European Jewish Congress Recommendation on Contextual Notes in Bible and Qur’an
On 23 November 2018, the European Jewish Congress (EJC) presented a document titled “An End to Antisemitism! A Catalogue of Policies to Combat Antisemitism” at a conference in Vienna. The document was authored by academics and leaders associated with the EJC and other institutions. In the section on religious groups and institutions, the EJC included recommendations regarding contextual materials in religious texts.
The recommendation stated that new translations of the New Testament, the Qur’an, and other Christian and Muslim literature should include introductory material and marginal glosses that emphasize continuity with Jewish heritage and warn readers about passages that have been interpreted as antisemitic. The suggestion was framed as a policy proposal within a broader catalogue of measures aimed at combating antisemitism in society.
The EJC represents national Jewish community organizations in numerous European countries. The document containing the recommendation also proposed various other actions to address prejudice and discrimination, including legislative, educational, and security measures to combat antisemitic incidents and rhetoric.
The recommendation was discussed in various media and academic outlets. Some commentators observed that footnotes, introductions, and explanatory material are already used in some religious publications, and noted that the proposal focused on adding context rather than mandating removal or censorship of sacred texts. Responses to the proposal varied among religious scholars and publishers.
The catalogue was part of a series of policy recommendations presented by the EJC at events and meetings involving European officials and representatives of Jewish communities with the stated aim of addressing rising antisemitism. The recommendation regarding contextual material in religious texts is one among multiple proposals within that broader policy framework.
