AJC Praises Government, Jewish Community Effort to Combat anti-Semitism in Spain

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Feb 22, 2018, 02:34 ET

NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC, the global Jewish advocacy organization, welcomed an educational initiative by Spain's government and Jewish community to combat anti-Semitism.

"Using the classroom to educate youths about Jews, Judaism, Israel is imperative for fighting anti-Semitism," aid Dina Siegel Vann, director of AJC's Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs (BILLA).

Spain's Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport and the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FJCE) signed an agreement to provide training of teachers on the Holocaust, the artistic and cultural heritage of Jews in Spain, the importance of the land of Israel for the Jewish people, the Middle East conflict, and the fight against anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance.

Marcíal Marín Hellín, Spain's Secretary of State for Education, said that with the agreement "we open a new channel between the Ministry and the FJCE to collaborate in the commitment to educate in the values of the Constitution and Europeans for the necessary eradication of anti-Semitism."

FJCE President Isaac Querub said that education is the main instrument to combat anti-Semitism and to protect minorities. "With this agreement, Spain takes a unique initiative in Europe and becomes a more ethical and freer country," said Querub.

FJCE is an AJC international partner.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee