Chief Barcelona rabbi declares Europe "lost"

Barcelona’s chief rabbi warned that the Jewish community in his city is “doomed” because Spanish authorities do not want to confront radical Islam.

Rabbi Meir Bar-Hen was quoted in The Times of Israel last week, a day after Thursday’s deadly car-ramming attack in his city. He urged Jews to leave Spain, which he called a major hub for terrorist activity in Europe.

In what was apparently a coordinated attack, 15 victims were killed in Barcelona and the resort town of Cambrils, 75 miles south of the city. One hundred twenty people were injured. Eight members of a 12-strong terror cell suspected to be behind the attacks have been killed and four others are in police custody.

Following the attack, Bar-Hen had sobering words for his congregants.

“Jews are not here permanently,” he said of the city and region. “I tell my congregants: Don’t think we’re here for good. And I encourage them to buy property in Israel. This place is lost. Don’t repeat the mistake of Algerian Jews, of Venezuelan Jews. Better [to get out] early than late.”

Part of the problem exposed by the attacks, Bar-Hen said, is the presence of a large Muslim community with “radical fringes.” Once these people are “living among you,” he said of terrorists and their supporters, “it’s very difficult to get rid of them. They only get stronger.” He also said this applied to Europe as a whole: “Europe is lost,” he added.

The rabbi said he would not attend a rally called by the mayor of Barcelona because he had been advised by security authorities to avoid public areas for a period of time because he is recognizably Jewish.

Bar-Hen emphasized that he was speaking as a private person and not for all members of his community. Other Jewish people in Barcelona rejected the rabbi’s predictions of doom and vowed to remain in Spain.

“Barcelona is a city where Jews have been living for 100 years and of which they are proud. We Jews will not leave our city,” Jewish community spokesman Victor Sorenssen said in an email to The Times of Israel.

Sorenssen said the attacks would not weaken the Jewish community’s commitment to Barcelona.

“Terrorism, with its vile mechanisms of fear, will not be able to defeat us. Barcelona is not afraid; its Jews join them in this stance. This cowardly attack will make us stronger. It is time for solidarity and social commitment. Not for sensationalist headlines,” Sorenssen added.

After last Thursday’s attack, all Jewish institutions closed for 24 hours at the request of security authorities. The Barcelona community resumed activities in time for Shabbat prayers.

Please join me in praying for the safety of Jewish people – in Spain, in Israel and around the world.

And pray for the wisdom of those in authority in these lands, that they would know how best to combat terrorism and ensure the safety of their citizens.

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