Interview with Danish Jewish officials

Bent Lexner (born 5th of July 1946) is currently the Chief Rabbi of the largest Danish Jewish community – Mosaic Faith. Has three children all living in Israel. Educated as Rabbi at the Harry Fischel Institute in 1971-1976. Took over as Chief Rabbi after the famous Bent Melchior in 1996.

The Jewish Faith community is split upon whether there is an actual anti-Semitism prevalent among the ethnic Danish population or not. Bent Lexner says that:

“there probably exists what is called the ‘little anti-semitism’. The one that shows itself through smart remarks and such – but actual anti-semitism I do not believe in – at least not among [ethnic] Danes.”

The chairman of the Danish organization of Jews from Poland, Michael Singer, adds that:

“Some members have experienced an anti-Semitic atmosphere among colleagues”

“JH”, who is in charge of the security for the Danish Jewish institutions says that he is of the opinion that there is a real anti-Semitism in Denmark.

All the interviewed persons stressed that there is a visible distinction in the Danish society, that of the large majority of ethnic Danes bearing no anti-Semitic grudges, and that of the small minority with another ethnic background than Danish – almost exclusively Muslim.

“No ethnic Dane would do anything to a Jew on his way to the Congregation” Chief Rabbi Lexner adds, though, that “there are anti-Semitic undertones in the Middle-East debate; they are becoming more and more prevalent, and what is said, can have anti-Semitic content. In the Danish media there is a rising anti-Israeli tendency, once in a while leading to outright anti-Semitic statements”

A Danish-married Israeli Jew, “LS”, confirms Rabbi Lexner’s view. She says that she has not met any explicit anti-Semitism, but adds that she agrees regarding anti-Israeli tendencies in the Danish media.

Bent Lexner does not think that this is due to the nature of the person, something which former chairman of Mosaic Faith, author and sociologist, Jacques Bloom disagrees with; There are anti-Semites among people both with and without influence“.

Another Danish Jew, Michael A, says that “anti-Semitism has become more acceptable in Danish media in recent years.” He adds that a place like “Nørrebrogade” (heavily Arab populated area) must be avoided as a Jew, fearing violence or other harassment. Lexner thinks that this is no different for atheistic/Christian Danes, as it is a troubled area in general.

Lexner has experienced several incidences himself. According to Blum, fear and the subsequent necessity of hiding your Jewish identity is something which is quite common for Danish Jewish – Jacques Blum says that every single violent attack against a Jewish Dane has been committed by Palestinian Danes. Anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism manifests itself through harassment, threats, property damage and assault against Danish Jews. On one occasion even deadly attacks against Israeli Jews took place in Denmark.

The Danish edition and full interview may be found HERE. The interview was conducted in mid-2007, but little has changed since.