World Jewish Congress (WJC) President Ronald S.Lauder will lead a ‘’solidarity mission’’ to Brussels on Monday following the terrorist attack last Saturday at the Jewish Museum, in which four people were killed.
The mission, to include more than 30 senior representatives of Jewish communities from around the world, will hold talks with Belgium’s Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo, Foreign Minister Didier Reynders, Interior Minister Joëlle Milquet, Justice Minister Annemie Turtelboom as well as the head of the Cabinet of King Philippe of Belgium, Frans van Daele.
The delegation will also later meet with the director of the Jewish museum, Philippe Blondin at the museum, and the President of CCOJB, the umbrella group of Belgian Jewish organizations, Maurice Sosnowski.
After their meeting, Lauder and Sosnowski will also give a press conference and brief the media about the impact this attack has on the Jewish community and what lessons need to be learned from it.
“This visit to Brussels will take place on the eve of Shavuot, the holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah to the entire nation of Israel at the foot of the Mount Sinai. So on Monday, by bringing together Jews from all over the world to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community of Belgium, we are guided by the message of Shavuot, which embodies the notion that all Jews are responsible for one another,” Ronald S. Lauder stated.
He added: “The entire Jewish world has been shocked by the horrible attack in the center of Brussels last week, and we lament the fact that very little seems to be known about the background of these murders. We must now stand united with the community, and we also expect to get answers from Belgium’s politicians what will be done to ensure that the safety of Jews and Jewish institutions is improved and that Jews do not feel threatened.”
A ceremony in memory of the victims of the anti-Semitic terror attack will take place at the Brussels Great Synagogue Monday evening.