Anti-Semitic attack on Graz synagogue: society alarmed!

Anti-Semitic attack on Graz synagogue: society alarmed!

An anti-Semitic attack on the synagogue and the community center of the Israelite Community in Graz occurred on Yom Kippur, the highest holiday in Judaism. A cyclist threw a glass bottle into the courtyard of the synagogue and then fled. Fortunately, members of the community were in the synagogue at the time of the attack, so there were no injuries. Security measures for access to the synagogue were immediately increased following the incident. Such an event is seen as particularly worrying, especially in the context of a previous ruling by the Graz Regional Court, which dismissed a similar incident with a diversion of only 100 euros. This led to concerns about the signaling effect of such jurisprudence, as Elie Rosen, President of the Jewish Community for Salzburg, Styria and Carinthia, made clear. Rosen warned that downplaying attacks on synagogues could invite copycat attacks, comparing the current situation to developments in the 1930s, when anti-Semitic attacks increased in Europe.

Rosen also expressed sharp criticism of ORF Steiermark's reporting, which he viewed as trivializing the incident and describing it as one-sided in its portrayal of the conflict in Israel. He emphasized that such judicial decisions could open the door to anti-Semitic violence and, following Helmut Schmidt, noted that the loss of memory represents a significant danger to society.

Legal challenges in dealing with anti-Semitism

The legal debate on anti-Semitism is not only evident in Austria, but is a phenomenon affecting society as a whole that is also becoming increasingly important in Germany. After Hamas attacked the Israeli civilian population on October 7, 2023, anti-Semitic incidents in Germany rose sharply. The legal handling of anti-Semitism is also permeated by political and legal aspects. The discussion shows that historically German lawyers contributed to the disenfranchisement and persecution of European Jews during National Socialism. Even after 1945, personnel and material continuities remained in the judiciary, and anti-Semitic attitudes among the population continued to be present.

Researchers are of the opinion that legal discourse often takes a narrow view of anti-Semitism and ignores current manifestations. Jews report repeated disappointments about the failure to recognize and inadequate punishment of anti-Semitic acts. This leads to calls for consistent application of the law with regard to anti-Semitic acts.

Research projects to legally combat anti-Semitism

As part of the academic debate, the project “Seeing Antisemitism Through Law” was launched, which is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and has moved to the European University Viadrina. It aims to examine the legal handling of anti-Semitism in various countries, including Germany and Poland, since 1945. Researchers have already collected almost 1,500 cases that will fill a database and enable comparative analyses. This database will be presented in a hybrid workshop on September 25, 2025.

In the new phase of the project, court cases from Ukraine will also be recorded. The researchers want to provide a comprehensive overview of the legal handling of anti-Semitism because, despite the complexity of the definition of the term, there are large gaps in legal research on anti-Semitism. A separate, broad definition was created that takes different aspects of anti-Semitism into account. However, the question of whether it is appropriate to research cases of anti-Semitism in Ukraine's current situation remains controversial in light of the war.