BRATISLAVA โ The World Jewish Congress convened more than 75 senior Jewish community professionals from 50 countries in Bratislava this week to respond to a global surge in antisemitism, the organization said.
The meeting was the WJCโs tenth annual National Community Directors Forum. Organizers said the sessions focused on security, youth leadership, online harassment, and coordinated advocacy.
WJC staff presented a report on the consequences of October 7, 2023, and warned of a dangerous normalization of antisemitism across politics and media, and a troubling convergence of extremist narratives on the far right and the far left, according to the forum summary.
Participants also discussed WJC research into anti-Israel bias on major platforms and practical measures for protecting Jewish institutions, organizers said. Breakout sessions were led by community professionals and featured a round table moderated by the Board of Deputies of British Jews chief executive Michael Wegier.
WJC Executive Vice President Maram Stern used a commemorative ceremony at Rybnรฉ Square to press Slovakiaโs leadership to aid efforts to free the remaining hostages held in Gaza. โWe call on leaders to make every effort to secure their release,โ the forum account said.
The forum came amid independent data showing elevated antisemitism worldwide. Tel Aviv Universityโs annual Antisemitism Worldwide report said incidents climbed sharply after October 7, 2023, and remain above prewar levels in many countries.
A separate global survey by the Anti-Defamation League found elevated antisemitic attitudes in a large share of countries, with roughly 46 percent of adults worldwide displaying significant antisemitic views in the most recent index, the ADL said. Advocacy groups say those attitudes correlate with higher levels of harassment and vandalism.
The trend has prompted Jewish organizations to push for stronger protection of communities, clearer enforcement by law enforcement, and better online safeguards, WJC officials and allied groups said at the forum.
WJC leaders said the Bratislava meeting was an urgent opportunity for community directors to share field-tested security measures and to build rapid-response networks for incidents affecting Jewish life.
This article is based on verified information from the World Jewish Congress, Tel Aviv University, the Anti-Defamation League, Reuters, and The Associated Press.