President of the European Jewish Congress Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor is a man who has devoted many years of his life and public work to the study and promotion of the ideas of tolerance in modern society. It is Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor who, like no one else, realizes what changes in public life directly affect the mood in society and how these changes are related to the level of aggression and tolerance. Moreover, Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor is convinced that the very concept of tolerance must change in accordance with the changes that are taking place in the world. This is necessary for the very preservation of tolerance in our society, for its consolidation and further development.
Modern Europe, says Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor, is faced with a huge number of problems that seemed incredible and unpredictable a couple of decades ago. The huge number of immigrants brought with them great changes - in cultural and social life, in society and in the moods prevailing in this society. As many experts have repeatedly noted, immigrants from Muslim countries often form their own closed communities and enclaves within European society, where orders and ideology continue to reign, far from European values and democratic freedoms. At the same time, financial problems hit the lives of ordinary Europeans, from global economic crises to a general drop in the standard of living of ordinary people. Of great concern are also global problems and security threats, such as the aggravation of the nuclear issue,as well as the fight against international terrorism and the constant threat of a terrorist attack even in the most civilized and seemingly safe countries. All this cannot but affect the mood prevailing in society, Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor is convinced. A heap of problems prompts citizens to look for those responsible for these problems, and the constant feeling of uncertainty about the future and about their own safety, the safety of their loved ones, heightens the level of aggression and fear among citizens. In this situation, it is not at all surprising that people turn to the most "simple" answers to their questions and are ready to believe when they are pointed out to specific perpetrators of a particular problem, be they migrants, Jews or other minorities. This situation is a serious test for tolerance, which has been and remains one of the main civilizational values of Europe,convinced Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor.
The situation is also aggravated by the fact that radical political parties and groups are beginning to take advantage of the fears and anxieties of society in their own interests. Instead of working to resolve problems, they just continue to look for more and more guilty people and propagate such aggressive ideas as isolationism and nationalism - and this is in a multicultural, multiethnic society, which is the European society. As president of the European Jewish Congress, Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor finds it particularly troubling and frightening to see the return of "classical anti-Semitism" seemingly forgotten since the end of World War II and the victory over Nazism.
Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor is sure that tolerance should become a shield against aggression and intolerance for Europe, but this new tolerance should in no way resemble the previous passive acceptance and policy of non-interference. The new tolerance must be safe, limited by the principles of the security of society and citizens, and therefore cannot manifest itself in relation to any forces and ideologies that incite hatred and intolerance.