MADRID – The Networks Overcoming Antisemitism
(NOA) initiative, funded by the European Union, presented its National
Report Card on Spain on Wednesday at a conference in Madrid. The event was
organized by the NOA consortium consisting of the World Jewish Congress (WJC),
the European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS), the European Association for the
Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ), CEJI – A
Jewish Contribution to an Inclusive Europe, in partnership with Centro Sefarad-Israel,
and the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE).
The conference brought together government officials,
policymakers, and representatives of civil society, academia and the Jewish
community to present the findings of Spain’s
National Report Card (NRC). The NRCs offer a comprehensive overview of EU
Member States’ policies to combat antisemitism and support Jewish life. They
serve as important benchmarking tools and resources to help governments develop
and implement effective national strategies aimed at combating antisemitism and
fostering vibrant Jewish communities.
The program opened with remarks from José
Thovar, Director General of Centro Sefarad Israel, and Nicolás
Díaz-Pache, Deputy Director for the Middle East at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain. Following them were Perla Salama, Secretary General of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain; François Moyse, President of the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage; and Katharina von Schnurbein, the European Commission Coordinator for Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life.
Participants then heard an in-depth presentation by Marta Simó, who conducted the research for the Spanish National Report Card. She outlined the report’s key findings and presented the scoring across a range of policy areas related to antisemitism prevention and the promotion of Jewish life.
The first roundtable discussion, A Shared Responsibility: Strengthening Jewish Life in Spain, examined the principal challenges facing the Spanish Jewish community while highlighting examples of effective government engagement. Moderated by David Benatar of the Federation of Jewish Youth in Spain (FEJJE), the panel featured José Thovar of Centro Sefarad Israel, Carolina Aisen, Executive Director of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain, and Reyes Mate of the Spanish National Research Council.
Participants then divided into parallel working groups to explore the report card findings in greater depth. The groups reconvened for a harvesting session that shared participants’ experiences with issues such as the spread of hate speech, the protection of Jewish heritage, the promotion of Jewish education, and the visibility of Jewish life in sports and media.
The second roundtable, Education, Youth and Culture: Local Drivers of Jewish Community Life in Spain, highlighted grassroots initiatives that support education, youth engagement, and cultural heritage across Spain. Moderated by Victor Sorenssen, Director of the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage, the discussion featured Yael Sanchez, President of the Federation of Jewish Youth in Spain and a member of the WJC Jewish Diplomatic Corps Academy; Santiago Parra Soriano, Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Culture, Tourism and Events in the City Council of Lorca; Raoul Sellam, President of Mozaika; and Miguel Ángel Ballesteros, Professor at the University of Seville.
The panel explored how community-led initiatives can translate into meaningful local policies and sustained institutional support.
The conference concluded with closing remarks from Dany Levin Prist, Director of European Affairs at the World Jewish Congress, who encouraged participants to use the National Report Card as a practical advocacy tool to strengthen engagement with policymakers and stakeholders.
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