Jan Figel, European Union envoy for freedom of religion or belief, promised Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi Rabbi David Lau on Thursday to act wherever he may be required to ensure that every Jew can act in accordance with his religious practice without any fear.
The pledge followed a meeting in which the chief rabbi told the European emissary that it is was unthinkable that in many European countries, Jews are afraid to walk on a street with a skullcap or that ritual slaughter and circumcision were limited.