grown in Gulf states since the Abraham Accords
That complexity matters. Jewish life in the Muslim world is neither fully vanished nor unchanged. It exists in a space shaped by memory, adaptation and daily effort.
Why these communities matter now
Since October 2023, public Jewish life in several countries has come under renewed strain. Chitrik points to violent incidents including the killing of Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the UAE, the airport mob attack in Dagestan and the deadly shooting near the Ghriba synagogue in Tunisia. Even so, some communities continue to rebuild and remain visible.
He says Europe can help in practical ways already within its reach:
- Recognise synagogue registrations
- Make visas easier for rabbis serving small communities
- Protect cemeteries and heritage sites
- Allow religious items to cross borders safely
These are not abstract demands. They are concrete steps that could strengthen interfaith trust and preserve vulnerable communities.
Explore more: best Irish news analysis on Europe, religion and global diplomacy | in-depth international culture and society features for Irish readers
What Europe can learn from living coexistence
One of the article’s sharpest points is that Europe often reaches for medieval al-Andalus as a symbol of coexistence because it is safe, distant and flattering. But Chitrik argues that living examples in places like Istanbul, Djerba and Baku demand more. They require present-day engagement, not nostalgia.
He also highlights a shared interest between Jewish and Muslim communities in defending freedoms around religious practice, including slaughter rites and circumcision. In that sense, cooperation is not only symbolic; it can be practical and democratic.
For readers following Europe news, the takeaway is clear: Europe has an opportunity to listen to Jewish communities in the Muslim world as active partners in dialogue. That would enrich policy, deepen public understanding and challenge simplistic assumptions. In today’s Europe news landscape, coexistence should be treated not as a medieval memory, but as a living reality worth supporting.
FAQs
Who is Rabbi Mendy Chitrik?
Rabbi Mendy Chitrik is the founder of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States and serves as a rabbi in Istanbul, Türkiye.
What is the main argument in this Europe news story?
The central argument is that Europe should engage more directly with Jewish communities in Muslim-majority countries because they can contribute to dialogue, coexistence and democratic cooperation.
Why is this relevant to Ireland news audiences?
It connects to ongoing discussions in Ireland and across Europe about antisemitism, interfaith relations, minority rights and social integration.
