Estonian Vows to Fight Ban

In a meeting with the Rabbinical Centre of Europe (RCE) and representatives of European Jewish organizations, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said that he would help convince his colleagues in the European Parliament to vote against the kosher labeling law when it comes for a vote in July.

The rabbis thanked Prime Minister Ansip for his assistance on an issue of enormous importance for the European Jewish community.

Present were Head Shliach of Italy and founder of the RCE Rabbi Gershon Mendel Garelik, Chief Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs from Holland, and Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet, Chairman of the Rabbinical Council of the UK, and Deputy Ambassador of Israel to the EU, Ronen Gil Or.

“His support is vital on this issue and hopefully his strong and moral voice can set an example for other European leaders,” Rabbi Arye Goldberg, deputy director of the RCE, said.

“This isn’t an issue of animal welfare or humanitarianism, this is about the future of Jewish religious practice in Europe and we are delighted that Prime Minister Ansip understands the ramifications of this proposed legislation.”

Prime Minister Ansip and his delegation met with the rabbis in Belgium, along with directors and representatives of European Jewish organizations and the Brussels Jewish community, including Bnai Brith and the European Centre for Jewish Students.

Various other issues were discussed during the meeting, including the role of Estonians during the Holocaust and Prime Minister Ansip’s affection for Israel where he visited before his election.

They thanked Ansip for his friendship towards the Estonian Jewish community and his close cooperation with Chief Rabbi of Estonia, Shmuel Kot. It was also noted that the Estonian government will build a memorial for Jews that were killed during the Holocaust.

Rabbi Schochet expressed the Jewish community’s solidarity with the seven Estonians who were kidnapped while biking in Lebanon.

The meeting follows on from the RCE’s visit to Estonia during December of last year, where they met with various Estonian dignitaries, including Prime Minister Ansip, who has since been reelected to his position.