Luxembourg's Jewish community has expressed its fears following the recent uptick in hate crime targeting Jews and synagogues across Europe.
In Luxembourg, the affected communities are worried about an increased risk of violence against them. David Weis, president of the liberal Jewish community, remarked that usually there are around 40 people in attendance at religious services in Luxembourg. But on Saturday, the Esch-sur-Alzette synagogue counted just ten worshippers.
“People are scared," Weis explained. "They ask us if there is a police presence for services, and whether we are taking extra safety measures. They don't feel comfortable.”
Alexander Grodensky, the rabbi at the Esch-sur-Alzette synagogue, has demanded a police presence outside of his synagogue, at least during services.
Since 2017, the RIAL association has been dedicated to documenting cases of antisemitic violence in Luxembourg. From January to September 2023, 33 cases were reported. But in the days since the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October, the number of cases has virtually doubled. The association said it had only observed verbal insults and radical comments on social media thus far, but feared there could be a further uptick in antisemitic violence as the conflict between Israel and Palestine further escalates.
Video report in Luxembourgish:
